Author: Tyler Brown

Suppose you’ve been in a car accident. In that case, your first concern is probably about your injuries, but after that, you may also be concerned about your car and whose responsibility it will be to pay for damages, as well as any other medical expenses resulting from the accident, essentially, who is at fault after the car accident.

Before we begin, it’s essential to know: never admit fault after a car accident. It’s the insurance company’s role to investigate the accident, and any admission of fault or guilt could affect your claim down the line.

What does ‘no-fault’ mean?

Within Ontario auto insurance, we have the ‘no-fault’ system, meaning that regardless of who is at fault in a car accident, each person’s insurance company will handle their own respective customer’s claim, not the other person’s.

Under the no-fault system, you can still be at fault if you are found to be responsible for the accident. No-fault essentially means how insurance companies now handle claims.

The benefits of this system are that since you are only dealing with your insurance company during a claim, it simplifies the claims administration process and saves time, which results in savings on premiums for customers.

How do insurance companies determine who is at fault in an accident?

The final decision comes down to the insurance company determining who is at fault. Generally, an at-fault accident is due to driving negligence, effectively, a driver failing to do something that leads to an accident.

Insurance companies will assign a percentage of fault to each driver based on their level of responsibility for the accident. This can be between 0 – 100% at-fault and is determined using The Fault Determination Rules, compensating insured parties according to the amount they are not at-fault.

How does an at-fault accident affect my insurance premium?

If you’ve been at fault in an accident, your insurance premium will likely increase at renewal unless you have purchased coverage to protect your driving record.  If you haven’t been at fault, this won’t affect your premium.

Did you know that we have our own claims specialists?

A car accident can be a stressful experience, and deciphering insurance jargon is what we do best for our clients.

Get in touch at 1-800-268-3311 or email us and we can support you through the claims process and answer your questions.

Are you considering buying a new vehicle? Are you seeking peace of mind to get the most value out of your new car if you do? In that case, Depreciation Deduction coverage is something you should consider.

Depreciation is the decrease in a vehicle’s value over time. This affects how much you’ll be reimbursed should you make a car insurance claim for a total vehicle loss (either for theft or damage).

Considerations insurance companies use when calculating claims situations are:

• Year, make, and model of the vehicle
• How many kilometres are on the vehicle
• Wear and tear
• Online sale amounts

All these factors play into your vehicle’s depreciation value. OPCF 43 (aka Depreciation Deduction coverage) is an additional coverage you can add to your auto insurance that basically negates that depreciation.

This coverage is only available on new vehicles at the time of purchase, and by adding OPCF 43 to your coverage, insurance companies can no longer deduct depreciation when determining your reimbursement.

Essentially, this coverage ensures that you will get into a brand-new vehicle of the same make and model (or as close to your make and model if it has been discontinued) or be compensated for a brand-new car.

Interested in getting depreciation deduction coverage? Speak to a dbi broker today to find out more.

Fall is a beautiful time to drive, but it can come with its own set of challenges. From changing weather to increased traffic and animal sightings, the fall season can be tricky to drive around. Follow our fall driving tips and keep reading to see how you can be rewarded for safe driving.

1. Shifting weather conditions

• Fall weather is known for its constantly changing weather conditions, from sunny to windy to rainy, just like that. Check the forecast before you go out, and adapt your driving when the weather changes. 
• Did you know that driving on wet leaves can be like driving on a sheet of ice? Loss of traction can lead to slippery and dangerous conditions, so make sure to slow down
• Black ice can also happen in the fall, not just in the winter. If it’s a damp, wet day and the temperature drops below freezing, there could be black ice on the road
• Stuck in fog? Use your low beams. Using high beams will be more difficult to see as the light reflects off the fog. Low beams help with visibility in the fog.

2. Be on the lookout for deer

• Deer are very active in the fall months, and if you think you’re going to hit a deer, experts recommend not swerving but turning in the direction the animal was coming from, braking firmly, and beeping your horn  
• Slow down when driving at deer crossing sites

3. Vehicle Considerations

• Speaking of fog, according to NASA’s Mark Rober, the fastest way to de-fog your windows are: defroster fan on the highest setting > temperature set to the highest setting > A/C on > recirculate off > crack your windows. Learn more
• With the days getting shorter and darker, ensure your headlights are clean and working correctly
• Did you know you can get winter wiper blades? Check your wiper blades to make sure they are equipped for colder weather, or look at switching to a winter wiper blade
• Wondering when to switch to your winter tires? When the weather is consistently 7 degrees or below, it’s time to swap.

