After an accident, insurers move quickly. So should your lawyer.
Personal injury claims are shaped early: what gets documented, what deadlines are met, and what you say to an insurance adjuster before you have advice. Many injury lawyers in Ontario offer contingency fee agreements, where some or all of the fee depends on the claim succeeding, so read the agreement for who pays disbursements and what happens if costs are awarded against you.
Olanur matches you with verified personal injury lawyers in your province, whether your case involves a vehicle collision, a fall, or an insurer that will not pay what the claim is worth.
Olanur is a legal matching platform, not a law firm. The services described on this page are performed by independent licensed lawyers and legal professionals you can be matched with, and each sets their own fees.
Injury claims in Ontario run on several tracks at once: accident benefits from an auto insurer, a separate lawsuit against whoever caused the harm, and notice deadlines that can be far shorter than the usual two years. Each rule below was checked against the current statutes, regulations and the regulator's published figures. For auto claims specifically, see our auto insurance lawyer guide.
Every Ontario auto policy includes statutory accident benefits, and the regulation makes the insurer pay them to an insured person injured in an accident without any condition about who caused it. Which insurer pays is set by priority rules, and it is usually your own.
For policies bought or renewed on or after 1 July 2026, medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits remain mandatory. Income replacement, non-earner, caregiver, other expense, and death and funeral benefits are now optional coverage. For accidents in Ontario since that date, the auto insurer pays medical and rehabilitation costs, other than medication, even where an employer, union or individual health plan would also cover them.
Tell the insurer you intend to claim within seven days of the accident, or as soon as practicable, and return the signed application within 30 days of receiving the forms. Missing a time limit does not end your entitlement if you have a reasonable explanation.
Medical and rehabilitation benefits for an impairment that is predominantly a minor injury are capped at $3,500 plus HST, unless a health practitioner gives compelling evidence that a condition documented before the accident would prevent recovery within that limit. The overall limit for medical, rehab and attendant care is $65,000 plus HST, or $1,000,000 plus HST for a catastrophic impairment, and optional coverage can raise those limits.
Pain and suffering damages are available only for death, permanent serious disfigurement, or permanent serious impairment of an important physical, mental or psychological function. For an injured person in 2026, those damages are reduced by $47,913.01 unless the award is over $159,708.71. Family members' own claims have a smaller deductible, and none applies where the person died.
Disputes over accident benefits are decided by the Licence Appeal Tribunal, not the courts. An application generally has to be started within two years after the insurer refuses to pay, and the filing fee is $106.
A claim against a municipality for failing to repair a road or sidewalk needs written notice to the clerk within 10 days, and a late notice is excused only in limited cases. An injury from snow or ice on someone's premises needs written notice to the occupier or their contractor within 60 days. A municipality is not liable for snow or ice on a sidewalk unless it was grossly negligent.
A contingency fee agreement must be in writing, and a percentage-based one must use the Law Society's standard form. The fee cannot be more than what you recover, but you may still owe disbursements, and any costs awarded against you. You can ask the court to assess the bill within 30 days of receiving it, or within a year of paying it.
Sources, checked 3 October 2026
Looking for help with one of the services below? Our pre-qualified lawyers can help. Not sure where your problem fits? Tell us what happened and Olanur's AI will figure it out and match you with the right lawyer.
An initial consultation after any injury, covering what your claim is likely worth, which deadlines are already running, and what to document while the evidence is still fresh.
Help completing and submitting the accident benefits application to the insurer responsible for paying it, usually your own auto insurer, including the disability certificate, so treatment, and any income replacement you are covered for, is not delayed by paperwork.
Your insurer cut off or refused treatment, income replacement or an assessment. A lawyer reviews the denial and takes the dispute to the Licence Appeal Tribunal where the benefits are worth fighting for. An application generally has to be started within two years of the insurer's refusal.
The separate claim against the driver who caused the collision, for losses beyond your accident benefits. Pain and suffering damages are only available for death or serious, permanent injuries, and smaller injury awards are reduced by a deductible set each year.
