Not always. If nobody was hurt, or a minor strain healed within weeks and you missed no work, you can often deal with the insurers yourself. Talk to a lawyer if you missed work, your symptoms are lingering, fault is disputed, an insurer says your injury is minor, someone was seriously hurt or killed, or the 2-year limitation date is getting close.
Last reviewed September 16, 2026. General legal information for Alberta, not legal advice.
When you may not need a lawyer
- Vehicle damage only, with no injuries. Your insurer handles the property claim.
- A short-lived strain that has fully resolved, with no time off work and no ongoing treatment.
- Section B is paying your treatment without dispute and you have no other losses.
Even then, do not sign a release until you are sure you have recovered. It ends the claim permanently.
When a lawyer is worth calling
- You missed work or lost income
- Symptoms are still there after several weeks, or new ones appeared
- An adjuster says your injury is minor and you are not recovering
- Fault is disputed, or more than two vehicles were involved
- You were a pedestrian, cyclist or motorcyclist
- The other driver was impaired, uninsured or fled
- Someone suffered a brain, spinal or catastrophic injury, or died
- Your Section B benefits were cut off or denied
- The crash was close to 2 years ago
After an Edmonton crash: steps either way
- Injuries: call police. Any collision with an injury must be reported to police.
- No injuries, $5,000 or more in combined damage: report in person at an Edmonton Police Service Collision Reporting Centre, at 15750 116 Ave NW or 5805 87A St NW. They are open Monday to Saturday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed statutory holidays.
- Exchange information. Alberta’s Traffic Safety Act requires drivers to provide their name and address, licence number, owner details, plate and proof of insurance when asked.
- See a doctor, even if you feel fine. Some injuries appear over days.
- Notify your insurer promptly in writing, and send the Section B claim form within 30 days.
- Decline a statement to the other driver’s insurer until you know where you stand.
Crashes before and after Care-First
Care-First and your Edmonton claim
Alberta has announced January 1, 2027 as the start of its Care-First auto insurance system. The new Automobile Insurance Act itself starts on proclamation, so confirm the date that applies.
An Edmonton crash that happens before the switch keeps today’s rules: a lawsuit against the at-fault driver, the minor injury cap and Section B benefits all still apply.
A crash after it is handled mainly through insurance benefits. Lawsuits are allowed only in situations the Act lists, such as a driver found guilty of a prescribed offence, and disagreements about benefits are heard by the Alberta Automobile Care-first Tribunal. How tort claims change under Care-First.
For Edmonton crashes after Care-First starts, a lawyer’s role shifts. Most people will deal with benefits rather than lawsuits, and legal help is most useful for a disputed benefit decision before the tribunal, or for the cases where a lawsuit is still allowed, such as a crash caused by a driver convicted of a prescribed offence.
What a lawyer costs
Injury lawyers commonly work on contingency, so there is no fee unless the claim succeeds. Alberta’s Rules of Court require the agreement to be written and signed, to state the maximum fee or rate, and to give you 5 days after you receive your copy to cancel without a fee. A first review is usually free. See how to choose a lawyer in Edmonton.
Will I end up in court?
Probably not in a courtroom. Many claims settle. If a lawsuit is needed, it is filed at the Edmonton Law Courts, and Alberta’s Rules of Court require the parties to try a dispute resolution process, such as mediation, before a trial date is scheduled.
Sources
- Edmonton Police Service, Report a collision
- Government of Alberta, Automobile collisions and insurance
- Traffic Safety Act, RSA 2000 c T-6, s 69
- Automobile Accident Insurance Benefits Regulation, Alta Reg 352/1972, Schedule A (Section B)
- Insurance Act, RSA 2000 c I-3, s 556 (automobile statutory conditions)
- 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, Edmonton Law Courts
- Automobile Insurance Act, SA 2025 c A-47 (Care-First)
- Government of Alberta, Care-First auto insurance