An appraiser will be assigned to provide you with expert guidance throughout the claim process. After an accident, you must file a report to your broker, agent, or insurance company within seven days or as soon as possible after that. If you don't file within a reasonable time, your claim may not be addressed. Once things have been resolved, you should contact your insurance company and inform them of the accident as soon as possible.
It's best to do it within 7 days, or as soon as possible after that. If you wait too long, the insurance company may not have to comply with your claim. It's also helpful to call them for advice on what to do during and after the scene of the accident. You can file a car claim with step-by-step instructions through the TD Insurance app.
If you file a claim with your own insurance company, ask the company for a claim form as proof of loss. Complete, sign and send this form to the company as soon as possible to avoid delays in resolving your claim. Take lots of photos of both your car and the other car at the scene of the accident, especially of the point of impact, to have as evidence. Being involved in a car accident is an incredibly stressful experience in and of itself, but having to deal with car insurance afterwards can make it worse.
The DCPD means that drivers claim their own insurance company instead of claiming vehicle damage to the at-fault driver's insurance. It can be useful to have a list of all the steps and tips to follow somewhere in the car if you need it, and be sure to ask a police officer or your insurance company for advice on what to do to be more secure. If your insurance company refuses to review your decision and you continue to disagree, contact your insurance company's complaint officer. After you report an accident, your insurance company will determine fault following the Insurance Act and the Culture Determination Rules.
For example, your own auto insurance company may provide you with accident benefits, or your employer's insurance company may be the one providing you with accident benefits. For example, if the other vehicle is not insured, the DCPD does not apply, or if the other insurer is not licensed in Alberta, the DCPD only applies if that insurer has signed a commitment (PDF, 170 KB). Ontario insurance companies are required by the Insurance Act to use the detailed guidelines of the Fault Determination Rules to determine fault in accidents. Learn how an accident can affect your car insurance premium, and then how you can work to lower your premium again.