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Claims

I've been in a collision. What should I do?

Here are some steps you can take in a scenario like this: 

1. Get the driver’s licence information of the other driver. If the driver is not willing to provide this, take a photo of the licence plate or write it down. 

2. Take photos of the damage, and of the other car if you can. 

3. Call the police. Even if the accident is minor, collisions with an uninsured driver must be legally documented.

4. The police officer may direct you to a Collision Reporting Centre where you must provide all the information you have about the car and the plate number.

5. Contact your insurance company via phone to get your claim started. You can reach them via 1-844-472-7905, choose the Claims option and select your insurance provider. Alternatively, you can find their direct number on your pink slip or certificate of insurance.

These situations can be stressful, but we’ll work through them together!

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When do I need to report a collision to the police?

You must report a collision to the police if one of the following scenarios apply:

• A person is injured (even slightly).
• The total value of damages to property is over $2,000. It’s not often that you’ll have an accident where the total damage is under $2,000 because you need to take into consideration both the damage to your vehicle and any other vehicle involved. Don’t forget any peripheral damage, like a streetlight, fences, mailbox, etc.
• When the collision was caused by a cyclist, or vehicle hitting an open door on your vehicle - irrespective of injuries or the value of the damages.

In most cases, the police will ask you to visit a collision reporting centre to report your accident.  Rules differ municipally, so make sure you follow the due process as requested by the police.

If the third party is unknown, you must get a police report within 24 hours of the damages since this could impact your coverage. Instances include hit-and-runs, single-vehicle collisions and damages whilst the vehicle is parked.

If your driving takes you outside of Ontario, the rules of the road may change. Contact the local authorities to confirm what to do in case of an accident.

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What do I do when my car needs a tow?

Need a tow? We’d recommend that you give us a call at 1-844-472-7905 and we can point you in the right direction. If you have the right coverages in place, this may be covered as part of your claim.

The towing industry can be confusing when it comes to charges and fees, especially when a police officer tells you to move your car and an eager tow truck is ready to hook up your vehicle. Take a look at this informative blog to make sure you know your rights when you need a tow.

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I hit something with my car. What should I do?

Safety first – if you hit something and anyone is injured, always call the police as soon as possible.  

Assuming no injuries, here are some steps you can take to get things taken care of.  Don’t stress, we’re here to help. 

As with any collision:

1. Exchange information with the other people involved. 
   Pro tip: take a photo of the other party’s driver’s licence, pink slip and the licence plate and you have all the info you need! (Important info: name, contact details, licence plate number, vehicle information [year, make, model], insurance company name and policy number). If the other party doesn't cooperate, try to get at least the licence plate number.
2. If the other person isn’t around, be sure to leave a note with your contact information. If you don’t, there are some pretty hefty consequences; like being charged with failure to remain on the scene, or potentially being deemed at fault. 
3. Report your claim to us as soon as possible. You can reach the Claims team at 1-844-472-7905. They will guide you to your nearest Collision Reporting Centre, and the next steps. 
4. Think the claim is small, and want to see if you can take care of the damages yourself? See our question on "What is a minor claim?"

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I've been in a collision with someone who doesn't have insurance or hasn't provided the info. What do I do?

Here are some steps you can take in a scenario like this: 

• Get the driver’s license information of the other driver. If the driver is not willing to provide this, take a photo of the license plate / write it down. 
• Take photos of the damage, and of the other car if you can. 
• Call the police. Even if the accident is minor, collisions with an uninsured driver must be legally documented.

The police officer may direct you to a Collision Reporting Centre where you must provide all the information you have about the car and the plate number.

Contact your insurance carrier to get your claim started. Call 1-844-472-7905 and choose the Claims option. Alternatively, you can find your carrier's direct number on your pink slip or certificate of insurance.

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Someone hit my car and drove off. What should I do?

There are two scenarios to consider when someone hits your car and drives off. 

You have no idea who hit you: 

Report the damage to the Collision Reporting Centre, preferably within 24 hours but no later than 48 hours. Keep in mind you MUST report to the nearest Collision Reporting Center in the jurisdiction where the collision took place, and not the location closest to your home address. You can find a list of locations here.

