Immediate Steps Following a Motor Vehicle Accident

The information in this blog post has not been updated to accurately reflect the current trends and information related to this topic. Should you require legal advice, please contact a personal injury lawyer or certified professional for additional information and resources. 

Learn about the immediate steps to take following a motor vehicle accident.

Step 1: Notify the Insurance Company

The first step is to notify your own insurance company of the motor vehicle accident.

The legislation states you must notify the insurance company within seven days if the police did not attend the scene and within 30 days if the police did come to the scene.

Step 2: Fill Out Forms

Ask your own insurance company for an OCF 1 - Application for Accident Benefits. This application will also include:

• OCF 2 – Employers Confirmation of Income
• OCF 3 – Disability Certificate
• OCF 6 – Application for Expenses

These are the primary forms required that should be immediately filled out following the accident. The OCF 1 is completed by the injured party. The OCF 2 is for completion by your employer. The OCF 3 is to be completed by your family doctor. The OCF 6 is to claim any expenses you have incurred as a result of your accident and if you continue to incur expenses you should make claims regularly to avoid denials by your insurer.

Step 3: Submit Your Forms

The importance of submitting these forms immediately is that the insurance company is not obligated to begin processing your claim until the forms are completed. If you are off of work and/or require an income replacement benefit, the insurance company will only be required to pay benefits if the appropriate forms are signed and returned to them. If you do not seek immediate medical attention at the hospital, then it is very important that you see your doctor within days following the collision so that they can document your injuries from the accident.

It is also important to note that if you have coverage through work, your spouse’s work or parents, then you have an obligation to submit any expenses to them first as they are the first payor of any medical expenses.

Step 4: Receive Required Healthcare

If your treating doctor recommends physiotherapy, chiropractic treatment, massage therapy, occupational intervention, etc. you are entitled, with the assistance of your family doctor to choose the facility you attend. You are under absolutely no obligation to choose from any preferred list provided by your insurance company. The sooner you obtain recommendations the more opportunity you have to obtain quick and efficient treatment for your injuries.

With the new changes to the legislation, it is vitally important to consult a lawyer or accident benefit consultant who specializes in personal injury law to learn of your rights under the no-fault legislation and your legal rights against the at-fault driver.

Insurance companies are required to follow very specific timelines that the legislation sets forth in the Act. If the insurance company does not respond in the timelines the Act provides, there are many situations where the recommendations for treatment will be automatically deemed approved.

There are many, many steps throughout the process that you or the insurance company may be required to complete and seeking legal advice can be a very important tool in deciding if you need assistance.

Accident Benefit Consultants can assist with filling out forms and help navigate through the process.

The Morris Law Group can help!

Benefits and insurance claims are difficult to navigate. If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, you need support and guidance to ensure you are receiving the maximum compensation available for your recovery.

The Morris Law Group created Accident Benefits Consultants (ABCs) back in 1994 to help guide clients through the claims process, by acting as front-line advocates. They provide assistance and information to ensure clients access all the benefits they are entitled to receive. They also will assist in negotiating fair payment for benefit entitlement.

Accident Benefits Consultants ensure that clients at The Morris Law Group are heard and defended both before and after a lawsuit.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a personal injury, call The Morris Law Group at 905-526-8080 or toll-free at 1-877-464-4466 for a free no obligation consultation with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers. At our law firm we work on a contingency basis, meaning that you don’t pay until your case settles.