You might have 60 days, not two years.
A personal injury claim in Ontario runs on more than one clock. You usually get two years to sue, but a fall on snow or ice needs written notice within 60 days, and an injury on city property just 10. Here's how these claims work, who can be held responsible, and the deadlines that quietly end them.
Free. No payment to start. This is information, not legal advice.
In 30 seconds, here's what's true
- A property or business owner isn't automatically on the hook when you get hurt. You have to show they didn't take reasonable care to keep the place safe. That's what negligence means.
- Slip on snow or ice? You must give written notice within 60 days, by personal delivery or registered mail, to the property owner or the company they hired to clear it — or you can lose the right to sue.
- Hurt on city property, like a municipal sidewalk or road? The deadline is just 10 days to send written notice to the municipality. Toronto has its own 10-day rule.
- You generally have two years to start a lawsuit, counted from when you knew you were hurt and who caused it. But the short notice deadlines come first, and missing one can end the whole claim.
- Most injury lawyers work on contingency — no win, no fee — under a Law Society standard-form agreement. And being partly at fault doesn't end your claim; it just lowers what you recover, in proportion to your share.
How the process works
Get medical help right away
See a doctor as soon as you can, for your health and because it's the foundation of any claim. A gap between the injury and treatment can be used against you later.
Document the scene now
Photograph exactly where and how you were hurt, note the date and time, keep the shoes or clothing you had on, and get names of any witnesses. Hazards like ice melt fast.
Give written notice, fast
For a fall on snow or ice, send written notice within 60 days to the owner and any snow-removal contractor. On city property, notify the municipality within 10 days. Use registered mail so you can prove you sent it.
Figure out who's responsible
It might be a property owner, a business, a tenant, a snow-removal contractor, or a municipality, sometimes more than one at once. When in doubt, give notice to everyone who might be responsible.
Get advice before you settle
Most injury lawyers offer a free consult and work on contingency. Don't take an insurer's first offer without advice. Smaller claims can go to Small Claims Court (up to $50,000); larger or more serious ones go to the Superior Court.
What to do next
- See a doctor as soon as possible after the injury.
- Photograph the scene, the hazard, and your footwear or clothing.
- Write down the date, time, and exact location.
- Get names and contact details for any witnesses.
- For snow or ice, give written notice within 60 days (owner and contractor).
- For city property, notify the municipality within 10 days.
- Remember the two-year deadline to start a lawsuit.
- Get legal advice before you accept a settlement or sign a release.
Common myths
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| I have two years, so there's no rush. | Risky. A fall on snow or ice needs written notice within 60 days, and just 10 days on city property. The two years is only the deadline to file the lawsuit itself. |
| The notice deadline is the same everywhere. | No. It's 60 days for snow or ice on private property, but only 10 days for an injury on municipal property like a city sidewalk. |
| The owner is automatically liable if I fall. | No. You have to show they didn't take reasonable care to keep the place safe. Falling by itself isn't enough to win. |
| I don't need to report it right away. | You do. Short notice deadlines apply, and evidence like ice or a wet floor can disappear within hours. Report and document it immediately. |
| I have to pay a lawyer upfront. | Usually not. Most injury lawyers work on contingency, so they only get paid if you win, out of what you recover. |
| I can't claim if I was partly at fault. | You can. Under the Negligence Act, being partly at fault reduces your compensation in proportion to your share; it doesn't bar the claim. |
| Every injury claim goes to a big courtroom. | Not always. Smaller claims can be handled in Small Claims Court, which is built for people without a lawyer. Larger or more serious claims go to the Superior Court. |
| A car accident claim works the same way. | No. Auto injuries go through no-fault accident benefits, plus a separate tort system with a threshold and a deductible for pain and suffering. |
Last reviewed July 2026
Written and reviewed by the founder of PLAIN, checked against primary government and legal sources. How we research these guides
Sources
PLAIN gives legal information, not legal advice. It is not a substitute for a lawyer or paralegal — and we'll point you to free ones. Laws change; we review these pages regularly, but always confirm current rules with a licensed professional.
Free. No payment to start. This is information, not legal advice.