Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyer in Toronto & the GTA

After a motor vehicle accident in Ontario, you may have two claims: no-fault accident benefits from your own insurer (regardless of who caused the crash), and a tort claim against the at-fault party. You generally have 2 years to sue, but only 7 days to notify your insurer.

If you've been hurt in a motor vehicle collision in Ontario, the days that follow are often a blur of medical appointments, insurance calls, and time off work. This page is a starting point: it explains how motor vehicle accident claims work in Ontario, the deadlines that can affect your case, and where to find detailed guidance for the specific type of accident you were in. It is general information, not legal advice for your situation.

The two claims: accident benefits vs. a lawsuit

In short: accident benefits generally come from your own insurer and are paid regardless of fault. A tort claim is a separate lawsuit against the at-fault party for losses your benefits don't fully cover, such as pain and suffering. Many injured people pursue both at once.

Ontario runs a “no-fault” auto insurance system, which is widely misunderstood. It does not mean no one is to blame. It means your own insurer pays your initial benefits quickly, without waiting for fault to be sorted out. Fault still matters, because it determines whether you can sue for everything your benefits don't cover. Our accident benefits page explains the benefits side in depth, and each accident-type page below covers what is specific to that situation.

Types of motor vehicle accident claims we handle

The deadlines that matter

• 7 days: Notify your own insurer of the accident.
• 30 days: Return the completed accident-benefits application (OCF-1).
• 120 days: Give written notice to the at-fault driver if you intend to sue.
• 2 years: The general limitation period to start a lawsuit (subject to the discoverability rule and extensions for minors or incapacity).
• 10 days: If your injury involves a municipality (for example, a poorly maintained city road), written notice to the municipality. This matters for crashes tied to road conditions in Toronto and across the GTA.

The right deadline depends on the facts and the date of your collision, and missing one can bar an otherwise strong claim. If you're unsure where you stand, it's worth a free call sooner rather than later.

How AK Lawyers handles motor vehicle accident claims

AK Lawyers (Antonov Kaganovich LLP) is a personal injury firm in Toronto that represents injured people, never insurance companies. Our approach to motor vehicle claims:

• We prepare every file as if it will go to trial. Most claims settle, but thorough preparation is what gives our clients leverage to negotiate from strength.
• We build the evidence. Where a case calls for it, we coordinate with treating physicians, retain medical specialists, and work with accident-reconstruction and economic experts to document the full extent of your losses.
• We manage both tracks (your accident-benefits claim and your tort claim) so deadlines are met and nothing falls through the cracks.
• You are not just a file. You'll have a clear point of contact and plain-language updates on your case.
• Contingency fees: you don't pay legal fees unless your claim succeeds. The fee is a percentage set out in a written contingency-fee agreement at the start, which also explains how disbursements (case expenses, such as medical reports and court fees) are handled.

Serving Toronto & the Greater Toronto Area

Based in Toronto, AK Lawyers represents people injured in motor vehicle accidents across Toronto and the surrounding GTA, including Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, North York, Scarborough, Barrie, Richmond Hill, Aurora, and King City. Motor vehicle claims in this region are generally handled through the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. Whether your collision happened on the Gardiner, Highway 427, the QEW, or a local street, we can help you understand your options.

Frequently asked questions

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