Civitas Law
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Toronto · Serving the GTA

Personal Injury Lawyer in Toronto

Committed advocacy for injured people in Toronto, starting with a free 10-minute case review with the lawyer.

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Personal injury lawyer in Toronto reviewing an accident claim Personal Injury
Overview

What a Toronto personal injury lawyer handles

Personal injury claims in Ontario are shaped heavily by the province's no-fault insurance system: after a car accident, injured people first look to their own auto insurer for statutory accident benefits under the Insurance Act, regardless of who caused the crash, before considering a lawsuit against an at-fault driver. Civitas Law helps Toronto clients understand what benefits they're entitled to, pursue disputed or denied claims, and evaluate whether a tort claim against an at-fault party is available given Ontario's injury threshold.

We also assist with slip-and-fall and other negligence-based injury claims arising in the GTA.

How we help

Injury claims we handle in Toronto

Direct access to your lawyer at every stage, with clear, honest advice about your options.

Car accident claims

We help clients pursue accident benefits and, where the injury threshold is met, tort claims against at-fault drivers.

Statutory accident benefits disputes

We assist clients whose insurer has denied or reduced medical, rehabilitation, or income replacement benefits.

Slip and fall (occupier's liability) claims

We evaluate and pursue claims against property owners or occupiers under Ontario's Occupiers' Liability Act.

Long-term disability claim disputes

We assist clients whose long-term disability insurer has denied or terminated benefits.

Pedestrian and cyclist accident claims

We represent pedestrians and cyclists injured by motor vehicles in Toronto traffic.

Catastrophic and serious injury claims

We help clients with serious, life-altering injuries navigate the benefits and compensation process.

Wrongful death claims

We assist families pursuing claims for the loss of a family member due to negligence.

Ontario context

How personal injury claims work in Ontario

Ontario operates a no-fault auto insurance system under the Insurance Act and its Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS), which means an injured person applies for medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits through their own insurer regardless of fault. For policies entered into or renewed on or after July 1, 2026, income replacement and several other benefits are optional coverage, so the policy in force on the accident date matters. To sue an at-fault driver for pain and suffering or other damages, an injured person generally must meet the 'verbal threshold' of permanent serious impairment set out in the legislation, and any award is typically subject to a statutory deductible.

Ontario also imposes strict notice and limitation periods, including a general two-year limitation period to sue and much shorter deadlines, such as notifying your own insurer within 7 days of the accident and giving the at-fault driver written notice of a lawsuit within 120 days, so acting promptly after an accident matters. Disputes over accident benefits are generally resolved through the Licence Appeal Tribunal, while tort claims proceed through the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

FAQs

Questions Toronto clients ask about personal injury

Plain-language answers to the questions we hear most. Every matter is different, so treat these as a starting point.

What should I do immediately after a car accident in Toronto?
Seek medical attention, report the accident to police where required, exchange information with other drivers, and notify your own insurer promptly since accident benefits are claimed through your own policy regardless of fault. Keep records of medical treatment and any time missed from work, since this documentation supports your claim.
Do I need to be at fault to claim benefits after a car accident?
No. Ontario's no-fault system means you apply for statutory accident benefits through your own auto insurer regardless of who caused the accident. Fault only becomes relevant if you pursue a separate lawsuit against another driver for damages beyond accident benefits.
How long do I have to make a personal injury claim in Ontario?
The general limitation period to start a lawsuit is two years from the date you knew, or ought to have known, about your injury and the party responsible, but accident benefit claims have their own shorter notice deadlines. Because some deadlines are much shorter than two years, it's important to speak with a lawyer soon after an accident.
What if my insurance company denies my accident benefits?
Denied or reduced benefits can be disputed, often starting with a request for reconsideration and potentially proceeding to Ontario's Licence Appeal Tribunal. We review the insurer's denial letter and your policy to determine the strongest way to challenge the decision.
How are personal injury lawyers paid in Ontario?
Many Ontario personal injury matters are handled under a contingency fee agreement, where the legal fee is a percentage of the settlement or award. Ontario law requires that agreement to be in writing in a standard form that sets out the percentage, how costs, disbursements and HST are handled, and what you owe if the claim does not succeed. Your first step is a free 10-minute case review with the lawyer, and we explain the fee terms in writing before you sign anything.
Can I still sue if I was partly at fault for the accident?
Ontario applies principles of contributory negligence, so compensation can be reduced in proportion to your own share of fault rather than barring a claim entirely. We assess the specific facts of your accident to estimate how shared fault might affect your claim.
What does a personal injury lawyer do?
A personal injury lawyer represents people who have been hurt due to another party's actions, such as in a car accident or slip and fall, and helps pursue compensation for losses like medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering. They gather evidence, deal with insurers, and negotiate or litigate the claim.
Do I need a lawyer for a personal injury claim in Ontario?
A lawyer is not legally required, but insurers have their own adjusters and legal teams, and Ontario's accident benefits and tort rules are technical. A lawyer helps evaluate the claim, deal with the insurer, and pursue disputed or denied benefits so a person is not navigating the process without guidance.
What is the difference between accident benefits and a tort claim in Ontario?
Accident benefits are paid by a person's own auto insurer regardless of fault and cover medical, rehabilitation and attendant care costs, plus income replacement and other benefits where the policy includes them (several became optional coverage on July 1, 2026). A tort claim is a separate lawsuit against an at-fault driver for damages like pain and suffering, available only if a legislated injury threshold is met.
Can I change my personal injury lawyer in Toronto?
A person can generally choose to change their personal injury lawyer if unhappy with the representation, though any signed retainer or contingency fee agreement should be reviewed first to understand fees already owed or notice required. Speaking with a new lawyer before ending the relationship with the current one is wise.
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