Every day in Toronto, emergency rooms see a constant stream of patients injured by accidents that didn’t need to happen. Common causes of injuries can include slips on icy sidewalks, a back injury from repetitive lifting, or a fall on a job site. These events can cause ongoing severe pain and often lead to legal claims, lost wages, and long-term complications. For claimants, legal professionals, and insurers alike, ER statistics reveal important patterns that can transform the direction of a personal injury case.
When you look closely, Toronto’s emergency room data tells a detailed story about where, how, and why people are getting hurt. It also sheds light on which injuries are most likely to trigger legal claims. As personal injury cases grow more complex, these numbers offer one of the most reliable windows into what’s really happening on the ground. They highlight avoidable risks, support claims with real-world data, and help shape safer practices in workplaces, public areas, and homes.
Falls: The Leading Cause of ER Injury Visits
Falls continue to dominate injury-related emergency visits in Ontario, with impacts that extend far beyond physical pain. Nearly 654,000, or about one-third, of the more than two million injury-related emergency department visits in Canada have been due to accidental falls.
That translates to nearly 1,800 people per day arriving at ERs for fall-related injuries. Of these cases, an average of 417 per day result in hospital admissions.
For those seeking to file a personal injury claim, falls present a complex intersection of liability and environment. Whether the fall took place in a private residence, on a poorly maintained public pathway, or at a workplace, the presence of accurate ER data provides context for claimants and legal professionals alike.
The numbers are also rising. Injuries from falls led to about 152,500 hospital admissions in 2016–17, up from over 146,600 the year before. The cost of treatment and recovery adds further pressure to an already burdened healthcare system, and for the injured, that cost is often personal and financial. The average length of a hospital stay after a fall was 14.3 days: almost double the average of 7.5 days for other medical reasons.
Car Accidents: A Persistent Threat to Public Safety
Car accidents continue to be a significant cause of injury-related ER visits in Toronto and Ontario. In 2023, Ontario recorded 26,993 collisions resulting in fatalities or personal injuries. For Toronto specifically, Vision Zero data for 2025 reports 10 motorists and 10 pedestrians seriously injured so far, with no motorist fatalities and three pedestrian fatalities.
“On-road injuries” (including car accidents) accounted for 129,727 ER visits in Ontario in a 2014-2016 reporting period, ranking behind falls, contact with objects, and sports injuries.
The economic impact of car accidents is substantial. In Ontario alone, the direct cost of motor vehicle injuries reached $728 million in 2019.
Despite road safety initiatives, motor vehicle fatalities have been rising nationally, increasing by 6% in 2022 and 4% in 2023, with Ontario recording its highest fatality numbers in 15 years. Addressing these trends requires proactive safety measures and accurate data to support legal claims and promote safer driving conditions.
Seniors and the Severity of Fall Injuries
While falls affect Canadians across age groups, seniors face particularly severe consequences. As noted by CBC News, older adults have a higher risk of falling and, when they do, are more likely to suffer serious or long-term injuries.
In legal terms, this creates a different dynamic. When a senior suffers a fall in a retirement facility or after being discharged too early from hospital care, the circumstances demand deeper scrutiny. Age-related fragility and slower recovery make the cost of care and the potential damages in a claim significantly higher. These cases often require expert testimony and detailed evidence about long-term effects.
This vulnerability also underlines the importance of proactive safety planning in homes, workplaces, and care environments where older adults spend time. Even a minor oversight like an uneven rug, or a lack of handrails, can quickly result in months of medical complications and litigation.
Workplace Injuries Driving ER Visits and Claims
Ontario’s workplaces are another common source of personal injuries, many of which end in ER visits and compensation claims. According to the Government of Ontario, there were 2,685 critical injury events reported across the province in 2022 alone.
These events include amputations, serious head injuries, and fractures—all of which are frequent grounds for personal injury lawsuits or Workers’ Compensation Board (WSIB) claims. Additionally, 65,566 allowed lost-time injury claims were reported in Schedule 1 workplaces in the same year.
Schedule 2 employers, typically larger public organizations, reported another 19,338 lost-time injury claims in 2022. For these workplaces, the allowed lost-time injury rate was 2.39 per 100 workers. These numbers point to a continued risk for employees across a wide variety of industries, from construction and healthcare to public transportation and education.
When filing a claim, these statistics offer a helpful baseline. If you’re injured in a similar context, data showing consistent patterns across a sector can support arguments around foreseeability, negligence, and duty of care.
