The most widely read magazine for Canadian lawyers
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/1535371
16 www.canadianlawyermag.com 16 www.canadianlawyermag.com TOP PERSONAL INJURY BOUTIQUES 2025 THE TERRAIN of personal injury law in Canada is changing as legislative reform and increasingly complex claims have created fresh barriers for injured clients seeking compensation. But amid these headwinds, the country's top personal injury law firms are refusing to retreat. Instead, they're doubling down on their core mission: fighting for fair outcomes, preserving access to justice, and supporting clients whose lives have been upended by injury. The pace of change in personal injury law has accelerated, and Canadian Lawyer's 2025 award winners have all adapted. From proposed civil litigation reforms and THE FUTURE IS PERSONAL (INJURY) looming changes to Ontario's auto insur- ance scheme to increasing case complexity and the adoption of AI in legal practice, the pressure to push forward has never been greater. The country's leaders at the personal injury bar are closely watching as trends unfold around: • historic shift in damages for fatality claims: A pair of recent decisions, Moore v. 7595611 Canada Corp. (2021) and Gill v. Toor (2024), has pushed Ontario's courts into new territory when it comes to compensating for the loss of care, companionship, and guidance. For decades, $100,000 per claimant was seen as the informal ceiling. That changed with Moore, where each parent was awarded $250,000, setting a new high watermark in Ontario. The Court of Appeal upheld the award and affirmed that no legislated or common law cap applied to these damages. For personal injury lawyers, the shift may prompt a rethink of how fatality claims are assessed, negotiated, and resolved. • tech changing the litigation game: With dashcams, digital video, and airbag sensor data now influencing up to 40 percent of cases, tech is reshaping how fault is determined, shifting the focus from witness credibility to hard data "Our legacy of experience in the courtroom, 90 years of loving the work, has paid off in what we do and how we do it" Stephen D'Agostino, Thomson Rogers LLP BY THE NUMBERS: PERSONAL INJURY LAW IN CANADA Sources: Various, including Thomson Reuters Institute, Legalweek 2025: Increased Law Firm Tech Investment Means Increased Tech Metrics Collection; Transport Canada, Canadian Motor Vehicle Traffic Collision Statistics: 2021; IBISWorld, Law Firms in Canada – Market Research Report (2015–2030); McNally Gervan, "How Many Personal Injury Cases Go to Trial in Ontario?" $21.5B: projected revenue for law firms in 2025, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.6% over the past five years 29%: proportion of firms planning to increase investment in legal-specific technology in 2025, indicating a significant move toward digital transformation 90%: estimated percentage of personal injury cases in Ontario that settle out of court, highlighting the prevalence of settlements over trials 2,043: number of CL readers who contributed to the selection process for the 2025 Top Personal Injury Boutiques, underscoring the community's engagement in recognizing excellence 1,931: number of motor vehicle fatalities in Canada in 2022, marking a 6.0% increase from 2021 and the second-highest count in the past decade SPECIAL REPORT