Consumers in Ontario are faced with a plethora of choices when considering auto insurance coverage that extends beyond what is legally required. Ontario has rather steep fines for those without valid auto insurance which is obviously the first concern for auto owners which are outlined in the Insurance Act of Ontario. For example, financial penalties … Continue reading “Understanding Optional Auto Insurance in Ontario”
In most car accidents, it is not too difficult to determine liability. If a driver runs a red light, for example, and hits another car in the intersection, it is pretty clear who is at fault. There are cases involving more unusual fact patterns that require courts to answer somewhat trickier legal questions. McKay v. … Continue reading “Am I Responsible if a Passenger Grabs My Steering Wheel and Causes an Accident?”
Following a car accident, there are two methods of receiving compensation for your injuries under Ontario law. The first is by filing a claim with your own insurance company, which is obligated to pay certain “no-fault” benefits under Ontario’s Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule(SABS). The second is by filing a personal injury lawsuit against any third … Continue reading “How Ontario Law Prevents “Double Recovery” by Car Accident Victims”
Personal injury claims arising from motor vehicle accidents often come down to a battle of credibility, not only between the parties to the case, but also among any expert witnesses retained on their behalf. It is not uncommon for litigants to hire accident reconstruction experts to assist the court in determining fault, which in turn … Continue reading “Understanding the Role of Accident Reconstruction Experts in Ontario”
When you read about a motor vehicle accident in the press, you may be tempted to jump to conclusions about who is responsible. For instance, let us say you read that two cars collided in an intersection. According to the initial reports, one of the drivers had been drinking and was possibly impaired. You might … Continue reading “Is an Impaired Driver Always Liable for a Car Accident?”
When a rear-end car accident occurs, Ontario law starts with the presumption that the rear driver was responsible. This means that if a personal injury case goes to trial, the driver of the rear vehicle must prove he or she did not cause the rear-end accident. Among other things, this includes proving the driver maintained … Continue reading “Is the Driver of the Rear Vehicle Always Responsible for A Rear-End Accident in Ontario?”
According to Ontario traffic statistics, on average one person is injured in a distracted-driving collision every 30 minutes, and a driver using a phone is four times more likely to be involved in an accident than a driver paying full attention to the road. In 2014, distracted driving was responsible for one in every five … Continue reading “Ontario Increasing Penalties for Careless Drivers”
A motor vehicle accident can leave you on the hook for significant damages, not just to injured persons but also to the vehicle’s owner. If you take out a rental car, for instance, your contract with the owner may require you to assume financial responsibility in the event of an accident. You may even be … Continue reading “Am I Legally Responsible for Damages to a Stolen Rental Car?”
