The Costly Oversight: Why Incomplete Personal Information on OCF Forms Can Hurt Your Claim
A Costly Mistake at the Café
Emma, a barista in Toronto, was injured in a car accident and rushed to fill out her OCF-1 form for accident benefits. In her haste, she accidentally misspelled her last name and left out her secondary phone number. Weeks later, she was confused when her insurer claimed they had trouble verifying her identity and delayed processing her claim. Worse, the insurance company mailed important documents to the wrong address, and she missed key deadlines.
How to Avoid This Mistake
Always double-check your personal details, including your full legal name, address, date of birth, insurance policy number, and all contact information. Any missing or incorrect information can lead to claim denials or unnecessary delays. Keep a copy of everything you submit, and if you change addresses or phone numbers, inform the insurer immediately.
Technicalities & Case Law
Under Ontario’s Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS), insurers have the right to request accurate personal information before processing benefits. In Daley v. State Farm, 2010 ONSC 6266, the court upheld an insurer’s decision to delay benefits due to incomplete application details, emphasizing the importance of accuracy when submitting OCF forms.