Review of an injury on someone else's property under occupiers' liability rules, covering who was responsible for maintenance, what notice the law requires, and how strong the claim is.
Injuries caused by the condition of a municipal road or sidewalk need written notice to the municipal clerk within 10 days. A lawyer prepares and serves that notice on time, since a late notice is excused only in limited cases.
A claim against a dog's owner for bite or attack injuries, where Ontario law makes the owner liable without proof they knew the dog was dangerous, including scarring, and the compensation available for medical treatment, time off work and lasting effects.
Your long-term disability claim was denied, terminated or reduced. A lawyer reviews the policy definition of disability, the insurer's medical reasoning, and whether to appeal internally or sue.
Support with a refused Canada Pension Plan disability application, from the reconsideration request, generally due within 90 days of being told of the decision, through an appeal to the Social Security Tribunal, with the medical record organized to meet the test.
An assessment of whether care fell below the accepted standard and caused your injury. These claims turn on expert evidence, so the first step is an honest read on whether the case is viable.
Injuries caused by a defective or unsafe product, covering the manufacturer, distributor and retailer, and whether a recall or safety history strengthens the claim.
A consultation for families after a death caused by someone else, covering the claims close family members can bring for loss of guidance, care and companionship, funeral expenses and their own financial losses.
Tell us what happened in plain language. No legal jargon needed, and it is completely private.
Our AI matches you with verified, licensed professionals who handle exactly this kind of matter in your province.
Review expertise, languages and consultation fees, then book a time that works. Matching is free for clients.
Free AI matching with verified Canadian lawyers. No directories to dig through, no cold calls, no obligation.
Find My Lawyer Now100% free for clients · Licensed professionals only · Response in under 24 hours
They handle claims for injuries someone else caused. In Ontario that can mean the accident benefits application, a dispute at the Licence Appeal Tribunal, the written notices that have very short deadlines, and a lawsuit against the person or business responsible, which usually has to start within two years of discovering the claim.
Many injury lawyers in Ontario work under contingency fee agreements, where some or all of the fee depends on the claim succeeding. The agreement must be in writing, and the fee cannot be more than you recover. Read it closely for who pays disbursements and what happens if costs are awarded against you, because those can still fall on you. You can also ask the court to review the bill.
Partly. For policies bought or renewed on or after 1 July 2026, medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits are mandatory. Income replacement, non-earner, caregiver, other expense, and death and funeral benefits are optional. When a policy is renewed on or after that date, the benefits it already had carry over as optional coverage unless you decline them in writing, and they cover only the named insured, their spouse, their dependants and listed drivers.
Not before you understand what you are giving up. In an Ontario car accident case, an injured person's pain and suffering damages are reduced by a deductible of $47,913.01 in 2026 unless the award is over $159,708.71, and a refused accident benefit can still be taken to the Licence Appeal Tribunal within two years of the refusal. Get advice on what your claim may be worth before you sign anything.
In Ontario, most injury lawsuits must start within two years of the day you knew, or should have known, about the claim, which is presumed to be the day of the injury. Some notices are much shorter: 10 days to the municipality for a road or sidewalk repair claim, 60 days for an injury from snow or ice on someone's premises, and seven days to tell an auto insurer you plan to claim accident benefits.
In Ontario, the Dog Owners' Liability Act makes a dog's owner liable for damages from a bite or attack. You do not have to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous or was careless, but damages can be reduced if your own fault contributed. If a dog has more than one owner, each can be held fully liable.
Written by our editorial team and grounded in Canadian law, so you can walk into any conversation prepared.
Claim delayed or denied after a crash? Learn when to hire an auto insurance lawyer in Canada, what to document, and how to fight unfair payouts in 2026.
Need urgent legal help in 2026? Learn 7 fast, practical ways to find a lawyer in Canada urgently-while verifying licensing, jurisdiction, and fit.
Do I need a lawyer in Canada in 2026? Learn 11 situations where legal help is worth it, 5 where it may not be, and how Olanur guides you to the right lawyer.
Personal Injury