Published Wednesday, January 13, 2021 6:13PM
TORONTO — Every year thousands of Canadians are hurt after slipping on icy stairs, steps and sidewalks. Now if it happens in Ontario you’ll have a lot less time to sue for damages.
If you have a bad fall on ice and want to file an insurance claim you used to have two years to do so, but that is about to be changed to just 60 days.
Ontario’s Bill 118, the Act to amend the Occupier’s Liability Act, recently passed and will soon become law.
The changes mean if you slip and fall on private property you must serve the owner with written notice within 60 days. On municipal property it must be done within 10 days.
Rajiv Haté a personal injury lawyer with Kotak Personal Injury Law feels in some cases 60 days may not be enough time to file a claim.
“This could lead to the barring of a number of legitimate claims,” Haté said, adding “being able to identify the appropriate parties that need to be put on notice within 60 days is not always possible.”
The change in the law comes as good news for many in the snow clearing business.
Snow plow operators have been complaining that even one slip and fall accident can cause their insurance premiums to triple…
If you do plan to seek compensation for your injuries realize that now instead of two years, you’ll only have two months to file a claim.
