In Canada, car accidents are common. In fact, they’re so common that the statistics are slightly alarming. Results show that almost 150,000 people are injured in vehicular accidents every year. The numbers may be higher than this since not all incidents are reported.
Not all accidents lead to death or severe injuries. Still, it’s good for you to know what to do ahead of time in case you are part of an accident in Ontario. Knowing what to do ahead of time will make you more prepared for making sure you meet all requirements for reporting any accident in Ontario. Doing so will reduce the chance of being penalized through fines by inadvertently not filing the correct information at the right time. In addition to this, reporting an accident the correct way makes sure you are secured, if a claim is file for personal injuries or damage.
Accidents happen suddenly and unexpectedly. Even when there are no physical injuries, the parties involved in the accident may be shocked about what happened. In the heat of the moment, it can be hard to know what to do if you haven’t educated yourself ahead of time about the steps needed to protect your rights quickly, after being involved in an accident.
Reporting Accidents in Ontario
Possibly the essential point to remember if you’re ever involved in an accident is to make sure you never go away from the accident scene. This becomes especially important if anyone has been harmed, as per Injury Lawyer in Richmond Hill.
It’s important to get medical help as soon as possible for any injured people. Then you must call the law enforcement to report an auto accident, if the damage is estimated to be more than $2000 or if someone has suffered physical or mental injuries.
When you make the call, the police officer will let you know what you should do while you wait for the police to arrive. These are the situations where you must report the accident immediately to the Ontario police:
• |If you suspect any of the drivers are under the alcohol influence.
• Someone who was walking was hit by a vehicle was part of the accident.
• There’s property damage when the property owner is not there.
• A government car was part of the accident.
• If any of the drivers doesn’t have insurance coverage to an auto that was in the collision.
It is not necessary to report to the police at the scene of the accident if nobody was injured in the car accident and if the value of the damage to property and vehicles is lower than $2000. You will still need to report the accident within 24 hours.
Penalties for leaving the scene of an accident can be severe. The consequences of not reporting leaves you vulnerable to a claim by another driver. So be sure to protect your rights and know how to handle car accident reporting.