It’s a miracle that no one was seriously hurt after a 40 vehicle pile-up closed northbound lanes on highway 400 near highway 89, north of Toronto and the GTA. Lanes remained closed over the morning as police sorted through the mess. It was a sudden snow squall that caused a cascade of collisions along the stretch of highway.
While no one was seriously injured, police took the opportunity to remind motorists about the basics of driving safely in snowy weather – those basic tenets that people seem to forget every year.
- Slow down
- Keep your distance
It’s a timely reminder now that we’re just heading into the wintry part of the year, but those two simple principles can help to avoid the kind of domino effect that results in a multi-car accident.
What If You’re Caught In the Middle?
If you’re caught in the middle of a massive accident like that, you’re left with many questions. How does your insurance pay for your damages? And if you’ve been hit from behind and then hit another car in front of you, are you at fault? How does it affect your insurance?
We have no-fault insurance in Ontario and many people assume that means there is no determination of who is at fault, so your insurance simply pays up and there’s nothing more to worry about.
That’s not the case, however. What no-fault insurance really means is that your insurance company pays your benefits – meaning that accident victims can get benefits much more quickly and in a more straightforward manner.
But, it actually does matter who is at fault in a motor vehicle collision.
- The insurance companies (between them) will determine who is at fault regardless of whether there is a police investigation or not.
- If you are found entirely or partially responsible for a car accident, it goes on your insurance record and your premiums may go up.
- If you are found to be 100% innocent of causing the accident, you may be able to sue the party deemed responsible for some accident benefits, including pain and suffering, loss of income and future earnings.
In Case of An Accident…
A two car collision or even a single motor vehicle accident can involve complex issues and situations. You need expert help on your side. Let us bring our expertise to your case – you only have a limited time to make a claim.
You need to contact a lawyer right away if you have been involved in a car accident. Your own legal representation will ensure that your interests are considered in any final arrangement.
We Focus On Car & Motor Vehicle Accidents
Petrillo Law has been providing competent, caring legal advice to car accident victims in Mississauga, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and across Ontario for over 20 years. We can evaluate a case to determine whether it meets the provincial threshold required to start a lawsuit as well as represent injured people who have been denied accident benefits by their own insurance company.
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