Personal Injury Glossary
The terms you are most likely to encounter in an Ontario accident benefits claim or an injury lawsuit.
This page is general information, not legal advice, and definitions are simplified for a general audience. It isn’t a substitute for advice about your own situation.
Jump to a term, or use your browser’s find function (Ctrl/Cmd + F).
Catastrophic Impairment | Independent Medical Examination | Limitation Period | Loss of Income Benefit | Occupier’s Liability | Statutory Accident Benefits | Structured Settlement | Threshold Motion | Tort Claim | WSIB
Catastrophic Impairment
A legal designation under Ontario’s auto insurance system for the most severe injuries, which unlocks significantly higher accident benefit limits than a standard claim.
Independent Medical Examination (IME)
An assessment by a doctor chosen and paid for by the insurer rather than your own treating physician, usually used to evaluate the extent of an injury or ongoing disability.
Limitation Period
The legal deadline to start a lawsuit. In Ontario, most personal injury claims must be started within two years of the date you knew, or reasonably ought to have known, that you had a claim.
Loss of Income Benefit
A statutory accident benefit that replaces part of the income lost by someone who can’t work because of injuries from a car accident, subject to caps set out in Ontario’s insurance regulations.
Occupier’s Liability
The legal responsibility a property owner or occupier has to keep their premises reasonably safe. It’s the basis for most slip-and-fall claims in Ontario. Read more about occupier’s liability claims →
Statutory Accident Benefits (SABS)
Benefits available after a car accident regardless of fault, covering things like medical treatment, income replacement, and attendant care, paid by your own insurer.
Structured Settlement
A settlement paid out over time through scheduled payments, rather than as a single lump sum, often used in serious injury cases.
Threshold Motion
A pre-trial motion in an Ontario car accident lawsuit in which the defence argues the injuries don’t meet the legal threshold required to sue for pain and suffering.
Tort Claim
A lawsuit against the at-fault party for damages such as pain and suffering, separate from the no-fault accident benefits claimed through your own insurer.
WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board)
Ontario’s no-fault workplace insurance system, which provides benefits to workers injured on the job and generally limits their ability to sue their employer directly.
Back to the full glossary. If you have a question about your own matter, book a consultation and we’ll go through it with you.