At-fault Accidents In Ontario And How They Impact Insurance

Being at-fault is exactly as it sounds – you are the driver who is responsible, or the cause of an accident. For example, you are the car that initiated contact or failed to stop in time.

The amount of fault for which you are responsible is determined by your insurer. They will perform an investigation. Someone will always be found to be at-fault, whether it's fully or partially. You can be found anywhere from 0% to 100% responsible.

At-fault Collisions Apply To All Drivers

One thing that many drivers are unaware of is that at-fault applies to all drivers. The Insurance Bureau of Canada explains :

When you lend your car to someone, you also lend that person your insurance. If the person who borrows your car has an at-fault while driving it, their accident goes on your record, and your insurance could go up.

Who is at-fault for an accident is not always clear right initially. Many factors go into fault determination. Who’s involved, where they were driving, speed, road conditions and more all play a role.

Fault determination rules were created to help insurance companies, police and others involved determine who is at-fault, and how much fault they share.

Your Insurer Determines Who's At-fault In An Accident

Fault is determined by your insurer. To do this, they use the Fault Determination Rules that were created under the Insurance Act to investigate the accident and assign fault.

The Financial Services Commission of Ontario explains :

After you report an accident, the company will investigate the circumstances and then make decision based on the accident fault determination rules in Ontario.

Fault determination rules cover many different accident types and driving situations :

• Cover many types of accidents : They cover more than 40 accident situations, using diagrams to illustrate specific occurrences, can be applied to almost every possible scenario.
• Apply to many conditions : Are applied regardless of road or weather conditions, visibility, point of impact on the vehicles, or the actions of pedestrians.

Fault is allocated to each driver based on which scenario most closely resembles the accident. If any of the scenarios do not describe the accident, then the fault is allocated according to the ordinary negligence law rules.

Want to learn more about the fault determination rules? Visit the Service Ontario website.

Contrary to popular belief, the police do not impact your insurers' decision to assign fault. If you are charged with a traffic offence as part of your accident, you will not necessarily be deemed to be at-fault. On the other hand, if the police decide not to file charges, you can still be responsible for the crash.

FSCO provides a good example :

For example, if a vehicle could not stop on an icy road and rear-ended another, a police officer may say that neither of the drivers was at-fault. Such a comment relates to the laying of charges and should not be taken as an opinion about how the fault determination rules apply to an auto insurance claim. In a case like this, the insurer would apply the rule stating that a vehicle that rear-ends another is at-fault.

You have the right to disagree with the fault determination. This is why it's so important to document everything. You can appeal the decision and state your case to your provider. All companies have an appeal process in place. A third-party mediator may also be brought in to make a final determination.

There are many different types of car crashes and accidents that you could be involved in when driving – sideswipes, T-bones, head-on incidents, multi-car pile-ups and more.

In total, there are 40 common types of car accidents that are used to determine fault. However, there is a difference between getting into an accident and being the cause of one.

Here are the top types :

Rear End Collision

This is perhaps the easiest to determine fault. If you rear-end another vehicle, then you will most likely be found at-fault. Whether the vehicle comes to a sudden stop, is stopped at a traffic light, or even stopped on the side of the road, the vehicle that makes the initial contact is most commonly the cause.

If multiple cars rear-end each other, each vehicle that hits the car in front of them will usually share some of the fault.

Single Driver

If you are involved in an accident, and no other drivers are involved, you will be at fault for it in most instances. Common types of single driver accidents include causing damage to public property, crashing into a parked vehicle, hitting a tree and hitting a pedestrian. Even if the cause is poor road conditions, or you swerve to avoid an animal or something else on the road, you will still be found guilty.

Failure To Obey Traffic Signs

If you fail to abide by the rules of the road, then you will most likely be found to be at-fault. This includes running a red light, failure to signal when changing lanes, or disobeying a posted traffic sign and causing an accident with another vehicle that was following the rules of the road, regardless of who made the initial contact.

Changing Lanes

In most situations, the vehicle making the lane change or entering a lane of traffic is at-fault. This includes changing lanes, turning into a lane of traffic, merging onto the highway, and any other situation when a vehicle moves across the line.

T-Bone

A T-bone accident, or side-impact, can happen in many situations. It most frequently happens at intersections. Depending on the situation, either driver could be to blame. It often comes down to which driver had the right-of-way and if a traffic violation occurred.

