(Photo credit: imelenchon/morguefile)
The Ontario government may increase the damage requirement to report an accident to more than $2,000 from $1,000.
If you’re involved in an car accident, you must report it to police or a Collision Reporting Centre if someone is injured, if you suspect someone is guilty of a criminal code offence, such as intoxicated driving, or if it looks like the damage done to all the vehicles involved is more than $1,000.
The damage threshold was set by the province back in 1998 and other provinces have already increased their threshold to keep up with inflation and the rising cost of car repairs, according to the Toronto Star.
The province doesn’t expect this policy change will make much difference to traffic, but they hope it may free up police resources from being called to minor accidents, says the Star.
The director of government and community relations for the Canadian Automobile Association told the Star that repair costs add up quickly.
The province’s proposal is open for review and comments will be accepted until May 4. The NDP critic expressed concern to the Star that they want to know more details about how these changes will impact drivers.
Regardless, even if you’re involved in a minor accident with minimal damage, Toronto Police suggest drivers contact the cops in a bid to avoid insurance fraud.
Meanwhile, the OPP has released more in-depth collision data to better illustrate the impact poor driving behaviour has had on Ontario resident in the last ten years.
“A fatal road crash happens in a split second, but its consequences are far reaching and last for months, years and for some surviving family members, the rest of their lives,” Deputy Commissioner Brad Blair, Provincial Commander, Traffic Safety and Operational Support, said in a press release.
“When you add it all up, the economic and social costs associated with road crashes in Ontario are in the billions of dollars every year, with fatalities being the largest single contributor to social costs. It is absolutely tragic to see so many drivers either underestimate or not care about the role they can play in dramatically reducing this impact on society.”
Between 2005 to 2014, there were 3,504 deaths due to motor vehicle collisions. Young males between the age of 25 to 34 had the highest fatality rates of 397 deaths, which 310 of those killed were drivers and 60 of those were passengers.
Driving a vehicle properly has an impact on your safety and it also affects the safety of others. In the fatal accidents during the last decade, 2,425 drivers were killed and among those deaths, 450 drivers were driving properly.
It’s also important to always take the time to buckle up whenever you get into a vehicle since wearing a seatbelt impacts your survival of a car accident. A lack of seat belt contributed to 856 deaths (611 drivers and 245 passengers), which there were more male casualties (646 deaths) compared to female casualties (210 deaths) during the last decade.
The personal injury and accident lawyers at Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers will ensure that the accident benefits you claim are legitimate. We have been dealing with all accident related issues throughout Ontario for over 45 years. We know how to get you the compensation that you deserve and get your life back in order after being in a car accident. Call us at 416-920-4242, set up a free consultation, and come speak with us.
Greg Neinstein
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