And what was that about being rewarded for safe driving? Now, a drive-safe program instantly gives you 10% off your insurance premium and rewards you for your good driving habits. The best part? The better you drive, the more you can save on your car insurance, up to 20%.

Speak to a dbi Broker to get yourself signed up and start saving today!

By now, most people know how unacceptable it is to drink and drive and that you should never get in a vehicle with someone that has been drinking or has consumed cannabis. But what is drinking and driving and how can it affect your car insurance? Let’s break it down.

What is Impaired Driving?

The government of Ontario defines drinking and driving, aka impaired driving as, “operating a vehicle while your ability to do so has been compromised to any degree by consuming:

• Alcohol
• Cannabis
• Over-the-counter and prescription medication and
• Illegal substances”

Not only can you be charged while operating a vehicle, but impaired driving also applies to operating a boat, snowmobile, jet ski, and off-road vehicles like an ATV.

What is the legal limit in Ontario?

Alcohol

Ontario has a zero-tolerance law for young and novice drivers. You cannot have any alcohol in your system if you are under the age of 21, or a driver with a G1, G2, M1, or M2 license. If you are a fully licensed driver (G), the maximum BAC (blood alcohol content) is .08. Any higher is a criminal offense.

Cannabis

Ontario’s zero-tolerance laws for young and novice drivers also applies to consuming cannabis. It is recommended that you wait between 4 – 6 hours after consuming cannabis to then operate a motorized vehicle. Learn more about how cannabis affects your driving at: https://www.ontario.ca/page/cannabis-and-driving

How does an Impaired Driving charge affect my car insurance?

Depending on your insurance carrier will depend on how they handle your impaired driving charge. Some may cancel your policy, but most insurance companies will increase your premium rate. Drivers with a DUI on their record can pay up to 5 times more on their car insurance compared to drivers with a clean record. Insurance companies can also drop you if you do not disclose your DUI so it’s always best to be open and honest.

Summer is the time for camping, cottages, and road trips. Have fun this summer but make sure to plan ahead if you are going to consume alcohol or cannabis so you can keep yourself and those around you safe. To learn more about impaired driving in Ontario visit: https://www.ontario.ca/page/impaired-driving

It is officially spring and with the weather warming up and summer just around the corner, dbi Brokers is sharing some car care tips for entering the warmer months.

Seasonal Tires

Driving on winter tires when the weather starts getting warm can be destructive to the wheels and dangerous for driving. Winter tires are designed to perform on ice and snow, and they experience exponential wear when driven in warm weather. Not only is this dangerous, but will cost you more money, because the tires will degrade faster when changed seasonally.

Use the 7-degree Celsius rule: switch your tires when the temperature remains at 7 degrees or higher. If you haven’t already, May is typically a good time to change as the weather is consistently getting better.

Preparing Your Car for Warmer Weather

Your car deserves to be treated right. As the warmer weather begins, put some extra effort into preparing your car for the season.

Start by giving your car a good clean: remove dirt and salt from the floor and mats to keep them in useable condition. This is also the perfect time to check for cracks and chips in your windshield, as they are easier to see in good lighting.

Also, your wiper blades may be causing scratches, so inspect them to see if replacement padding is needed. When you change your tires for the season, remember to check the pressure of the tires in use, and ensure the spare tire is in good condition.

Car Emergency Kit

dbi Brokers recommends always having a Car Emergency Kit with you but changing the contents seasonally to suit the needs of possible emergencies. In addition to having essentials such as jumper cables and tools, we suggest creating a kit with the following items in it:

• Food that won’t spoil (ex: granola bars)
• Water bottles
• First aid kit
• Seat belt cutter
• Candle and matches
• Flashlight
• Blanket

It’s better to be safe than sorry and having a well-stocked emergency kit can ensure this. Enjoy the warmer months and drive safe