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It's illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or over throughout Canada. In Toronto and throughout Ontario, drivers can face legal consequences for driving with a BAC between 0.05 and 0.08 percent. Moreover, driving while under the influence of recreational drugs can get drivers arrested. Police all over Toronto work...

You were just in a car accident. You're able to get out of your car, walk around, take pictures of the crash scene and speak to the other driver. You don't feel injured at that moment or any pain or discomfort you do feel seems minor enough to simply "walk it off." The body has...

No matter how safe a driver you may be, you can't always avoid the negligent actions of other motorists. Most car accidents are caused by human error. Human error can include a brief moment of carelessness or outright reckless behaviour. Most drivers may be aware that careless or reckless behaviour is risky, yet few of...

Everyday, we face risks on the road. Many of us adjust how we drive based on weather conditions, road defects, construction zones or even poorly designed roadways. When we encounter such challenges, good drivers give themselves more time to get from point A to point B. Many of the challenges we face on the road...

Toronto has become an increasingly dangerous city for pedestrians. Far too often do we see inattentive drivers blowing through traffic signals, speeding drivers zipping down residential streets, and aggressive drivers racing to get ahead on our major roadways. Toronto Life references a hit-and-run that killed a 54-year-old contractor in 2018. The man waited for the...

A recent decision by the Licence Appeal Tribunal confirms that "boilerplate" reasons for an insurer's examination are not sufficient notice of an examination under the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule. Our client had applied for catastrophic impairment determination, which was denied by Aviva Insurance. Aviva scheduled insurer's examinations, one of which was an otolaryngologist (Ear, Nose...

The Licence Appeal Tribunal has determined that an injury at a privately-organized motocross competition is an "accident" and that the injured party is, therefore, entitled to accident benefits from his insurer. In the Reconsideration Decision Michael Beaudin v. Travelers insurance Company of Canada [17-006174/AABS], Associate Chair Jonathan Batty agreed with Michael Beaudin, who was rendered...

Summer road trips can be fun, exciting, and create amazing memories for family and friends. However, getting into a car accident on a vacation can ruin those memories for everyone involved. Some injuries, like bumps and scraps, can be treated with minimal damage to your physical health. More severe injuries, such a concussions or spinal...

A recent article published by CBC.ca describes a family in Winnipeg whose five-year-old daughter was attacked by two dogs belonging to a neighbour. While that situation is governed by the laws of Manitoba, it illustrates that a dog bite can occur in even the simplest of circumstances. In Ontario, the Dog Owners' Liability Act says...

A recent arbitration decision by the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) has ruled that the Minor Injury Guidelines within the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS) are unconstitutional. In the decision, Abyan and Sovereign General [FSCO A16-002657], Arbitrator Benjamin Drory was asked to consider whether Sections 3 and 18 of the SABS unjustifiably infringe upon...