Toronto is a world class city with some of the best festivals in North America, like Caribana (2.3 million attendees each summer) the electronic dance behemoth VELD < — make a nofollow and open a new window (located at Downsview Park and welcomed about 105,000 people over 3 days in 2023), the various food festivals throughout the city (like Toronto Ribfest < — make a nofollow and open a new window and the Toronto Beer Festival ) and Boots and Hearts at Burl’s Creek in Oro-Medonte. But with large crowds, temporary structures, alcohol consumption, and seasonal weather (from extreme heat to torrential rain), accidents can happen, which is why knowing your rights matters.
Common Causes of Festival Injuries in Toronto
Whether you’re at Caribana, VELD, Toronto Pride , or any community street fair , some common injuries at Toronto events include slips and falls, trampling/crowd crushing, burns, and car accidents due to improper traffic control.
Here is a more detailed breakdown of each:
- Slip-and-falls – often caused by wet surfaces, uneven ground, spilled food or alcohol.
- Trampling/crowd crush – often caused by large, unorganized crowds in high-density areas with improper controls.
- Burns or fireworks injuries – can often happen at waterfront or family-event pyrotechnics. Burn injuries comprised 61% of firework-related cases in Canadian data , with eye injuries about 19%.
- Injuries due to inadequate security – primarily occur when crowd control breaks down.
In the Summer, Toronto emergency rooms see heavy use. Falls alone contribute to about one-third of all injury-related ER visits, nearly 654,000 in Canada annually , with many stemming from public events or recreation activities.
When you are hurt in a Toronto event or festival, it is essential to follow these steps to ensure that not only are you fine, but also you best prepare yourself for any potential future legal action.
What to Do If You Are Injured at a Festival or Outdoor Event in Toronto
Step 1: Prioritize Your Health and Seek Medical Care
Your health is the most critical thing in any situation, so after any injury at a Toronto festival or event, make sure you go to the on-site first aid tent or go to a local clinic or hospital.
Once you get proper medical care for your injury, ask for detailed documentation of your diagnosis, treatment, and any follow-up needs. These records are vital for any injury claim.
And if you’re seriously hurt or symptoms worsen, head straight to the nearest Toronto ER for treatment. Make sure you tell them when and where it happened. Show them all the documentation you have, as it will help them tend to your injuries properly.
Step 2: Gather Evidence ASAP
While still at the scene or soon after, take photos of the hazard (e.g., spilled drink, broken fence, overly cramped passage), your injury, and the environment. Make sure to get as much evidence as possible, as it will help you prove the negligence of the venue’s management and promoters.
Next, collect contact info from any eyewitnesses. Have them make statements on camera. The more details they can provide, the better.
Save your ticket/wristband, map, or schedule that marks your presence and location during the incident.
And last, make sure you keep copies of any correspondence or signage, like warning signs and disclaimers, as these may highlight the negligence if the injury was caused by something that was not cared for despite the disclaimers and warnings.
Step 3: Report the Incident to Event Officials Right Away
Holding any concert or event comes with the responsibility of ensuring safety for everyone who works or attends the event. Under Ontario’s Occupiers’ Liability Act , event organizers, venue owners, concert promoters, and even security or maintenance providers may be considered liable if the injury was due to their negligence and poor control of premises or hazards.
If you or a loved one has been injured at an event, locate event staff or security and report what happened. Give specifics like the date, time, precise location, what you were doing, and how the injury occurred. Show them pictures of the area and the injury. Then ask for a written incident report and retain a copy.
If police attend, secure their report details and badge or file number.
Step 4: Understand Liability in Toronto Festivals
Under Ontario’s Occupiers’ Liability Act, anyone in control of the premises, including outdoor land or temporary structures, owes a duty to ensure reasonable safety. This means that anyone managing all festivals, events, concerts, or carnivals is responsible for providing a safe and orderly environment for all attendees and employees.
Potential liable parties may include the promoter or event organizer (like INK Entertainment at VELD), the landowner or sponsor of the site (for example, the City of Toronto or Exhibition Place ), security companies responsible for crowd control, and vendors or maintenance contractors if faulty equipment caused injury.
Even if you were partially at fault, Ontario courts may apply contributory negligence, reducing compensation proportionally, but still allowing recovery.
Step 5: Get Legal Advice Quickly
Toronto personal injury lawyers like Bergel Magence can provide advice, assess your claim and then guide you through the process to get the justice you may deserve. Ontario cases often hinge on premises liability, negligence, and failure to maintain safe conditions or secure crowds.
An experienced personal injury lawyer can help identify all responsible parties, from venue owners to third-party contractors, and coordinate with expert witnesses where needed. They can take the onus off your shoulders, allowing you to focus on recovery, while they fight on your behalf.
Step 6: Preserve Deadlines Under Ontario Law
Different types of claims have different time limits. Lawsuits against private individuals or companies must typically be filed within two years of the injury, while claims against the City of Toronto (for municipal-owned property or public events) often require filing a municipal claim within 60 days.
Missing these deadlines could forfeit your right to sue, so it pays to act early.
Real-World Examples That Illustrate the Risks of Injuries at Outdoor Festivals
- At VELD Music Festival in 2014, over 100 people required hospital treatment after ingesting illicit substances, two died, and emergency protocols came under scrutiny.
- At Toronto Caribbean Carnival (Caribana ), crowd density and vehicle access have historically led to tragedies. For example, a 1971 incident where a vehicle crashed into spectators during the parade, tragically killing two children and injuring several others.
While these incidents are rare, they underscore how large Toronto festivals can pose serious risks without robust planning and risk management.
If You’ve Been Hurt at an Event…
At Bergel Magence Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ve handled Toronto event injury cases, from festival slips, crowd incidents, to food vendor mishaps and security failures. We understand:
- How to parse Ontario’s Occupiers’ Liability Act.
- Which parties—organizers, venue owners, contractors—can be held accountable.
- How comparative negligence might affect your claim.
- How to preserve municipal claim deadlines if you’re injured on City‑run premises.
We help you collect evidence, work with experts, negotiate insurers, and if needed, file a lawsuit to pursue compensation for medical treatment, lost income, rehabilitation, pain and suffering, and even long-term effects from head or spinal injuries.
Toronto’s festival scene is robust and, for the most part, runs safely, but accidents can happen. Whether it’s a slip at Caribana, extreme heat due to a lack of proper sun coverage at VELD, or a crowd crush at a music show in Nathan Phillips Square , understanding your rights can make a big difference.
If you’re seriously injured due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Acting early, documenting the incident, and working with an experienced Toronto personal injury lawyer gives you the best chance to recover what you’re owed.
Bergel Magence Personal Injury Lawyers – helping Torontonians get justice when they’ve been seriously hurt. Contact us today for a free consultation.
