After a collision in Ontario: first steps

Nobody plans for a collision, so nobody has the list ready when it happens. This is the order we would follow ourselves, written for a driver in Ontario. It is general information, not legal advice, and your insurance company's instructions come first where they differ.

Safety first. If anyone is hurt, call 911 before anything else. If the cars can be moved and nobody is injured, move them out of traffic, turn on your hazard lights, and stay out of the lane. A second collision on the shoulder is worse than the first one.

Decide whether it has to be reported. In Ontario, a collision must be reported to the police if anyone is injured, or if the damage to all the vehicles together looks to be more than $2,000. That is less than it sounds: a bumper, a headlight and some paint can pass it. If you are not sure, ask the police where to report it, because for many minor collisions it is done at a collision reporting centre rather than at the scene.

Collect the details before anyone drives away. You need the other driver's name, phone number, driver's licence number, licence plate, insurance company and policy number, and the make and model of the car. If there were witnesses, ask for a name and a phone number. It takes two minutes and it saves weeks of back and forth later.

Take photos at the scene. Photograph both cars where they stopped, the damage on each, the road and any signs or signals nearby. These are for your insurer and the police. Later, when you ask a shop for an estimate, only the damage photos are needed, and you can leave your plate and your documents out of those.

Call your insurance company as soon as you can. Tell them what happened, give them the other driver's details, and write down the claim number they give you. Your policy sets a time limit for reporting a collision, so do not wait for the repair estimate before you call.

Choose where the car is repaired. Your insurer may suggest a shop, and you can use it if you like. The regulator's own guide says that as long as your insurance company approves the estimate, you may have the car repaired at the shop of your choice. Whichever shop you choose, the first thing your adjuster will ask for is an estimate.

If the car cannot be driven, it will need a tow. Before you agree to one at the roadside, ask where the car is being taken and what it will cost, and tell the driver which shop you want it taken to. If you are not sure yet, a phone call to the shop you have in mind is the quickest way to sort it out.

When things are calmer, send us photos through our estimate form. We reply within one business day, and if the car cannot be driven or you are not sure what to do next, call us and we will talk you through it.