You were injured in a car accident in the USA, what should you do?
Canadians travel to the United States regularly and in the winter months “snowbirds” flock to the southern states in their cars. Seldom do these motorists consider what it would mean if they were injured in a car accident during their trip. Each year, many Canadians are involved in car accidents while travelling in the US. […]
Leaving The Country This Winter? Do You Have Travel Insurance?
Did you know that, if you are travelling outside of Canada, you will not be covered by OHIP in the case of a medical emergency? Even if you manage to get some OHIP coverage it will be limited and you should not expect that it will pay for your medical bills in another country. If […]
Court Of Appeal Clarifies Collateral Benefits Issues
There has been a steady reduction in the damages that innocent motor vehicle accident victims recover from the at-fault driver. The Ontario Government, working with the insurance industry, has been passing more and more restrictive laws and regulations to cut down on damage awards to innocent accident victims. The Ontario Court of Appeal recently released […]
Court Of Appeal Clarifies Pre-Judgment Interest Rate
Insurance companies use their long experience paying out claims, including the payment of pre-judgment interest, in setting premium rates. Premiums are based on the pre-judgment interest rate in force at the time they are paid. It can take several years for a complex motor vehicle accident that results in serious injuries, to wind its way […]
Changes to the Ontario Insurance Act that Will Directly Impact Your Auto Insurance Benefits
Effective June 1, 2016, the Ontario Government has introduced changes to the automobile insurance system which will greatly affect the coverage consumers select and the price they will pay for auto insurance. Many of these changes affect the statutory accident benefits that a person will receive if they have been injured in an automobile accident […]
Change in Pre- Judgment Interest: Retroactive or Not?
We blogged about the change in the pre-judgment interest rate in March and April of this year. As of January 1, 2015, the Insurance Act was amended to provide that the 5% pre-judgment rate set out in the Rules of Civil Procedure does not apply in motor vehicle accident cases. As a result, pre-judgment interest […]
The “Minor Injury” Guideline
The “minor injury” guideline and treatment protocol has been a part of the motor vehicle accident landscape in Ontario since 2010. A “minor injury” is defined under the Regulations as “a sprain, strain, whiplash associated disorder, contusion, abrasion, laceration or subluxation…”. Medical and rehabilitation funding for a “minor injury” is capped at $3,500.00. The Ontario […]
Changes to Statutory Accident Benefits
In an effort to reduce insurance premiums, the Government has promised to make significant changes to statutory accident benefits. The changes include: An amendment to the test for catastrophic impairment; Including attendant care services with the $1 million medical and rehabilitation benefit for catastrophic impairments; Reducing the standard duration of medical and rehabilitation benefits from […]
Change in Pre-Judgment Interest Determined to be Retroactive
We blogged about the change in the pre-judgment interest rate last month. As of January 1, 2015, the Insurance Act was amended to provide that the 5% pre-judgment rate set out in the Rules of Civil Procedure does not apply in motor vehicle accident cases. As a result, pre-judgment interest on general or non-pecuniary damages […]
