How Is Fault Determined When It Comes To Car Accidents In Ontario?

Car accidents can be both physically and emotionally distressing. In Ontario, determining fault plays a crucial role in insurance claims and legal proceedings following an accident, and understanding how fault is determined can help individuals involved in car accidents navigate the aftermath more effectively.

In this article, we took a closer look at the fault determination process in car accidents within Ontario, considering the factors and criteria of insurance companies and authorities and discussing the significance of fault determination in insurance claims and legal proceedings.

How Is Fault Determined In Ontario?

The first thing to consider is that all drivers in Ontario are subject to a “fault determination rule,” which states that the driver primarily responsible for causing an accident is legally and financially liable for any resulting damage or injury. This means that, typically, one driver is assigned fault for an accident while the other (or others) is not. In some cases, fault can be split by a percentage between the parties to an accident.

Fault can be determined by a variety of factors, including:

Consulting The HTA

The Ontario Highway Traffic Act (HTA) is the primary source of regulations governing drivers in the province. It requires all drivers to operate vehicles with reasonable care and attention, and it also sets standards of conduct for various driving scenarios, such as passing other vehicles, following other vehicles, or making turns. When an accident occurs, authorities will often look to these regulations to determine whether a driver was in violation of the HTA.

Witness Statements

Witness statements and police reports can also help determine fault by providing details on what happened leading up to an accident. Police officers can provide insight into the speed or manner of driving that contributed to an accident, and witness statements can corroborate these details.
In addition, witness statements can supplement other evidence, such as photographs or video footage of an accident scene.

Photographs/Video Footage

As mentioned, photographs and video footage of the accident scene are often used to determine car accident faults. These images can provide important information about the conditions of the road, the position of vehicles before and after the collision, and any other relevant details that may have contributed to the accident.

Inspections Of The Vehicles Involved

Physical inspections of the vehicles involved in an accident can also determine fault. This is because these inspections can provide insight into the vehicle’s condition before the accident and any damage that occurred during the collision. In some cases, it may be possible to identify malfunctioning parts or defects that could have contributed to a collision. Also, by looking at impact points on the respective vehicles, we are able to determine, speed and the time one had to either see or avoid a collision.

Contributory Negligence

Ontario is a contributory negligence jurisdiction, meaning that liability for an accident can be shared between drivers. In these cases, both drivers are found to have contributed to the accident somehow and are therefore, each assigned a portion of the blame (and the liability).

Why Is Determining Fault In A Car Accident In Ontario So Important?

Fault determination plays a crucial role in car accident cases in Ontario because it determines who is financially responsible for damages and injuries resulting from the accident. Without fault determination, insurance companies and other authorities could not assess the individual’s degree of liability and provide the appropriate compensation or legal protection.

Just keep in mind, even though fault is a critical component to your Tort claim, you can still make a claim for Accident Benefits and Medical Treatment from your own insurance company, irrespective of fault.

Some of the main reasons that fault determination is so important include:

Legal Proceedings

In some cases, fault determination may determine whether a driver should face criminal charges for causing an accident. For example, suppose the evidence suggests that a driver was driving in an excessively reckless manner at the time of an accident. In that case, they may be charged with a crime such as negligent driving or dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

By assessing all available evidence and using it to determine fault, authorities can determine whether a driver should face legal repercussions for their actions.

What Can Be Claimed By Victims Once Fault Is Determined?

Once fault is determined in a car accident, victims can typically claim compensation for their injuries, pain and suffering, property damage, loss of income and other losses. Depending on the accident’s severity, car accident injury claims compensation may include medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity due to disability or injury, and even punitive damages.

Medical Expenses

Medical expenses are typically the most significant kind of compensation that victims of car accidents can claim. These expenses may include bills for hospitalization after injuries, medical treatment, rehabilitation, medication, and more.

Pain And Suffering

Victims may also be able to claim compensation for any pain and suffering they experienced due to the accident. This type of compensation is typically awarded based on the amount of time it took for the victim to recover from their injuries and any other physical or psychological effects they suffered.

Property Damage

Victims of car accidents may also be eligible to claim compensation for any property damage that occurred as a result of the accident. This may include damages to vehicles, personal items, and even structures such as buildings or fences.

Lost Wages

Victims may also be able to claim compensation for any lost wages or earning capacity that was caused by the accident. This type of compensation is typically awarded based on the amount of time it took the victim to recover from their injuries and any other economic losses they suffered as a result of the accident.

Punitive Damages

In cases where the driver responsible for the accident acted in a particularly reckless or negligent manner, victims may be able to claim punitive damages. This type of compensation is typically awarded as a form of punishment and is meant to deter drivers from engaging in similar behaviour in the future.

Contact Us For Car Accident Claims Ontario

Fault determination is essential when it comes to car accidents in Ontario because it helps insurance companies and other authorities assess liability and determine who should be held responsible for paying the claim. Victims may then be able to claim a variety of different types of compensation, depending on the severity of the accident and other factors.

Determining fault is based on a number of criteria, including the actions of all parties involved in the accident, as well as any laws that may have been broken. An experienced lawyer or insurance adjuster can help you understand your rights and determine who is liable for the damage caused by the accident.

Here at Ristich Law, our team has a wealth of experience in handling car accident claims and will be able to work with you to navigate the process, determine fault, and ensure that you have access to the compensation and support that you deserve. Get in touch today and see how our team can help.