A car accident can bring costs well beyond the repair bill: time off work, treatment, a replacement vehicle and higher premiums. This page covers the money side and links to the insurance guides for the details of each claim. It’s part of the car insurance hub.
First steps
- Report the accident to your insurer as soon as you can; policies set deadlines for notice. Some collisions must also be reported to police: in Ontario, by law, any collision with injuries, or with damage to vehicles or other property over $5,000.
- Start an accident benefits claim with your own insurer (or the public insurer) if you were hurt, whoever was at fault. Claims have time limits.
- Keep records: photos, the other driver’s details, the police report number, and every receipt for treatment, travel to appointments and other costs.
- Tell your employer if you’ll miss work, and ask about sick leave and group disability coverage.
Accident benefits and income replacement
What you receive while you can’t work depends on your province:
| Province | Income replacement |
|---|---|
| Ontario | Optional coverage for policies from July 1, 2026; standard benefit 70% of gross income up to $400 a week, with higher optional limits up to $1,000 a week |
| Quebec (SAAQ) | 90% of net income, on gross income up to $102,500 a year in 2026 |
| British Columbia (ICBC) | Up to 90% of net income, on gross income up to $122,500 a year, from the 8th day after the crash |
| Manitoba (MPI) | 90% of net income, on gross income up to $123,000 a year from April 1, 2026 |
| Saskatchewan (SGI No Fault) | 90% of net income, up to a maximum |
| Other provinces | Accident benefits set by provincial regulation, with a weekly cap (in Newfoundland and Labrador, accident benefits are optional coverage); check your policy |
In Ontario, the July 2026 changes made income replacement, caregiver, death and funeral benefits optional: a renewed policy keeps them unless you declined them in writing, and a new policy has them only if you chose them; medical, rehabilitation and attendant care remain mandatory, up to $65,000 for non-catastrophic injuries. Car insurance in Ontario covers the changes.
If your income is above the public insurer’s maximum, or the standard benefit in your province is low, income replacement covers only part of your pay. Group or individual disability insurance, sick leave and EI sickness benefits may fill some of the gap.
If your car is written off
The insurer pays the car’s actual cash value, its market value just before the accident, not what you paid or what a new one costs. If you owe more on the loan or lease than that, you’re responsible for the difference unless you have gap coverage. What to do when your car is written off explains how the value is set and how to challenge a low offer.
Premiums after an accident
An at-fault accident usually raises premiums at renewal, and it stays on your insurance record for several years. Some policies include accident forgiveness for a first at-fault claim. How each province rates drivers is covered in the car insurance hub.
Injury claims against the other driver
Accident benefits are separate from a claim against an at-fault driver for losses the benefits don’t cover. Whether and how you can sue depends heavily on the province: Quebec, Manitoba and BC’s no-fault schemes largely replace lawsuits for injuries, and Ontario limits claims for pain and suffering to more serious injuries. Before signing a settlement, it’s worth getting legal advice; many personal injury lawyers offer a free first consultation.
Related resources
Sources
The figures and rules on this page come from these sources, last checked against them on September 25, 2026. How we check facts.
- cooperators.ca: Auto Reform in Ontario (ON exclusive)
- Government of Ontario: Dealing with emergencies | The Official Ministry of Transportation (MTO) Driver’s Handbook
- ibc.ca: Ontario Auto Insurance Changes
- ICBC: If you need to take time off work
- mpi.mb.ca: Personal injury protection plan
- SAAQ: Compensation Table for 2026
- sgi.sk.ca: Guide nofault