Carranza LLP

With changes to auto insurance right around the corner, make sure to: ➡️ Review your policy ➡️ Ask questions ➡️ Make informed decisions After an accident, the coverage you choose today is the coverage you'll have. 🚗💥

🐕Walking a friend's dog? Ontario law may consider you an “owner” while the dog is in your care. A 2026 Court of Appeal ruling confirmed that someone exercising control over a dog can share legal responsibility for its actions. Responsibility goes beyond ownership.⚖️

⚖️A serious car crash injury doesn't automatically qualify as a “catastrophic impairment” under Ontario's insurance rules. Under standard coverage, this designation raises the combined medical, rehabilitation and attendant care limit to $1 million. Assessment criteria matter.🚗

📸Can social media photos jeopardize your LTD benefits? Insurers may use photos or surveillance to question claims. But being able to enjoy an occasional outing doesn't necessarily mean someone can reliably perform their job. Context, medical evidence and work demands matter.⚖️

🎃Halloween brings more pedestrians onto our roads, especially children whose costumes may limit visibility. Drivers: slow down near residential streets and parked cars. Parents: choose reflective accessories and remind children to cross at intersections.🚦 Let’s be extra safe!

⚖️Appealing a denied LTD claim? Your insurer's appeal deadline and your deadline to sue aren't the same. In Ontario, an internal appeal doesn't automatically pause the limitation period. Depending on the circumstances, the clock may already be running. Know your deadlines.⏳

⚠️A warning sign doesn't automatically shield a property owner from liability in a slip-and-fall claim. In Ontario, courts consider whether warnings adequately identify the hazard and whether reasonable safety precautions were taken. A sign alone isn't always enough.⚖️

🏠Can hosts be liable for a guest's injuries? In Ontario, serving alcohol doesn't automatically create liability. Hosts who create or increase a foreseeable risk of harm may owe a duty of care. The distinction? Hosting a gathering isn't the same as contributing to the danger.⚖️

⚖️Not every car accident injury qualifies for pain-and-suffering damages in Ontario. A serious, permanent impairment of an important physical or psychological function must be supported by evidence. The statutory deductible also applies unless damages exceed a set threshold.🚗

🍁Thanksgiving reminds us that what matters most is the people who stand beside us. To our clients, colleagues and the communities we serve: thank you for your trust, your tenacity and the relationships we’ve built together. From all of us at Carranza LLP, Happy Thanksgiving!🧡

🚗 Injured while driving an uninsured vehicle in Ontario? Your right to sue may depend on who legally owned it. Under Ontario's Insurance Act, uninsured vehicle owners can be barred from suing for crash injuries. But ownership isn't always as straightforward as it seems. ⚖️

🔧Express Entry scores aren’t one-size-fits-all. On October 1st, Canada invited 3,500 candidates in trade occupations with a CRS cut-off of 476. The lesson? Your occupation can affect which draws you qualify for—and what CRS score may actually be competitive.🇨🇦

🚕 A taxi receipt proved the ride—not the crash. An Ontario tribunal denied an Accident Benefits claim where evidence couldn’t establish the alleged collision. Police reports, witnesses and medical records are crucial when an accident is disputed. 📋 lawtimesnews.com/practice-ar…

🧡On National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we honour Residential School Survivors, their families and children who never returned home. Reconciliation requires more than remembrance. It means confronting Canada’s past and understanding how its consequences continue today.🪶

🚗Would your auto policy financially protect your family if a collision were fatal? Since July, Ontario’s death and funeral Accident Benefits are optional—not automatically included. Many drivers may not realize their coverage changed. Check your policy before you need it. 📄

🚗Modified your car after buying insurance? Your insurer may need to know. An Ontario court found that major performance upgrades were a “material change in risk.” The result? $2M in liability coverage was reduced to $200K. Modifying your car can affect your coverage. ⚖️

🚗Reported your collision to your insurer? That doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve started an Accident Benefits claim. Ontario’s Court of Appeal confirmed: if you intend to claim benefits, you must notify your insurer of that intention. Reporting the crash alone may not be enough.⚖️

🇨🇦 Since 2019, some previously undeclared family members could still qualify for sponsorship under a temporary IRCC policy. That important family sponsorship exception just ended on Sept. 10. But, applications received by the deadline can still be assessed under the old rules.⏳

🇨🇦 Work permit ≠ study permit—but there’s a new exception. IRCC will allow eligible work permit holders already in Canada to study for up to 6 months without a study permit. Note: full-time studies still require one. 🎓 A small rule change that could open doors to new skills.

⚖️ You don’t have to be the person physically injured to have a personal injury claim. Certain family members may claim damages when a loved one is injured or killed—including for loss of care, guidance and companionship. The impact of an injury can extend beyond the victim. 👨‍👩‍👧

🛴 E-scooters and e-bikes carry serious risks for young riders. In 2025, Canada recorded 57 severe pediatric cases—including 10 deaths, 6 in Ontario, and 12 ICU admissions. Nearly half involved head injuries. These devices aren't toys. Safety matters. ⚠️ cbc.ca/news/health/e-scooter…