What to do After a Car Accident in Ontario
A car accident can change your life in seconds. What you do in the days that follow can directly affect your health, your finances, and your legal rights. Here is what you need to know.
At the Scene
Call 911 if anyone is hurt. Adrenaline hides serious injuries.
Report to police or a Collision Reporting Centre.
Exchange info with the other driver: name, licence, plate, insurance.
Take photos of the vehicles, road, signs, and any visible injuries.
Do not admit fault. Even saying "I'm sorry" can be used against you.
See a Doctor — Even If You Feel Fine
Whiplash, concussions, and soft tissue injuries often take days to appear. A medical record close to the accident is some of the strongest evidence you can have. Follow your doctor's advice consistently, gaps in treatment are the first thing insurers use against you.
Ontario Has Two Claims, Not One
Most people don't realize this. After a car accident in Ontario, you may have two separate claims running at the same time:
Accident Benefits — paid by your own insurer regardless of fault. Covers medical treatment, income replacement, attendant care, and more.
A tort claim — against the at-fault driver, for pain and suffering, loss of income, and other damages.
Each has different rules, forms, and deadlines. Mishandling one can hurt the other.
Deadlines You Cannot Miss
7 days — Notify your own insurer.
30 days — Submit the OCF-1 Application for Accident Benefits.
2 years — Start your lawsuit (Limitations Act, 2002).
Miss any of these and your claim may be lost.
Why a Lawyer Makes a Difference
Insurers have a team working against your claim from day one. A personal injury lawyer levels the playing field, handling the paperwork, the deadlines, the negotiations, and the evidence.
At Asaad Law, we work on a contingency-fee basis. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Injured in a Car Accident? Call Asaad Law.
Call (289) 910-0819 or book a free consultation. , serving clients across Ontario.