Statutory Accident Benefits (SABS) in Ontarioaccident benefits claims and free consultation

Statutory accident benefits (SABS) are the no-fault benefits payable under the statutory accident benefits schedule, and three of them are mandatory in every automobile insurance policy in Ontario: medical, rehabilitation, and attendant care. Every injured person involved in a motor vehicle accident in Ontario has the right to receive those three from their own insurer or, in certain cases, from the at-fault driver's insurer or the Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund, regardless of who caused the collision.

Understanding your rights under Ontario's SABS framework is critical because insurers frequently deny or limit accident benefits claims to reduce costs. Many accident victims do not know what accident benefits in Ontario they can claim, and insurance companies take full advantage of that.

Here is what is mandatory and what is not:

Medical and rehabilitation benefits, mandatory in every policy, covering physiotherapy, chiropractic care, massage therapy, occupational therapy, and all necessary medical treatment required as a result of the accident.

Attendant care benefits, also mandatory, funding professional nursing and home-care assistance for serious injury victims.

Income replacement benefits, optional since July 1, 2026, replacing lost income for injured persons who were employed at the time of the accident and can no longer work.

Non-earner benefits, optional, for those who were not employed at the time of the accident but can no longer carry on a normal life due to their injuries.

Caregiver benefits, optional, for accident victims who were the primary caregiver for a dependant at the time of the accident.

Housekeeping and home maintenance benefits, optional, funding household tasks the injured person can no longer perform.

Death and funeral benefits, dependant care benefits, and indexation are optional purchases as well, rather than automatic coverage.

Two further changes came in on July 1, 2026. Eligibility for the optional benefits was narrowed to the named insured, that person's spouse, dependants of either, and drivers listed on the policy, and only where the policy bought them. A struck pedestrian or cyclist outside that class has the mandatory three and nothing more, whatever the driver carried. And the auto insurer now pays medical and rehabilitation costs first, ahead of any extended health or employer plan. Having an experienced personal injury lawyer read your coverage matters more than it ever did.

For accident victims who have suffered the most serious injuries, a Catastrophic Impairment (CAT) designation unlocks the maximum level of accident benefits available under Ontario's statutory accident benefits schedule. A CAT designation increases medical and rehabilitation benefits to over $1,000,000 and significantly expands attendant care, caregiver, and rehabilitation benefits limits.

Catastrophic impairment is a formal medical and legal determination. Qualifying conditions include severe traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, significant amputation, and other catastrophic injury categories. Insurers frequently dispute CAT designation applications — challenging the extent of your injuries and attempting to classify serious injury victims as non-catastrophic to limit their liability.

Our SABS lawyers have secured catastrophic impairment designations for accident victims across Ontario following initial insurer denials. If your injuries may meet the catastrophic injury threshold, contact us immediately — deadlines apply and missing them can permanently limit your access to accident benefits.