A car accident can be sudden and completely life altering, bringing medical care, medical expenses, missed work, lost wages, vehicle damage, and insurer calls bursting into your world. Thankfully, legal deadlines and insurance deadlines can add to that stress. The main deadline to start a lawsuit is generally two years from the date the claim is discovered. Insurance claims, however, can require action much earlier.   If you plan to make an insurance claim, contact your insurance company as soon as possible. Many policies set time limits for submitting a claim, often ranging from 30 days to 90 days from the [...]

After a collision, drivers may give very different accounts of what happened. When drivers disagree, witness evidence can become important.Passengers are often in a position to explain what they saw before the crash. Their witness statements may help show how the accident occurred, especially when there are no third person witnesses nearby. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada recognizes that witness accounts can help explain how events unfold during an investigation. At McNally Gervan, we can offer legal assistance for motor vehicle claims where passenger evidence, photographs, medical records, and insurance records all need to be reviewed together. The following guide will [...]

There is no set payout for a car accident claim in Ontario. The amount depends on the type of claim, the injuries involved, the medical evidence, and the insurance coverage available. At McNally Gervan, we help clients look at both sides of an Ontario car accident claim: accident benefits available through their own policy, and, where the facts support it, a civil claim against the at-fault driver. The right answer depends on the legal framework that applies to the case. How Much Money Can You Get After a Car Accident in Ontario? There Is No Fixed Settlement Amount Ontario law [...]

In Ontario, reporting a motor vehicle accident is governed by the Highway Traffic Act and applies once specific conditions are met. The province outlines the process through its collision reporting process in Ontario, including where and how a report must be made. Failing to report when required is an offence with direct legal and financial consequences. At McNally Gervan, we help clients understand when reporting becomes mandatory and how that missed step can affect an insurance matter or injury claim. When Reporting a Car Accident Is Required in Ontario In Ontario, reporting a car accident is required when the combined [...]

When a car breaks or is heavily damaged  in a car accident, transportation can immediately become a problem. Work, medical appointments, and everyday responsibilities continue, even while insurance questions remain unresolved. Many drivers look to their insurance company for guidance on rental cars at this stage, only to find that the answer is not clearly explained.  At McNally Gervan, we understand that “am I entitled to a rental car after an accident” is one of the first questions clients have in major motor vehicle accident claims. General explanations, such as Enterprise Canada’s overview of rental coverage and loss-of-use insurance, can [...]

Whiplash is a common diagnosis after a motor vehicle collision. It can also become one of the most disputed injuries in an insurance claim, especially when symptoms evolve over time and imaging does not capture what a person is dealing with day to day.In 2023, Transport Canada reported 9,261 serious injuries sustained from motor vehicle collisions, the highest total in the last five years. That number reflects how often people are injured in crashes that don’t look dramatic on paper, but still lead to real limitations.Ontario law does allow a person to sue for whiplash after a car accident. In our [...]

After a car accident, a legal claim can start to feel like a second job. An insurance company may request documents, medical records take time to arrive, and settlement discussions can surface before you feel ready to make long-term decisions. In that context, one question comes up often: can I change lawyers during a car accident case? At McNally Gervan, we represent some of the 50,261 injured people across Ontario (as of 2024) in motor vehicle accident claims, including files that also involve accident benefits disputes, long-term disability issues, and other insurance litigation. These files can include personal injury claims [...]

Clients who reach out to McNally Gervan after a car accident want direct, workable information. The question how long does a car accident stay on your record often surfaces before anything else because it affects insurance, recovery planning, and expectations for the months that follow. Fault drives much of the outcome. Under the fault determination rules, insurers assess conduct at the scene, review police reports, examine witness statements, and revisit the file if new material appears. A confirmed at-fault outcome can influence car insurance premiums for an extended period. Once recorded, the collision becomes part of the driver’s history and [...]