Automobile AccidentsStatutory Accident BenefitsAutomobile accidents are one of the leading causes of personal injury. In Ontario, a person injured in an automobile accident, whether or not they are at fault, is entitled to compensation. They can claim this compensation via the Statutory Accident Benefits coverage defined and regulated by the province. In cases where the injuries suffered in the automobile accident are serious and permanent, it is also possible to file a lawsuit for additional damages against the at-fault driver. You should consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer to determine if your injuries meet this threshold. No Fault PolicyAutomobile insurance law in Ontario provides a “no fault” policy in cases of automobile accident injuries; however, “no fault” should not be taken to mean that no one is declared to be responsible for the accident. No fault simply means that the injured person will receive compensation from their own insurance company regardless of who is at fault. This system was put in place to eliminate the need for injured parties to wait for compensation while the insurance companies debate who is at fault and which insurance company will pay the benefits. The police and insurance companies have different definitions of “no fault”. To the police, “no fault” means that no charges will be laid; while for insurance companies, it is necessary to attribute fault among the parties involved in the accident according to the fault determination rules written in the Ontario legislation. Types of Statutory Accident Benefits Available
Who and Where to Claim Statutory Accident BenefitsAny person injured in an automobile accident can make the claim as well as their relatives and dependents. A person; however, who is found to have been in contradiction of the law during the accident will not be able to receive income replacement benefits, non-earner benefits, lost education expenses, expenses of visitors and the housekeeping and home maintenance benefits. The person injured may claim these benefits from their own insurance company. If they do not have an insurance company, they can claim it at the driver at-fault’s insurance company. If none of the persons involved have insurance, the claim can be made through the Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund. Important Things to RememberEach type of benefit has certain requirements before a person is eligible to receive them. The insurance company will notify the claimant if their application is qualified for more than one benefit. A claimant must also keep in mind that Statutory Accident Benefits only pay for losses which are not covered by some other private or group benefit plan. If the injured person is covered by another benefit plan acquired through work or through a spouse, the mandatory accident benefits will only pay for the balance. These benefits may have been created to give drivers more control over their car insurance coverage and premiums and to allow for the fast and easy facilitation of compensation; however, deciding which among the benefits will best compensate or which one an injured person is most eligible to receive may not be easy especially if he or she has just experienced a vehicular accident. It may be best if they seek the aid of the lawyer to make sure that they will get ample compensation for what they have gone through because of the accident. Getting a lawyer will not necessarily mean that a lawsuit will be filed; however, only a lawyer can also advice the injured person if they will be better compensated by filing a lawsuit. Your Next StepsFor over 15 years, Deutschmann Law has been assisting individuals who have suffered personal injuries including automobile accident injuries. We understand that your ability to pay for legal representation is limited after you have suffered a serious automobile accident injury so our fees are contingency based. If we don’t win, you don’t pay. Please take advantage of our easy to use claim form to provide the details of your automobile accident injuries. One of our experienced personal injury lawyers will contact you promptly to discuss your case in further detail and the next steps to be taken. Learn more about Car Accident Claims.
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