You can consult your policy documents to confirm if you have coverage for Collision and take note of your deductible. 

Report a claim and your insurance company will take care of you! Call 1-844-472-7905, choose the Claims option and select your insurance company. Alternatively, you can find your provider's direct number on your pink slip or certificate of insurance.

You have the information of the person who hit you (e.g. they left a note, or there was a witness):

Same as above.

If it is possible to identify the person who hit you, AND they have insurance, we may be able to settle the claim using your Direct Compensation Property Damage coverage, which has a deductible of $0.

 A small silver lining: if you are the victim of a hit and run the claim is considered a ‘not at fault’.

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I'm getting sued / received a statement of claim. What do I do now?

If you receive a notice that you are being sued, be sure to let your insurance carrier know right away. Call 1-844-472-7905, choose the Claims option and select your insurance carrier. Alternatively, you can find your provider's direct number on your pink slip or certificate of insurance.

When you are at fault for an auto collision, the other party damaged has the right to sue you for bodily injury and/or property damage. They normally send you a letter to advise that they are holding you responsible, including a description of the damage and the amount sought.

Sometimes, a Statement of Claim is the first notice you receive instead of a letter. This is an official legal document advising you that there is a suit filed against you. It must be served (delivered) officially to you by a process server. The Statement of Claim is generally full of accusations and allegations. No need to worry! These are not factual until proven.

We will review the Statement of Claim and hire a lawyer to defend any covered claim. During discoveries, we will uncover all the verified information to present to the court.

FYI: Whether you've received a letter or a Statement of Claim, you should not discuss anything with the other party or their lawyer(s), and most definitely do not sign anything! This is because your insurance company is responsible for representing you in these scenarios, and you wouldn’t want to jeopardize your defence lawyer’s ability to represent you effectively.

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What is a minor claim?

What is considered a minor claim:

• The cost of damage to each vehicle involved in the collision, including any property damage, does not exceed a combined total of $2,000, and the cost of all such damages is paid by the at-fault party;
• No bodily injuries are sustained because of the collision; and
• No payment is made by any insurer for any damage to the vehicles or property resulting from the collision

If these criteria are met, then you don’t necessarily need to submit a claim. That, however, is up to you.

FYI: If your insurance carrier determined it to be a minor collision, it usually won’t impact your premium even if you report it first. Not sure if your collision qualifies as a minor claim? Contact your insurance carrier directly.

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How do you calculate the value of my vehicle?

If a car is considered a total loss, several factors will be considered:

• Year, make, model

• Kilometres

• Additional equipment added other than customization (unless it’s for accessibility reasons)

• Any recent repairs/additions with supporting documentation

• The market value of a similar vehicle in similar condition at the time of loss

• Depreciation

With this information, we can calculate the value of your car. A bit of math, but ultimately, fairly straightforward. If you need more clarification, be sure to ask your claims adjuster; They'll walk you through all the specifics.

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How do you determine at fault after a collision?

In Ontario, there are fault determination rules set out by law that insurers need to use. Take a look if you’re curious, it's pretty comprehensive!

The rules govern how insurers assign fault. If the collision is not described exactly in the fault determination rules, then the fault is assigned using the ‘rules of the road’ in the municipality where the collision occurred.

If you don’t agree with the fault determination or don’t understand why – contact the Claims team of your insurance company.

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Do I have to use your people to fix my car/property?

There is no legal requirement to use your insurance carrier's preferred vendor if you don’t want to. That said, we strongly recommend that you do. Here’s why:

Your insurance company developed relationships with these vendors because they have a solid history of quality work. They audit the quality of their work on a regular basis and provide a warranty for all their repairs.

Your insurance company cannot warranty any issues with repairs from your company of choice. You would be responsible to handle any issues directly with your repair company.

Need more info? Contact your carrier's Claims team via 1-844-472-7905. Alternatively, you can find their direct number on your pink slip or certificate of insurance.

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Where can I get my windshield repaired?

Please contact your insurance carrier listed on your pink slip for details on where to get your windshield repaired.

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Will I have to pay a deductible to repair my windshield?

