What to Do After a Car Accident in Ontario
Stay Calm and Check for Injuries
The moments after a car accident can be disorienting. Your first priority is safety. Check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If anyone is hurt, call 911 immediately. Even if injuries seem minor, it's important to get medical attention as soon as possible.
Call the Police
In Ontario, you are required to report any accident that results in injuries or property damage exceeding $2,000. Call the police and wait for them to arrive. The police report will be an important piece of evidence if you decide to pursue a claim.
Document Everything
If you're able to do so safely, gather as much information as you can at the scene:
- Take photos of all vehicles involved, including damage and license plates
- Photograph the accident scene, road conditions, and any relevant signage
- Get the names, phone numbers, and insurance information of all drivers involved
- Collect contact information from any witnesses
- Note the time, date, and weather conditions
Seek Medical Attention
Even if you feel fine after the accident, see a doctor within 24 to 48 hours. Some injuries, like whiplash, concussions, and soft tissue damage, don't show symptoms right away. A medical record created shortly after the accident strengthens your claim significantly.
Notify Your Insurance Company
Report the accident to your own insurance company promptly. In Ontario, your own insurer provides accident benefits (also called no-fault benefits) regardless of who caused the accident. These can cover medical treatment, income replacement, and other expenses.
Be Careful What You Say
Don't admit fault at the scene or in conversations with insurance adjusters. Fault determination in Ontario follows specific rules, and what seems obvious at the scene may not reflect the legal reality. Stick to the facts and avoid speculation.
Consider Speaking with a Lawyer
If you've been injured, consulting a personal injury lawyer early can help protect your rights. Most personal injury lawyers in Ontario work on a contingency fee basis. At my personal legal practice, Lemonade Law™, my fee is a percentage of what I recover for you, and if there is no recovery there is no fee; the percentage and terms are set out in a written agreement before I start, in plain language, as the Law Society of Ontario requires.
Learn more about how I handle motor vehicle accident claims in Ontario.
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Claim.ca is a free platform operated by Marty Mikhail, a lawyer licensed by the Law Society of Ontario. Legal services are provided by Lemonade Law™, Marty Mikhail's personal legal practice.