Automobile Accidents

In the event of a collision do not voluntarily assume liability or take responsibility, sign statements regarding fault, or promise to pay for damage at the scene of the accident. The insurance act provides fault determination rules for insurance adjusters used to determine who’s at fault or partially at fault. Even if you may be charged with an offence under the Highway Traffic Act, fault determination for insurance purposes is a different process.

The Financial Services Commission of Ontario has overall responsibility for insurance in Ontario and has provided the following seven-step process to follow if you are in an auto accident. Steps 2 & 7 have been amended to reflect local environment.

STEP 1 Stop. If your vehicle is involved in an accident and you don’t stop, you may be subject to prosecution.

STEP 2 If anyone is injured OR if the total damage to all the vehicles involved appears to be MORE than $1,000 OR if you suspect that any of the other drivers involved are guilty of a criminal offence (such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol), call 911 and follow the instructions given to you by the emergency operator. Police will arrive as soon as possible.

Other than immediate life-saving measures such as First Aid, do not try to move anyone injured in the accident — you may aggravate their injuries.

If nobody is injured and total damage to all the vehicles involved appears to be LESS than $1,000, call your local police for instructions. Police units may or may not be dispatched to the scene. If local police do not attend the scene of the accident, they will instruct you to report to a Collision Reporting Centre within 24 hours.

Collision Reporting Centers are police facilities created to assist motorists in reporting motor vehicle accidents. At the reporting center you will be assisted in completing a police report, and damage to the vehicle will be photographed.

STEP 3 If it is safe to do so, move your vehicle to the side of the road, out of traffic. If your vehicle cannot be driven, turn on your hazard lights or use cones, warning triangles or flares, as appropriate.

If you have access to a digital camera or a cell phone, you should use it to take pictures of the scene; preferably before the vehicles are moved. You should also use your cell phone to audio record as much information as possible.

STEP 4 Write down the names, addresses, and telephone and driver’s license numbers of all of the other drivers, the license plate numbers of the other vehicles, as well as the names and addresses of the registered owners of the vehicles, and the insurance information for each of the other vehicles.

STEP 5 Obtain the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of passengers and witnesses.

STEP 6 Document specific details about the scene of the accident immediately after the occurrence.

STEP 7:

  • Contact your supervisor
  • Complete an online report – Risk Management will be in contact with you concerning your accident and may require further details.
  • Report to appropriate insurer
    • Personal Vehicle – Report to your insurer listed on your policy
    • Rental Vehicle – Report to Visa, rental agency and Risk Management
    • College Vehicles – Report to Risk Management