If you've been hurt in a car accident in Brampton, Mississauga, or Caledon, there's a short list of calls that actually matter: 911 for anything involving an injury, your own insurer within about a week either way, and — once you're stable — a free conversation about what your accident benefits cover. Everything else can wait until you've made those calls.
In Peel Region, as everywhere in Ontario, 911 is the first call whenever there's an injury, a fatality, or a suspected criminal offence like impaired or dangerous driving. Peel Regional Police and paramedics will attend in person in those situations. If you're unsure whether an injury is serious enough to warrant 911 — pain and adrenaline don't always sort that out cleanly in the first few minutes — it's always safer to call than to wait and see.
Our full step-by-step guide for after a car accident covers this stage in more detail.
Injuries like whiplash and other soft-tissue damage often don't show up for hours or days — adrenaline is good at masking pain right after a crash. Getting seen at an emergency room, an urgent care clinic, or by your family doctor does two things at once: it gets any injury caught and treated early, and it creates the medical record that an accident benefits claim often depends on later. Putting this off until you "see how you feel" is one of the more common things that can make a claim harder down the line.
Police generally respond in person for injury or fatal collisions. For a property-damage-only crash with no injuries, Ontario generally expects you to report it yourself if the damage looks like it could pass a set dollar threshold — usually within 48 hours if the vehicle is still drivable. Peel Regional Police runs dedicated Collision Reporting Centres in Brampton and Mississauga for exactly this. Reporting to a Collision Reporting Centre is a separate step from notifying your own insurer — doing one doesn't take care of the other.
This is the call that's easiest to put off and matters most. Ontario runs on a no-fault system, which means your own insurer may owe you accident benefits covering medical treatment, income replacement, and attendant care — no matter who caused the crash. Most policies require you to notify your insurer within about seven days, and that notice is separate from any report you make to police or a Collision Reporting Centre. Keep your incident number, medical records, receipts, and photos together; you'll want them on hand for whatever comes next, from a straightforward benefits claim to a dispute over fault.
Full details on our step-by-step guide to what to do after a car accident walk through this timeline and what to expect from your insurer.
Not every crash needs a lawyer — a minor, property-damage-only claim with no injuries often doesn't. But if you were hurt, your benefits are being delayed or denied, the insurer is disputing fault, or you're being pushed toward a quick settlement, it's worth a conversation before you deal with the insurance company alone. Personal injury lawyers in Ontario typically work on contingency, so there's usually nothing to pay upfront and the first consultation is free. Our guide on whether you need a lawyer after a car accident in Ontario covers when it makes sense and what a lawyer actually does for you.
We're a free intake service for people injured in car accidents across Ontario, with a focus on Peel Region and the GTA. We're not a law firm — we connect you with vetted personal injury lawyers and registered physiotherapy clinics, and explain your options in plain language, in English, Punjabi, Hindi and French. No cost, no obligation, and someone is reachable any time.
Just been hurt in a crash in Peel Region and not sure who to call next? Call or message us any time at (416) 418-7797, or request a free consultation on our site.
This article is general information, not legal advice. For guidance on your specific situation, speak with a licensed lawyer — we can connect you with one for free.
A free consultation takes one phone call — no cost, no obligation, and your insurer isn't notified.
This is general information, not legal advice — timelines and requirements depend on your specific situation.