Ask three questions. Is your injury lasting beyond a few weeks, or costing you income? Is fault disputed, or was a pedestrian, cyclist, impaired or uninsured driver involved? When did the crash happen, before or after Care-First starts? If all three answers point to a quick recovery, clear fault and no dispute, you may not need a lawyer. Otherwise, a free review is worth it.
Last reviewed September 16, 2026. General legal information for Alberta, not legal advice.
The three questions
1. Is the injury lasting, or costing you money?
A strain that settles in a couple of weeks, with no missed work, rarely needs a lawyer. Symptoms past several weeks, time off work, or an adjuster calling your injury “minor” are signs the claim is worth more than it looks. See the minor injury cap.
2. Is fault clear?
Disputed fault changes everything, because any share of blame reduces what you recover. Multi-vehicle crashes on Deerfoot, pedestrian and cyclist collisions, and crashes involving impaired, uninsured or fleeing drivers all benefit from early advice.
3. When did the crash happen?
For a crash before Care-First starts, the existing system applies, including the right to sue. After it starts, lawsuits are limited to specific cases, and benefit disputes go to a tribunal.
Common Calgary scenarios
| Situation | Lawyer? |
|---|---|
| Rear-ended at a light, sore for a week, back at work | Probably not. Keep records in case symptoms return. |
| Whiplash still limiting you after two months, missed shifts | Worth a free review |
| Pedestrian struck in a crosswalk | Yes |
| Other driver charged with impaired driving | Yes |
| Hit and run | Yes, and quickly: a 90-day notice applies |
| Section B benefits cut off during treatment | Yes |
| Vehicle damage only, nobody hurt | No, deal with your insurer |
Pedestrian claims are a serious concern in the city. The City of Calgary reports that 15 pedestrians lost their lives on Calgary roads in 2025.
Reporting a collision in Calgary
Calgary does not have a separate collision reporting centre. According to Calgary Police Service, you must report a collision if anyone is injured, if damage exceeds $5,000, or if you are the victim of a hit and run.
- Injured, or a vehicle cannot be driven: call 911 or 403-266-1234.
- No injuries and vehicles are driveable: report at a Calgary Police Service district office.
- Eligible collisions can be reported online through the province’s Report My Collision tool.
Then notify your insurer in writing and send the Section B claim form within 30 days.
Before and after Care-First
Calgary crashes and Care-First
The dividing line is the date of your collision. The province says Care-First begins January 1, 2027, although the Act comes into force by proclamation.
Collisions before that date: section 103 of the new Act keeps the Insurance Act rules in place, so you can still sue the driver at fault and claim Section B.
Collisions after it: compensation comes mostly from benefits. Suing is limited to cases the Act names, including certain convicted drivers, vehicle and parts makers, liquor sellers and the road authority, and benefit disputes go to a new tribunal. Read the details.
What it costs to find out
A first review is usually free, and injury lawyers commonly work on contingency. Alberta requires the fee agreement to be in writing with the maximum fee or rate stated, and gives you 5 days after receiving your copy to cancel without a fee. Our checklist for choosing a lawyer in Calgary explains what to look for.
If a lawsuit is needed, it is filed at the Calgary Courts Centre, 601 5th Street SW, and many claims settle before trial.
Sources
- Calgary Police Service, Traffic collision reporting
- City of Calgary, Vision Zero
- Government of Alberta, Automobile collisions and insurance
- Automobile Accident Insurance Benefits Regulation, Alta Reg 352/1972, Schedule A (Section B)
- Minor Injury Regulation, Alta Reg 123/2004 (Alberta King’s Printer)
- Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Act, RSA 2000 c M-22
- Limitations Act, RSA 2000 c L-12
- Alberta Rules of Court, Alta Reg 124/2010 (Rules 3.26, 4.16, 4.33, 10.7)
- Court of King’s Bench of Alberta, Calgary Courts Centre
- Automobile Insurance Act, SA 2025 c A-47 (Care-First)
- Government of Alberta, Care-First auto insurance