Car accident? Let us take the wheel.

Legate Car Accident Lawyers understands the emotional weight of motor vehicle collisions and the intimidating nature of the medical system and insurance industry. Please know you’re not alone. We want you to get better. And we want to be part of your recovery. If you or someone you love has been involved in a motor vehicle accident, you may be entitled to compensation to help you secure a better future. Focus on your recovery. Let us handle the rest. We’ve helped hundreds of people see beyond their unplanned reality and secure brighter futures.
Unsure if you have a case?
Contact us today
Unsure if you have a case?
Contact us today

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What to do after you have been in a car accident?

In the event of an unplanned reality, follow these steps for a hopeful future.

Accident benefits (also known as “no fault benefits” or “SABS”) are funds available to anyone injured by a motor vehicle. They are typically provided by an injured person’s insurance company. However, accident benefits are also available to people who don’t own a car (including those who are hurt as a pedestrian, passenger, or cyclist, or who are injured or killed in an accident involving the use or operation of a motor vehicle).

A motor vehicle can include cars, trucks, motorcycles, ATVs, and/or other vehicles licensed to operate on Ontario roads. Ask one of our lawyers for a free consultation if you have any questions about eligibility for accident benefits in Ontario.
Injured individuals can attend therapy centres of their choice within days of the collision, and there is no obligation to attend the therapy centre suggested by the insurance company. We happily connect our clients with the best medical and rehabilitation professionals suited to their needs.
Accident benefits are available through every auto insurance policy in Ontario. Standard and optional benefit packages are available. Accident benefits include:

• Income replacement benefits
• Medical benefits
• Rehabilitation and counselling benefits
• Attendant care and personal support costs
• Vocational retraining
• Caregiver and non-earner benefits
• Lost education benefits
• Death and funeral benefits
• Damaged clothing, glasses, and medical devices
• Visitors’ expenses for travel and seeing their loved one in a hospital
• Housekeeping benefits

Different tests of entitlement exist to receive each type of benefit.

Additionally, elections for certain accident benefits must be made at the outset of the claim—an important decision that you should contact a lawyer about.

What Can I Expect from a Car Accident Lawyer?

Legate Injury Lawyers has a thorough and proven approach for assisting individuals and families affected by car accident injuries. Although we cannot undo the injuries suffered, our goal is to compensate our clients and put them in the place they should be if the accident did not happen. Because we know that all our clients are unique, we take a hands-on and individualized approach to learn about their life situation, plan for litigation, and pursue their rights.

Common Types of Car Accidents

Speeding, impaired or distracted driving, vehicle defects, poorly maintained or designed roadways can all contribute to catastrophic car accidents and cause serious injuries. Legate Injury Lawyers helps people who’ve been injured in many types of car accidents, including:

  • Rear-end collisions
  • T-boned vehicles
  • Single-car collisions
  • Pedestrian collisions
  • Running red lights
  • Failing to yield
  • Unsafe turns
  • Bicycle collisions
  • Truck accidents
  • Train collisions
  • Bus and public transit injuries
  • ATV accidents
  • Driving mistakes
  • Scooter accidents
  • Ice, snow, and bad weather accidents

Common Types of Car Accident Injuries

The injuries that you or your loved one sustained from a motor vehicle accident could range from minor to serious—even life threatening. Some of the most common injuries our clients are recovering from include:

  • Concussions
  • Whiplash injuries
  • Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD)
  • Broken bones
  • Headaches and head injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Back pain, neck pain, and shoulder pain
  • Soft tissue injuries

Have you or someone you love been hurt? Unsure if you have a case?

