The average car insurance in Ontario provides the following coverage:
- Third-Party Liability Coverage;
- Accident Benefits Coverage;
- Direct Compensation for Property Damage;
- Uninsured Automobile Coverage; and
- Family Protection Coverage (OPCF-44R).
Third-Party Liability Coverage protects you if you are at fault for an accident that caused injury, death, or property damage to others. This coverage is mandatory and protects you from financial liability (up to the limit of your insurance policy) if you are ever sued by others after an accident. Your insurance company will also defend you in the lawsuit by appointing you a lawyer and covering the costs of your defence.
Accident Benefits Coverage provides you with statutory accident benefits if you are ever injured in a car accident, regardless of who caused the accident. These accident benefits cover expenses such as medical and rehabilitation expenses, attendant care expenses, funeral expenses, and visitor’s expenses among others.
Direct Compensation for Property Damage compensates you for the damage that your vehicle sustains in an accident where you are not at fault. This provision allows you to be compensated directly by your own insurer, as opposed to the at-fault driver’s insurer. Drivers in Ontario can now opt out of this coverage as it is no longer mandatory. However, doing so means that you will be personally responsible for any damage to your vehicle even when you did not cause the accident.
Uninsured Automobile Coverage protects you if you are ever injured in an accident caused by an uninsured driver or an unidentified (hit and run) driver. However, the most that your insurer will pay under this provision is $200,000. This is a mandatory protection found in all insurance policies in Ontario.
Family Protection Coverage (OPCF-44R) is an optional coverage that provides you with additional protection (beyond the mandatory $200,000 provided by the uninsured automobile coverage) if you are injured in a car accident caused by an uninsured driver, underinsured driver, or an unidentified driver. While this is considered an optional coverage and you can opt out of it, doing so is not recommended because it can have detrimental consequences for you and your family. In addition, the premium for this protection is very minimal and you won’t save much money by opting out. However, you will leave yourself and your family members unprotected if they are ever struck by a hit and run driver, an uninsured driver, or an underinsured driver (someone without adequate insurance). The most that your insurer will pay under this protection is the limit of your third-party liability coverage, minus most other insurance coverage available to you from other at-fault parties. The amount you may be entitled to can become complicated and you will need to speak to an experienced personal injury lawyer to be certain.
Ben Irantalab
Ben enjoys the complexities of personal injury litigation and finds the cases that require creative thinking the most gratifying. His practice is exclusively devoted to representing clients with brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and severe orthopaedic injuries.