What to do after a car accident in Ontario

Getting into a car accident can be extremely stressful. Not only do you have to assess whether you’ve been injured or your car has been damaged, but you may also need to report the car accident and file a claim with your insurance provider. Knowing what to do after getting into a collision can make the process a little bit easier if the worst-case scenario becomes your reality. Keep reading for a breakdown of what to do following a collision in Ontario.

Steps to take after getting into a car accident in Ontario

Follow this step-by-step guide on what to do after getting into a car crash in Ontario:

1. Stop your vehicle and assess yourself for injuries

The first thing to do is to stop your car and assess yourself for injuries. Many drivers and passengers become injured in car accidents. Injuries can range from whiplash and concussions to broken bones, lacerations, spinal cord injuries, and more. Thankfully, even if you are injured, your personal injury coverage can protect you. As you come to a stop and assess yourself, turn on your hazard lights so other drivers are aware of your presence.

2. Call 9-1-1

Step number two is to call 9-1-1. No matter who is at fault for the accident or whether there are any obvious injuries, call for help as soon as possible. This way, if someone is injured, a paramedic will arrive and transport them to the nearest hospital. If no one is injured, a police officer will still arrive on the scene and they will draft a police report, which you can then use when you file an insurance claim. Police reports in Ontario usually contain the following information:

• The report number: All police accident reports have a reference number clearly indicated on them.
• The date and location of the accident: The report will include the date and location details of the accident.
• The accident details: Photos of any damage or injuries that resulted from the accident will be part of the police report. Details including the location of the damage/injuries, as well as the type of accident will be noted.
• Driver information: The police report will include the driver’s licence numbers, insurance company names, insurance policies, and contact information of all drivers involved in the accident.
• Vehicle information: The report will also include details of the make, model, and year of the vehicles involved in the accident.
• Statements: Statements from any relevant witnesses or passengers will be included in the report.
• Driver statement: A statement detailing the events that lead to the collision from the driver’s perspective will be included.
• Other information: Anything the police deem is relevant to the accident, such as hazardous road conditions, the time of day, or the weather will be included.

Please note that depending on the circumstances of the accident, you may not have a choice but to report the car accident to the police. Typically, if anyone is injured in the accident, if property damage from the accident exceeds $2,000, or if you suspect that someone was driving impaired at the time of the accident, you are legally required to report it in Ontario.

3. Take photos and videos of the scene

Before you leave the scene, start gathering evidence. The best types of evidence in this day and age are photos and video footage of the accident scene. Take lots of videos and photos of the scene itself, including road and weather conditions, as well as detailed photos of any property damage or injuries sustained. You can also take down any relevant witness statements. You should take your own notes, too, detailing what happened during the accident and what you think the cause of it was. You can find a list of the most common causes of collisions here.

4. Exchange contact and insurance information with the other drivers involved

The fourth step is to exchange contact and insurance information with the other drivers involved. Although Ontario has a no-fault insurance system, which means that regardless of who is found to be at fault for the accident, both parties will file claims independently with their own insurance companies, you still need to take down the other driver’s information. Specifically, you should ask for the following information from any other drivers involved:

• Name
• Home address
• Phone number
• Driver’s licence number
• Vehicle plate number
• Vehicle make and colour
• The registered owner of the vehicle (it could be different than the driver if someone has an accident in your car)
• Vehicle identification number (VIN)
• Insurance company
• Insurance policy number and expiry date
• Damage to their vehicle
• Number of passengers in the vehicle
• Names of the passengers and their positions in the vehicle (e.g. rear driver’s side)

5. Move your car out of the way

When it is safe to do so or once a police officer says you can, carefully move your vehicle out of the way of traffic. If you are unable to drive your car home, then you might need to call a tow truck, as well as a friend to pick you up. A BrokerLink insurance advisor can check if your insurance covers towing. If you have roadside assistance coverage, it’s possible that towing after a collision will be covered.

