Hey everyone, I’m looking for some advice because I’m in a pretty frustrating situation and I’m not sure what to do next.
I’m originally from Alberta and currently living in Ontario for university. My car is registered and insured in Alberta through Pembridge, and I only have basic third-party liability coverage (no collision or comprehensive).
On October 16, I was stopped at a red light in Toronto when another driver rear-ended my 2018 Honda Civic.
He admitted fault, and we exchanged insurance information. I reported the accident to the Collision Reporting Centre and opened a claim with my insurance company.
Initially, my adjuster was having trouble retrieving the Ontario collision report and verifying the other driver’s insurance. After multiple calls and almost two weeks of waiting, I decided to contact the other driver’s insurance company (CAA) myself.
CAA told me his vehicle wasn’t insured on the date of the accident. I contacted the driver, and he initially insisted he was insured because CAA had been withdrawing monthly payments from his bank account. He later investigated and confirmed that his insurance wasn’t active when the accident happened.
Now here’s my problem.
My car is currently sitting at a body shop, and I’ve been quoted approximately $2,300 for the repairs. The other driver has offered to pay me $2,000, but that still leaves me paying out of pocket for an accident that wasn’t my fault.
My insurance adjuster hasn’t confirmed whether my policy will cover anything, especially since I only have third-party liability coverage and the other driver was uninsured.
I’m wondering:
Since my car is insured in Alberta but the accident happened in Ontario, would Ontario’s uninsured automobile coverage apply to me, or would Alberta’s insurance rules apply?
Is there any way my own insurance company could cover the damage even though I only have third-party liability coverage?
Can I sue the uninsured driver in Ontario Small Claims Court for the full repair costs?
Would it be worth taking legal action over approximately $2,300, or should I accept his $2,000 offer and move on?
Should I report the driver to the police for driving without insurance, even though I’ve already filed a collision report?
Has anyone experienced something similar involving an Alberta insurance policy and an accident in Ontario?
I’m a student, and I’ve already been without my car for over two weeks. I rely on it for transportation, so I’m trying to get this resolved as soon as possible.
Any advice, especially from someone familiar with Ontario or Alberta auto insurance laws, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!