Typically windshield repairs are covered by your comprehensive insurance, but depends on your carrier and the extent of the damage.

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What happens if I get sued because of a collision?

We all hope these things never happen, but these things do happen. That’s why you buy insurance in the first place - to protect you against just such a scenario.

Assuming you had a valid auto insurance policy at the time of the collision, your liability coverage would respond up to the limit you have purchased. Consider your liability limit, and whether increasing that number is best for you. 

If you are being sued, call 1-844-472-7905 and select the Claims option. Alternatively, you can find your provider's direct number on your pink slip or certificate of insurance.

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When is my car totalled?

Your insurance company will assess several factors when considering whether to repair or replace your vehicle, including (but not limited to):

Is the vehicle able to be repaired? It must be able to meet safety criteria. If not, they have to determine your car to be a total loss.

If it costs more to repair the car than its market value, it will usually be a total loss.

If the car is deemed a total loss, they will settle the claim on actual cash value.

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I've heard that most parking accidents are at fault, or 50/50. Is that true?

Every car collision is subject to fault determination rules (FDR). These rules determine the degree of fault assigned to an insured in the event of a collision.

While we can’t go through every scenario here, we thought it might be worth exploring a few common ones:

Leaving a parking space:

The car leaving the parking space must always give priority to all other traffic. A driver who hits another vehicle while leaving a parking space is most likely to be at fault.

Driving into a parked car:

The driver that hits another vehicle that is legally parked is always considered at fault. The same applies if a driver (or passenger) damages another vehicle while opening the doors of their car.

Traffic signs in parking lots:

Drivers must obey parking lots’ traffic signs. A driver is considered automatically at fault if involved in a collision resulting from failing to obey these signs or the directions of a police officer.

If you’ve been involved in a collision and need help, you can always give us a call at 1-844-472-7905 and select your insurance provider in the Claims menu. Alternatively, you can find your provider's direct number on your pink slip or certificate of insurance.

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My vehicle was stolen, what do I do?

We’re sorry to hear this happened to you! Please notify us as soon as possible about the incident. Simply give us a call at 1-844-472-7905.

You should also fill out a police report as soon as possible. 

Note: If the vehicle is recovered, please contact your insurance carrier's claims department before driving it.

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What’s the difference between a minor, major, and criminal conviction?

In Ontario, there are three categories of driving convictions: minor, major, and criminal. The classification of tickets can sometimes vary by insurer.

Minor traffic convictions are the most common and most people will be guilty of them at some point. These convictions won’t cause you to lose your license or go to jail but could affect your insurance. It’s also important to note that red light and speed camera tickets don’t count because they cannot verify the driver’s face.

Minor convictions may include:

• Failing to signal

• Failing to wear a seat belt

• Speeding

Major traffic convictions are more serious infractions that carry steeper fines and more demerits. These offences are considered major because they have a higher likelihood of causing injuries or fatalities and often have a greater impact on insurance rates.

Major convictions may include:

• Distracted driving

• Failure to report an accident

• Speeding in a school zone

Criminal traffic convictions have the greatest impact on your life and the lives of others. These result in the heaviest penalties including possible license suspension or jail time.

Criminal convictions may include:

• Impaired driving

• Racing or stunt driving

• Driving with a suspended license

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My car is a total loss or write-off. What's next?

Refer to your pink slip for your insurance carrier's phone number to notify them of the total loss. 

You then need to either call us to cancel the policy, or let us know if you intend to substitute the vehicle on the policy with a new one. 

If you're using a rental car in the meantime, don't cancel your policy until you return your rental vehicle.

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How do I submit a car insurance claim?

You can start a claim by calling us at 1-844-472-7905 and select your insurance provider in the Claims menu. Alternatively, you can find your provider's direct number on your pink slip or certificate of insurance. 

It’s useful to have the following information on hand. The more information you can provide upfront, the faster your insurance company can help you:

• Report from the Collision Reporting Centre or the police.
• Vehicle info, licence plate number, insurance and contact info of the other party. 
• Photos of the damage/scene.
• Receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses.
• Receipts for any lost or damaged items.

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