The Times are A-Changin’: Ontario’s Civil Rules Overhaul and What It Means for Injury Victims
Ontario’s civil justice system has long struggled with chronic delays, soaring costs, and barriers to access. However, the Civil Rules Review (CRR) Final Policy Report, released on October 31, 2025, offers a roadmap for transformative reform. Co-chaired by Justices Cary Boswell and Allison Speigel, these proposals target personal injury claims to ensure faster, fairer outcomes. […]
Taking Control: Essential Changes Coming to Your Auto Insurance Accident Benefits in 2026
If you drive in Ontario, major changes are coming to your auto insurance policy that will give you unprecedented choice and control over your coverage. Starting soon, the mandatory, “one-size-fits-all” approach to certain Statutory Accident Benefits (SABS) is ending. These reforms are designed to make auto insurance more flexible and consumer-focused, allowing you to tailor […]
Don’t Gamble With Your Credibility: How Casino Loyalty Cards Can Betray Your Personal Injury Claim
Loyalty programs are great. Most of us participate in one type of loyalty program or another, whether it’s travel points for booking flights or spending money on a credit card. Loyal programs make us feel like we are getting something for nothing, “I was going to spend the money anyway”. However, the cost of loyalty […]
Slipped and Fell? Call Derfel!
Winter Is Coming and So Are the Hazards: Understanding the Unique Limitation Periods for Slip and Fall Claims in Ontario As winter settles across Ontario, icy sidewalks, snowy parking lots, slushy driveways, and slippery steps will become a part of daily life. Unfortunately, winter conditions bring the ever-present risk of slips and falls and the […]
Is an Expert’s Credibility an Important Factor in an Adjudication? DSF’s Personal Injury Lawyers Succeed at the Licence Appeal Tribunal
Devry Smith Frank LLP (“DSF”) lawyers David Derfel and Charlie Fuhr’s resilience in their advocacy for a client proved to be successful in a recent adjudication at the Licence Appeal Tribunal (the “LAT”). The LAT “is an independent, quasi-judicial agency and is one of the thirteen tribunals in Tribunals Ontario. LAT adjudicates applications and resolves […]
Derfel Personal Injury Lawyers Secures Victory for Client in Impairment Case: Jones v. Wawanesa
In the case Jones v. Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company, 2024 ONLAT 22-013750/AABS, David Derfel and Charlie Fuhr of Derfel Personal Injury Lawyers successfully represented Cindy Jones in her claim for statutory accident benefits following a serious motorcycle accident in June 2018. Despite facing a denial from Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company, we demonstrated that Ms. Jones […]
Don’t Assume that the Rules of the Road are the same all Throughout Canada – Every Province is Unique
Canada’s provinces and territories definitely have their similarities and their differences. This is true when it comes to the rules of the road. For the most part, the traffic rules between provinces and territories are the same. However, drivers need to be aware of the unique rules that apply throughout Canada to avoid any problems […]
Navigating the Challenges of General Damages in Ontario: The Impact of Increasing Statutory Deductibles on Motor Vehicle Accident Compensation
Individuals who have been injured as a result of a motor vehicle accident may have an entitlement to seek general damages, which are also commonly known as non-pecuniary damages or damages for pain and suffering. However, it is important to note that the process of receiving compensation for general damages in Ontario can pose some […]
Divisional Court: “Fairness and Inclusivity” at the Heart of Ontario’s Accident Benefits Law
Ms. Kellerman-Bernard’s (“NKB”) son was seriously injured in a bike accident. Although NKB did not witness the accident, it traumatized her, resulting in significant psychological and emotional impairments. NKB submitted to her own auto insurer an OCF-19: Application for Determination of Catastrophic Impairment (“OCF-19”) NKB’s auto insurer disputed her right to submit the OCF-19 and […]
Hockey Injury Lawsuit Sparks Discussion About Player Safety
Isaac Dixon was an elite athlete with a bright future. He was a defenceman for the Grand Falls Rapids of the Maritime Junior Hockey League (“MHL”), a junior-A level subsidiary of the Canadian Junior Hockey League (“CJHL”) and Hockey Canada. At 18 years old, his career was brought to a sudden, tragic end. On December […]