opcf 44r

Why You Need OPCF-44R Family Protection Coverage Insurance

Car insurance options in Ontario can be confusing, and it can be difficult to know whether you have the right protection in place.

There are certain types of coverage that are mandatory. For example, all policies must have a minimum of $200,000 in third-party liability coverage. This amount can then be increased with optional, additional coverage up to $2 million. This covers any claims by third parties for personal injuries arising from an accident. Various other forms of coverage can be added to your policy through an Ontario Policy Change Form (OPCF), including coverage for rented or leased vehicles.

The risks posed by underinsured and uninsured drivers

In serious car accidents, quite a bit more than $200,000 is usually needed to compensate injured victims. In the most severe cases, even a $1 million limit may be insufficient to cover pain and suffering, lost income, medical expenses and future treatment, all of which can quickly add up.

If you are injured in a car accident, and the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, you may not be able to get the compensation you need to pay for medical expenses and other losses.

OPCF-44R – Additional Family Protection Coverage

When we buy insurance, we decide how much we need to be protected, but there is no way to know whether another driver has adequate insurance until its too late. The OPCF-44R Family Protection Coverage allows you to eliminate this unknown. This additional coverage will make up any difference between the third party liability limit of an at-fault driver and your own coverage, if you are injured in an accident.

In other words, if you have purchased $2 million of third party liability on your own policy, and add OPCF-44R Family Protection Coverage, you are protected up to $2 million in cases where another driver is at-fault but does not have that much insurance.

Unidentified drivers and hit-and-run accidents

The OPCF-44R coverage also protects you in case you are injured in an accident caused by an unidentified drivers. In addition to a hit-and-run, this also includes situations where you swerved to avoid a dangerous driver that cut you off, and then have a single car accident.

However, in these circumstances, the policy requires proof that the accident was actually caused by an unknown and unidentified driver. It is not enough for someone to attest that another vehicle cut them off. Rather, the onus is on the policy holder to show that some “other material evidence” exists to corroborate their claim.

It can be challenging to prove that an accident was caused by an unknown driver. Insurance companies will frequent dispute these claims, suggesting that there is insufficient evidence to show that a) an unknown driver existed and b) that this driver caused the accident. They may also suggest that a policyholder did not take appropriate steps to identify the unknown driver.

Reliable legal advice about uninsured and underinsured drivers

If you have been injured in a car accident involving an uninsured or underinsured driver, getting reliable, honest legal advice should be your first step. These types of cases are complicated; the lawyers at Derfel Injury Law specializes in motor vehicle and related auto-insurance claims, and we will ensure your interests are protected. We have the expertise to handle your claim effectively, so you can focus on getting your life back on track after an accident.

Contact Derfel Injury Law online or call 416-847-3580 to make an appointment.