6. Call your car insurance company and file a claim

The final step is to call your insurance company to file an auto insurance claim. You should call your insurance company after a minor car accident, as well as a major one. Ultimately, they will need to know about the accident. You typically have seven days to report a car accident to your insurance company.

When you let them know about the collision, they will explain the claims process to you, as well as help you identify what type of claim to fail. For example, if someone hits you without insurance, then the type of claim you would file might be an uninsured automobile claim.

The claims process can vary slightly between providers but usually involves similar steps. You will need to fill out an insurance claims form and submit the evidence you gathered. From there, an insurance adjuster will investigate your claim and make a fault determination, as well as a recommendation on whether the insurance company should approve or deny your claim.

Please note that an insurance adjuster may determine shared fault. However, they will hold one party slightly more liable than the other, and the at-fault party will be the one who is on the hook for the costs of the collision.

To ensure the insurance claims process goes as smoothly as possible, prepare to provide your insurance company with the following documents and pieces of information:

• Your auto insurance policy number
• The make, model, trim and year of your vehicle
• Your vehicle registration and licence plate number
• The date, time, and location of the collision
• A general description of the collision
• The names and driver’s licence numbers of all drivers involved
• The names of the insurance companies and auto insurance policy number of all drivers involved
• The total number of passengers involved
• A description of the injuries suffered by those involved, including pedestrians and cyclists, if applicable
• A description of the damage to your vehicle
• The name and badge number of the police officer(s) who arrived on the scene, if applicable

Remember that providing false or misleading information on an insurance claim is considered fraud and could not only lead to your claim being denied but also to your policy being cancelled. Speaking of cancellations, if you wish to cancel a personal injury claim after filing one, you may be able to do so, depending on how far along the process is. Typically, if you have yet to receive your payout from the insurance company, they will let you cancel your claim.

Reporting a car accident is a legal requirement in Ontario

As mentioned, there are some situations in which reporting a car accident is a legal requirement in the province of Ontario. They are as follows:

• If the damage caused by the accident exceeds $2,000 between the vehicles combined
• If someone is injured in the accident, whether the injuries sustained are major or minor
• If the accident involved a government vehicle
• If the accident involved a driver who is uninsured or underinsured
• If the accident involved a criminal act, such as impaired driving or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• If the accident involved a pedestrian
• If the accident resulted in damage to private or municipal property

In other words, if your car accident meets any of the conditions listed above, you are legally obligated to report it. Failing to report a car accident when you are legally required to can result in a fine of between $400 and $2,000, the suspension of your driver’s licence for up to two years, and jail time if you not only fail to report the accident but are also found guilty of fleeing the scene.

When in doubt, it’s always better to report it. This way, not only do you avoid the risk of being fined, but you will also have a police report that you can use as evidence when you file an insurance claim with your car insurance company.

How long do I have to report a car accident to the police?

Drivers in Ontario are encouraged to report car accidents as soon as they happen but within no more than 24 hours of them taking place.

How long do I have to report a car accident to my insurance company?

Policyholders typically have seven days to report a car accident to their insurance company. That said, each insurance company has its own policies, so be sure to review the terms and conditions of your specific auto insurance plan to confirm this timeline.

Learn what to do after a car accident by getting in touch with BrokerLink

Find out more about how to respond to a car accident in Ontario by reaching out to BrokerLink. One of our insurance advisors can offer advice on how to file an insurance claim and explain how accidents impact car insurance policies. We can also give you tips on how to reduce your auto insurance premium, such as by lowering your deductible after an accident.

In addition, a BrokerLink insurance advisor can offer all sorts of advice on sharing the road with motorcycles and sharing the road with bicycles to help you avoid getting into an accident with these more vulnerable motorists.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for general safe driving tips, we can provide you with those too. We can even explain how practicing safe driving can help you maintain a clean record and eventually qualify for a safe driver discount.

Finally, as a full-service brokerage, we can also help you find a high-quality car insurance policy at a price you can afford. Reach out to BrokerLink today to request a free car insurance quote!

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