If you drive a vehicle in Ontario, the law requires that you insure your vehicle. Every auto insurance policy includes mandatory no-fault benefits. We pay for these benefits with our premium dollars. While premiums have continued to climb year after year, the no-fault accident benefits for injured victims continue to erode. While benefits have been steadily declining for many years, the changes that were imposed …
Automobile Category Archives
Restricted access to justice needs to be part of the election discussion
With Ontarians heading to the ballot boxes in less than a month, people are paying heightened attention to what the parties and candidates have to say on issues they care about. For many people, that means education, health care, jobs and environmental issues. Unfortunately, tort rights, thresholds and deductibles are probably not even on the radar, and understandably so. The reality is that most people …
Most pedestrian fatalities are preventable: Staying safe this spring
Pedestrians Crossing, Bloor and Yonge by Gary J. Wood, licensed under CC Attribution – Share Alike 2.0 Generic. As we break free from the long, dark days of winter, many people are anxious to get outdoors, enjoy the weather and get active. Over the past weeks, the OTLA blog has reminded us to be safety conscious as we hit the streets on our motorcycles or …
What to do after a car accident: The do’s and don’ts
For many people, spring and summer are synonymous with road trips. You may go to your cottage for a long weekend or drive somewhere delightful on a week-long road trip. But as more vacationers take to the road this spring and summer, the potential for an accident also increases. The sad truth, according to statistics, is that most drivers will be involved in a vehicle …
The Dispute Resolution System (DRS) Review: Are the recommendations in the public interest?
Since its release on February 18, 2014, the final report on the Ontario Automobile Insurance Dispute Resolution System (DRS) has been a topic of interest. This is no surprise as each of the report’s 28 recommendations will be considered by the provincial government when contemplating legislative changes that may affect the DRS structure and operation. Any changes to the DRS should be of particular interest …
Minor Injury Guideline is not just holding up—it appears to be gaining strength
Willie Handler is a familiar name to anyone working with auto insurance regulations. He has left the public sector, joined the private sector as a consultant and he now maintains a blog called Ontario Auto Insurance Topics. He recently posted an article titled HCAI Data Confirms Ontario’s Minor Injury Guideline is Holding Up in response to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) Health Claims Database …