Motorcycle Accident Claims in Ontario Explained

Motorcycle accidents are among the most serious collisions seen in personal injury law, and the injuries that follow are often life-altering.

At Preszler Injury Lawyers, we represent many people who have been seriously injured in motorcycle accidents across Ontario. As Jeffrey Preszler explains in the video below, injured riders often have more legal options available to them than they initially realize.

Why Motorcycle Accidents Are Often So Severe

Anytime a motorcyclist is involved in a collision, there is a high probability of serious injury.

Unlike occupants inside a car or truck, motorcycle riders have no structural protection around them. No steel frame, no airbags, no seatbelt. When a rider is ejected from the bike or struck by another vehicle, there is nothing absorbing the impact between them and the road, surrounding objects, or oncoming traffic.

Even experienced riders wearing helmets and protective gear can suffer devastating injuries after impact.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Collisions

Motorcycle collisions can happen in many different ways, but certain patterns appear repeatedly in serious injury claims. Some of the most common include:

• Drivers making unsafe left turns in front of motorcycles
• Unsafe lane changes where drivers fail to see a rider
• Rear-end collisions
• High-speed highway accidents
• Loss-of-control accidents involving speed wobble or road hazards
• Collisions involving distracted or impaired drivers

In many cases, drivers simply fail to properly judge the speed or visibility of an approaching motorcycle.

Injuries Commonly Seen in Motorcycle Accidents

The injuries that follow motorcycle collisions are frequently among the most severe we encounter across all of our personal injury work. These include:

• Traumatic brain injuries and serious head injuries
• Loss of limbs
• Severe fractures requiring multiple surgeries
• Spinal injuries
• Soft tissue injuries
• Scarring and road rash

The level of impairment following a serious motorcycle collision can be permanent and life-altering.

What Benefits Are Available to Injured Motorcycle Riders?

Injuries this serious come with immediate financial consequences that include lost income, medical bills, and ongoing rehabilitation costs that can accumulate quickly.

In Ontario, injured motorcyclists may have access to accident benefits through the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS).

These benefits are available regardless of fault and are typically accessed through the rider’s motorcycle insurance policy.

Depending on the circumstances, accident benefits may include:

• Income replacement benefits
• Non-earner benefits
• Medical and rehabilitation coverage
• Attendant care benefits
• Other treatment and recovery-related expenses

As discussed in the video, riders who are unable to work may qualify for income replacement benefits of up to $400 per week.

Those who were not employed at the time of the accident may qualify for non-earner benefits.

Medical and Rehabilitation Coverage

Beyond income support, the accident benefit system provides medical and rehabilitation coverage across three tiers:

• Minor injury: For soft tissue injuries with no barriers to recovery, coverage of up to $3,500 applies
• Non-catastrophic impairment: Most people injured in motorcycle collisions fall into this category, which provides up to $65,000 for medical, rehabilitation, and attendant care expenses
• Catastrophic impairment: A defined legal term under Ontario’s Statutory Accident Benefit Schedule that applies to those with the most serious and permanent impairments. Riders who meet this threshold have access to significantly higher benefit limits.

Filing a Lawsuit After a Motorcycle Accident

Accident benefits cover immediate needs, but for riders who have suffered serious injuries, they rarely tell the full story of what has been lost. The second avenue of recourse is a tort claim, which means suing the at-fault driver or the owner of the vehicle that caused the collision.

A tort claim can recover compensation for:

• Pain and suffering
• Past loss of income
• Future loss of income
• Future medical and care needs arising from the accident

To pursue a pain and suffering claim in Ontario, your injury must meet a legal threshold requiring a permanent and serious impairment of an important physical, mental, or psychological function.

It is also worth understanding that Ontario’s statutory deductible applies to most pain and suffering awards in motor vehicle accident claims, meaning a significant amount is deducted from any award before compensation is received. This is one of the least known aspects of Ontario personal injury law and one of the most important factors your lawyer needs to account for when valuing your claim.

For a full explanation of how it works, see our article on the Ontario statutory deductible for 2026.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident

The steps you take in the immediate aftermath of a collision can have a real impact on both your recovery and your claim.

Adrenaline often masks the severity of injuries at the scene, so even if you feel relatively okay, it is important to act carefully.

• Seek medical attention immediately, even if injuries initially appear minor
• Call police and ensure the collision is properly reported
• Photograph the scene, vehicle positions, road conditions, and any visible injuries
• Collect the other driver’s name, licence plate number, and insurance details
• Preserve your motorcycle, helmet, and riding gear as potential evidence
• Keep records of all medical treatment, symptoms, missed work, and out-of-pocket expenses
• Avoid posting about the accident or your injuries on social media
• Do not provide detailed statements to any insurance company before speaking with a lawyer

How Preszler Injury Lawyers Can Help

At Preszler Injury Lawyers, our team helps injured riders access the benefits and compensation they may be entitled to under Ontario law. This includes helping clients complete accident benefits paperwork properly, access treatment and rehabilitation support, and advance their claim within the applicable legal deadlines.

We also work to ensure that the long-term impact of the collision is properly documented, including ongoing medical needs, future care requirements, income loss, and the overall effect the injuries have had on a person’s life.

You Have More Options Than You Think

If you have been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in Ontario, Preszler Injury Lawyers may be able to help. Contact us online or call 1-888-608-2111 to book your free consultation and discuss your legal options.

We’re here to help.