Distracted Driving

Taking your eyes and attention off the road for any reason will make you at-fault. Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of accidents and deaths on our roadways.

If you are found to have been texting, using your phone, or engaging in any activity that is deemed to be distracted driving, then you will most likely be found to be at-fault.

Impaired Driving

Driving while impaired will immediately qualify you to be at-fault if you are involved in an accident.

These are some of the most common incidents; however, regardless of the type of accident in which you are involved, there is a chance that you could be found to be fully or partially at-fault.

If you are found to be at-fault, you can expect your insurance to increase. You may be able to minimize the amount if the accident was minor or if you have accident forgiveness.

Now for the all-important question – how much does it go up if you are found to be the cause of an accident?

Well, it depends on a number of factors, such as :

• Your Driving Record : If you have a clean record, your premiums will likely go up less than if you have an accident or two on your record.
• Accident Forgiveness : Consider adding this endorsement to protect yourself.

If you’ve had a number of at-fault accidents, you may need high-risk insurance.

Yes. If you are involved in an at-fault accident you could see an increase. However, if you share less than 25% of fault in causing it, you will not likely see an increase.

If you get into a non-fault accident and are not to be the cause of the crash, your insurance will not likely go up. It is a common myth that it will automatically change if you file a claim.

As of June 1, 2016, insurer cannot increase your costs for your first minor at-fault accident within a three year period. There are certain criteria that must be met.

The FSCO explains :

Insurers can no longer use a minor at-fault accident that occurs on or after June 1, 2016 meeting certain criteria to increase your premiums. The criteria include that no payment has been made by any insurer, that there are no injuries, and that damages to each car and property were less than $2,000 per automobile and were paid by the at-fault driver. This provision is limited to one minor accident every three years.

Driving without insurance in Ontario has serious repercussions. If you cause an accident and do not have insurance you will be held personally responsible for any repairs to your vehicle. You will also have to cover your own medical bills. You will be fined and could face charges depending on the circumstances.

What happens if a pedestrian caused an accident or a pedestrian ran in front of your car? The same rules apply in determining fault as if two vehicles caused it. Your company will use the fault determination rules to assess responsibility to the incident.

There are several common situations where pedestrians can be found to be at-fault, even if they are not hit by the vehicle or injured. They include :

• Crossing in the middle of the road
• Jaywalking
• Crossing against traffic signals

Being involved in an accident is bad enough. But, getting into an accident that is not your fault and with an uninsured driver can complicate things.

The good news is you are covered. All policies in Ontario include uninsured automobile coverage. This protects you in instances you are involved in an accident with someone who is driving without insurance.

You will deal directly with your provider and they will compensate you for damage and medical costs.

Once you make sure everyone is okay at the accident scene, file a police report, take your vehicle to the reporting centre, and contact your insurance company. Don’t admit fault.

If you are found to be at-fault, expect a change in premium or possible denial when it is time for your car insurance renewal. If you have an accident on your record, it’s now more important than ever to compare quotes to find coverage and keep costs down.

At-fault Accident FAQs

Does Insurance Cover At-Fault Accidents?

Yes. Your insurer will cover you if you are at-fault for an accident for repairs and medical costs. You will be required to pay your deductible.

How Long Does An At-fault Accident Stay On Your Record?

Accidents stay on your record for six years. Some insurance companies check as far as ten years back.

Who's At-fault In A Multiple Vehicle Accident?

Determining fault becomes more complex when more than two vehicles are involved, such as multi-vehicle accidents.

Who Is At-fault In An Intersection Accident?

There are many factors at play in an intersection accident. Whether or not the light was red, a driver was turning left, traffic violations occurred, and more need to be considered to assign fault.

Is A Tire Blowout An At-fault Accident?

Tire blowouts happen all the time. In general, tires are not covered by your policy. A blowout itself may or may not be considered an accident, especially if no other vehicles are involved. The nature of the blowout will also be considered – it could be caused by debris or a manufacturer defect. Fault is determined on a case by case basis.

Final Thoughts On At-Fault Accidents And Your Policy Needs

Even if you are at-fault, it's recommended to search around when your policy is up for renewal. This will increase your chances of finding the cheapest car insurance for your needs.