Concerns raised over new steer-it-and-clear-it accident rules

If you’re involved in a minor fender bender, don’t bother calling the police. Starting Tuesday, the force says it will prioritise other calls over accidents that are not an emergency.

At least one personal injury lawyer says he’s concerned the new policy might lead to drivers in the wrong, steering clear of responsibility and victims being left helpless.

“I understand where the police are coming from. They’re far to busy to be running around to hundreds of minor accidents a week,” says lawyer Darryl Singer. “But, what I see as a personal injury lawyer, is what appears to be a minor accident with a minor injury often morphs into a more serious injury.”

“Soft tissue pain, what used to be whip lash injuries, often don’t come out for a number of months,” explains Singer. “Six months later they’re still in pain.”

“Having a police officer on the scene, we get a motor vehicle accident report that gives us all the material information and leaves no question open as to how the accident happened or if the accident happened.”

One of the other concerns about leaving it up to drivers to report their own collisions is the fact there’s only two collision reporting centres in Toronto. One in the west end at Weston Road and Finch Avenue and the other in the east at Kennedy Road and Lawrence Avenue.

If you are involved in a minor accident, try to remember these few simple steps:

– get the other drivers licence and insurance information.
– take video and pictures of the damage and the licence plate of the other car
– record how many occupants were in the vehicle, including passengers and drivers.

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