When a person is seriously injured in an car accident in Ontario, due to the fault of another driver, the injured person may be able to receive compensation through filing a personal injury claim with the driver’s insurance company. Insurers in the province are required to provide benefits for people who are injured in automobile accidents.

On behalf of Joseph Caprara of CBLAW posted in Car Accidents on Friday, January 16, 2015.

When a person is seriously injured in an automobile accident in Ontario, due to the fault of another driver, the injured person may be able to receive compensation through filing a personal injury claim with the driver’s insurance company. Insurers in the province are required to provide benefits for people who are injured in automobile accidents.

The types of benefits a person may receive will depend on the accident, their losses and whether they lost income from work. If a person was forced to miss work due to the accident, he or she may receive benefits to replace that income. If a person was a caregiver for another person prior to the accident, he or she may receive caregiver benefits to pay for the associated expenses for not being able to provide care. Non-workers who are no longer able to live normally may receive non-earner benefits.

Medical expenses, rehabilitation costs and attendant care are all available in the event they are needed. Other expenses, including housekeeping and home repair costs, family transportation to and from the hospital to visit, educational losses and property losses may all be covered through the claim. In the event a person is killed in an accident, his or her family may be eligible to receive death benefits and funeral expenses.

Ontario mandates this type of broad coverage to help lessen the financial burden placed on those who are seriously injured in a car accident. Many people who are seriously injured may feel frustrated when trying to negotiate with the insurance company. People may wish to seek the assistance of a personal injury lawyer in order to appropriately identify all benefits to request. A lawyer may be able to better estimate such things as expenses that are likely to be ongoing and thus that should be included.

Source: Financial Services Commission of Ontario, “After an Auto Accident: Understanding the Claims Process“, accessed on Jan. 10, 2015