The Musculoskeletal Injury Crisis
Musculoskeletal injuries are among the most common work-related injuries in Ontario, yet they often receive less public attention than falls or trauma. These injuries develop over time, often through repetitive motions or improper lifting, and can severely limit mobility and job performance.
According to Health Canada, Ontario has consistently recorded the highest number of musculoskeletal injury (MSI) time-loss claims across Canada. From 1997 to 2002, the MSI rate in Ontario was 2.3 or below per 100 workers; a seemingly small figure that masks a large absolute number of cases in a population of millions.
Unlike sudden trauma, these injuries often require extensive documentation to support a legal claim. You may need to demonstrate not just the existence of pain, but its gradual development over time, tied clearly to workplace conditions. Employers and insurers frequently challenge such claims, making detailed ER reports and trend data even more essential.
Injury Distribution by Company Size
Federal workplaces such as banks, airlines, and postal services report a different injury profile, shaped in part by company size. In 2022, a total of 39,465 work-related injuries were reported among federally regulated employees.
Size matters. Among small employers with just 1 to 9 full-time employees, 97.3 percent reported zero injuries in 2022. Yet even within this group, there were 55 disabling injuries reported, highlighting that risk remains even in smaller, more controlled environments.
Employers with 10 to 49 workers reported 527 disabling injuries. In the 50 to 99 employee bracket, 648 disabling injuries were logged, while companies with 100 to 249 employees saw 994 such cases.
This distribution matters for legal and preventative strategy. Smaller companies may have fewer formal safety procedures in place, while larger companies often have stricter policies but a higher number of physical job roles. Understanding where your workplace sits in this matrix can help clarify liability and expectations around safety standards.
Injury Trends Over Time in Ontario
Looking at how injury patterns have shifted over time can provide insight into evolving risks and policy effectiveness. From 2021 to 2022, Ontario saw a clear uptick in the number of lost-time injury claims, rising from 59,141 to 65,566.
Interestingly, the number of no lost-time injury claims dropped slightly from 89,244 in 2021 to 89,039 in 2022. This could reflect more serious injuries overall, or it may point to shifts in how injuries are classified and managed in the workplace.
Legal and Practical Takeaways for Injury Claimants
For individuals navigating the legal system after an injury, data like this can offer improved perspective. If you’re claiming compensation for a slip and fall, repetitive strain, or workplace accident, having statistical support strengthens your position. Courts often consider what was foreseeable and preventable, and being able to demonstrate that similar incidents are widespread can help establish both.
Moreover, the specific injury types tied to long-term impairment or hospitalization (such as falls among seniors or MSIs in industrial roles) come with their own challenges. These cases may require medical assessments, vocational evaluations, and economic projections to fully understand the impact on your life. In such instances, emergency room trends can validate the seriousness of your claim or highlight that your experience is not an isolated case.
It also becomes important in disputes over negligence. A property owner or employer may deny that their space or procedures were unsafe. Yet if the numbers show a high frequency of injuries in comparable spaces or industries, this context can be used to demonstrate systemic risk.
What the Numbers Say About Risk and Responsibility
Toronto’s ER data reveals a consistent message: many of the injuries leading to personal injury claims are both common and preventable.
Whether caused by a slip in a grocery store aisle or a chronic strain from years of repetitive work, the legal and physical outcomes of these injuries are serious, and they are part of a broader pattern seen across the province and beyond. By examining these patterns, you can better understand where risk lies and what responsibility may follow. For legal professionals, policymakers, and claimants alike, staying informed about these trends can uplift compensation, as well as help establish safer communities and workplaces where injury is no longer just a data point.
Take the First Step Toward Recovery with Support That Puts You First
If you’re reading this, it is likely that you or someone close to you has experienced the pain, confusion, and financial strain that follows an unexpected injury. As Toronto’s ER data makes clear, you’re not alone. But behind every number is a person. A story. And a right to proper care, compensation, and dignity.
At Avanessy Giordano LLP, we represent people, over merely processing claims. With over a decade of experience each, our founding partners have built a firm that breaks from the high-volume, low-connection model.
When you choose us, you get:
- Hands-on legal representation from seasoned personal injury lawyers
- Tailored legal strategies designed around your unique circumstances
- Direct access to our team, with regular updates and clear communication
- In-home and hospital visits when you need us most
- A trusted network of medical and rehab professionals to support your recovery
Whether you’re dealing with the aftermath of a fall, a workplace injury, or ongoing musculoskeletal issues, we’re here to walk with you every step of the way. Your story matters. Your recovery matters. And your claim deserves more than a checkbox approach.
Reach out for your free consultation today and let us help you turn injury into recovery with care, clarity, and results.
