Auto Insurance Consumers' Bill of Rights

February 23, 2017, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

In Ontario, all car owners are required by law to carry car insurance. Most people are aware that it is illegal to drive a car without insurance. Many people, however, are not aware that they have many rights under the same legislation. The Insurance Act extends rights to you as a car insurance consumer. It is important to understand what the rights you have are. Here is a partial list of your rights:

1. You have the right to purchase auto insurance coverage.
2. You have the right to be treated fairly by your insurance company.
3. You have the right to be given written reasons if you have been denied auto insurance.
4. You have the right to keep your policy in place if you pay your premiums and meet the responsibilities.
5. You have the right to pay your auto insurance premium in monthly installments.
6. You have the right to keep your policy in place if you pay your premium within 30 days following one or two non-sufficient fund (NSF) situations.
7. You have the right to be informed in writing if your policy is not being renewed.
8. You have the right to change or cancel your insurance policy at any time.
9. You have the right to remain with your insurance company even if that company no longer sells insurance through your broker.
10. You have the right to know from which companies your broker received quotes and the amounts.
11. You have the right to prompt and fair handling of claims.
12. You have the right to reasonable repair of your damaged vehicle.
13. You have the right to choose a repair shop, tow operator or vehicle rental company.
14. You have the right to receive information about accident benefits.
15. You have the right to dispute your insurance company’s refusal to pay benefits.
16. You have the right to choose your health care provider.
17. You have the right to register a complaint about your insurance company.

Consumers’ Responsibilities

1. You must insure your vehicle and retain your proof of insurance (pink slip) while driving.
2. You must pay your premium in a timely fashion.
3. You must give true and accurate information to your insurer and complete all forms promptly.
4. You must promptly let your insurer know about any change in circumstances that could affect your insurance situation, including if you are involved in any accident.
5. You must provide your insurer with updated information when requested.
6. If you are claiming accident benefits, you must send your insurer a completed accident benefits package on time.
7. If you are claiming accident benefits, you must attend medical examinations requested by your insurer that are reasonably necessary to evaluate your claim.
8. If you receive accident benefits from your insurer, you must participate in treatment and rehabilitation, and try to get back to work.

http://www.fsco.gov.on.ca/en/auto/brochures/Pages/brochure_billofrights.aspx

If you find you’ve been hurt in a car accident you should contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to make sure you understand what your rights to compensation are. The rules around compensation can be very complicated, the process long, and the frankly if you are seriously injured you may well be too pre-occupied with recovery to focus on paperwork.

About Deutschmann Law

Deutschmann Law serves South-Western Ontario with offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Woodstock, Brantford, Stratford and Ayr. The law practice of Robert Deutschmann focuses almost exclusively in personal injury and disability insurance matters. For more information, please visit www.deutschmannlaw.com or call us at 1-519-742-7774.

It is important that you review your accident benefit file with one of our experienced personal injury / car accident lawyers to ensure that you obtain access to all your benefits which include, but are limited to, things like physiotherapy, income replacement benefits, vocational retraining and home modifications.