No Fault Insurance
Despite the name no fault insurance drivers in Ontario cannot create a 10-car pile-up without facing a penalty. Someone will always be found "at-fault" in a car accident, whether they’re held partially or fully responsible. “No fault” simply means that if you are injured or your vehicle is damaged, your own insurance company will pay your claim, regardless of who caused the accident. This means that Ontario drivers can get help immediately instead of waiting on another insurance company to determine who’s to blame for the accident—and waiting even longer before paying out benefits.
In provinces that implement the “no-fault” policy, insurance companies will assign all drivers involved in the accident a fault percentage, from zero to 100. If you are found even 1 percent responsible, the accident will go on your insurance record and chances are you’ll have to pay a higher premium when you renew your policy.
In Ontario, a chart is used to determine who is at fault in a traffic accident. That information is passed along to your insurance company. Set by government regulations, these fault rules apply to the whole province and cite more than 40 accident scenarios. The various accident situations are illustrated with diagrams. These fault rules are applicable at all times, regardless of weather conditions, visibility, point of vehicle impact and pedestrian behavior.
If you disagree with your insurance company’s decision of fault, you can speak to the claims adjustor to see what determination rule applied to you. If you still feel the decision does not accurately reflect your particular situation, you should speak with a lawyer. Our qualified no fault insurance lawyers at Findlay Law can answer any questions and give you a free consultation. Call today!
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