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Car Accident FAQsAll FAQs

Anyone who was injured in an accident involving a car, SUV, truck, or motor vehicle should call Legate Injury Lawyers to find out if they have a case. We need to know the facts to give an opinion.
Hire a lawyer as soon as possible. Most lawsuits must be commenced within two years of the collision date. Extensions apply for children and incapacitated individuals.
An injured person should contact the applicable insurance company within seven (7) days. After notice is given, a claims representative will provide the injured person with specific forms to be completed. These forms, such as an OCF-1 and OCF-2, must be completed and submitted to the insurance company within ten (10) days. nnThe insurer may also request an OCF-3 (“disability certificate”) to be completed by the injured person’s doctor or therapy provider. Some exceptions can be made to applications made outside of these periods if the injured person has a reasonable explanation for the delay. nnRemember: these initial forms submitted to the insurance company are the only information that the claims representative will know about the accident benefits claim for some time. That’s what makes their content so important.n nSoon after the initial forms are submitted, the insurance company will start requesting medical, rehabilitation, and financial records. Applicants should know that signing an OCF-5 form will give the insurance company authority to order claimants’ medical records relating to their injuries and pre-existing conditions.nnOur talented teams of lawyers and law clerks are skilled at completing the above-mentioned forms and obtaining the records and documents required for accident benefit claims.
Unfortunately, insurance companies commonly deny accident benefit claims. When this happens, negotiation and legal assistance from one of Legate Injury Lawyers can be a valuable tool in obtaining the denied benefit. An appeal to the License Appeals Tribunal may also be necessary, a process which can take months or years to occur. Time is of the essence.
Most accident benefits expire after threshold amounts of money are spent or time periods expire. For example, medical, rehabilitation, and attendant care benefits have $3,500, $65,000, and $1,000,000 maximums based on the type of injury suffered. nnAlso, income replacement and non-earner benefit tests change after two years. You should speak to a lawyer well before your benefits run out (or two years pass), as more benefits are likely available if there is a viable lawsuit related to the collision.
Don’t worry. There are insurance policies and victims’ funds available under many circumstances.
There is no easy answer to this question, especially in the immediate aftermath of an injury. We cannot estimate a dollar figure without first:

– Talking with you
– Reviewing the relevant medical, financial, and liability records
– Analyzing the legal aspects of your claim
– Knowing what maximal recovery looks like for you.

As more information is gathered and your case progresses, we can provide you with what we believe is a reasonable valuation of your claim.
If clients are under the age of 21, they will typically have a parent involved in the lawyer-finding process. If under 18, they must legally have a parent involved and are not legally capable of signing a contract with us. Beyond this, our clients are from all ages. nnClaims of younger individuals are generally worth more due to the potential for longer periods of rehabilitation needs or lost income. Claims for people in their 40s-60s are typically a bit easier to litigate because of patterns that are likely present in their lives at that point. Claims for people in their 70s and 90s are typically complicated by pre-existing injuries. However, there are often losses to their children and other family members (such as childcare), which could promote a higher claim under the Family Law Act for lost services.
Yes. In some circumstances, such as an injury caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver, your own insurance company can be named as a defendant if certain policies were purchased.
Every case is unique. Some cases take a year. Some cases take five years. Some case may take longer. It depends on factors such as the legal and factual complexity of your case and the amount of time it takes for you to reach maximal recovery. It is only at this point that we can assess your future needs and ensure that you receive the compensation that will satisfy these needs. Rest assured we will work hard to settle your case as quickly as possible. But many circumstances are out of your—or our—control.
A case can settle at any time; over 95% of car accident lawsuits settle without trial. However, Legate Injury Lawyers always prepares as if trial is certain. We have worked to develop a reputation of being prepared litigators who don’t back down or take quick settlements.
If we agree to proceed beyond an initial investigation in your case, we usually enter into a contingency fee agreement that governs how we are paid. Most individuals cannot afford to pay upfront for a lawsuit. Contingency fee agreements facilitate access to justice by allowing you to compensate us for our time by paying a percentage of the amount you recover at the end of the case. The percentage fee is decided upon based on the risks in your particular case, the amount of resources we will spend to properly prepare your case, and other factors that we will discuss together.nnThe Law Society of Ontario requires firms to publish the maximum contingency fee they charge to ensure the public can make informed decisions. Unless a court orders otherwise, our fee will not be more than 35% of your damages and costs. Your fee may be lower. Fees will always be discussed and agreed upon in advance to ensure there are no surprises.

Our Your Team

Your loved one's health, security and future is our why. Advocating for people who've experienced injuries is a labour of love for Legate Injury Lawyers. We've helped hundreds of families see beyond their current circumstances and secure brighter futures.
We can help protect your future, too.