Most people think that the recovery will be the most difficult part after a car accident. What they fail to anticipate is how fast the paperwork language is about to define that recovery. Among the initial terms that an insurer can apply is the Minor Injury Guideline (MIG), and once you are in it, treatment funding can be restricted. To a person who is struggling with pain, sleep disturbances, headaches, or just having a body that no longer feels like it used to, having someone tell them that the damage they have sustained is minor is dismissive.
The MIG is, in fact, an insurance system: not an indicator of the extent to which your life has been derailed. Knowing what it is (and how to push back when it does not work) may be what makes the difference in the care you need.
What is the Minor Injury Guideline?
The MIG is a set of rules under Ontario’s accident benefits system (the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule, often called “SABS”). In plain terms, the MIG creates a streamlined treatment framework for certain injuries that are considered “minor,” and it also limits the amount an insurer must pay for medical and rehab benefits when your impairment is predominantly a minor injury.
Under SABS, if your impairment is a minor injury, the total amount payable for medical and rehabilitation benefits is capped at $3,500 plus applicable HST.
What Injuries Fall Under The Mig?
Ontario’s framework defines “minor injury” to include one or more of the following: sprain, strain, whiplash-associated disorder, contusion, abrasion, laceration, or subluxation, including “clinically associated sequelae” (symptoms that are clinically connected to those injuries).
These are often soft-tissue injuries, painful, disruptive, and sometimes slow to resolve, but the system assumes many people can recover with early, focused treatment.
What The Mig Cap Looks Like in Real Life
The MIG isn’t just a dollar limit; it’s also a process.
FSRA materials describe the MIG as providing up to 12 weeks of treatment and $2,200 in goods/services without requiring prior insurer approval. If more treatment is needed after that, additional treatment/assessment plans can be submitted for approval up to the overall $3,500 + HST cap.
Here’s why this becomes a problem for some people: severe symptoms, delayed recovery, multiple areas of injury, or complications (like sleep disruption or anxiety) can make the MIG funding feel like it runs out before recovery is truly complete.
How The Mig Affects Your Accident Benefits (And What It Doesn’t Affect)
A key point we regularly clarify: the MIG mainly impacts medical and rehabilitation benefits.
You may still qualify for other accident benefits depending on your situation, such as income replacement benefits (if you can’t work), attendant care (in more serious cases), or non-earner benefits, though each has its own eligibility rules and documentation requirements. Our firm’s overview of SABS explains that accident benefits are designed to provide support regardless of fault and lists the main benefit categories available.
So, being placed in MIG does not automatically mean:
- Your pain isn’t real
- You can’t miss work
- You have no options
It does mean you need to be proactive, because classification decisions early on can shape your access to care.
When The Mig May Not Be The Right Fit
In our experience, MIG disputes often happen when the insurer treats the file as “minor,” while the person living with the injury is dealing with something more complex.
Situations that may justify moving outside the MIG can include:
- Your injuries are not predominantly minor (for example, there are other injuries that don’t fit the MIG definition)
- A documented pre-existing condition makes it unlikely you’ll achieve maximal recovery if restricted to the MIG cap (this is a recognized issue within the SABS framework and is often heavily evidence-driven)
- Your symptoms evolve; for example, ongoing problems that suggest a longer or more involved rehabilitation path than the MIG framework anticipates
What matters most is evidence: consistent medical reporting, functional impact (work/school/home), and clear treatment recommendations from regulated health professionals.
Practical Steps We Recommend Early On
Even when you feel overwhelmed, a few early steps can protect your accident benefits claim:
- Notify your insurer promptly and meet benefit deadlines. MacIsaac Gow LLP’s SABS guide notes that accident victims are generally advised to inform the insurer within 7 days and complete the required OCF forms as part of the application process.
- Be specific about what you can’t do. “My neck hurts” matters, but “I can’t sleep more than two hours,” “I can’t lift my child,” or “I can’t sit through a class/work shift” creates a clearer functional picture.
- Keep your treatment consistent. Gaps in care can be misunderstood by insurers as recovery.
- Ask your treating providers to document progress and barriers. If you’re not improving as expected, that should be explained clinically, not just said casually.
FAQs
1) Does being in the MIG mean my injuries are “minor” in everyday terms?
Not necessarily. The term “minor” is a legal/insurance classification tied to a specific injury definition in the SABS, not a judgment about how much your injury hurts or how much it disrupts your life.
2) What exactly is the MIG funding limit?
If your impairment is predominantly a minor injury, medical and rehabilitation benefits are capped at $3,500 plus applicable HST.
3) Do I need insurer approval for treatment under the MIG?
The MIG framework allows an initial portion of care (described as $2,200 over up to 12 weeks) without prior approval, and subsequent plans may require approval up to the overall cap.
4) Can I challenge an insurer’s decision that I’m “MIG”?
Yes. But these disputes are evidence-heavy. Success often depends on whether medical records and provider opinions clearly support that your impairment is not predominantly minor, or that other SABS provisions apply based on your circumstances.
5) Does the MIG affect my right to sue the at-fault driver?
Accident benefits and lawsuits (tort claims) are different tracks. Accident benefits are designed to provide support regardless of fault, while tort claims are actions against negligent parties for certain losses.
Conclusion: Getting Placed In Mig Isn’t The End Of The Road
We’ve seen many people recover well within the MIG framework, and we’ve also seen people who were placed in MIG when their situation clearly required more support. The difference often comes down to timing, documentation, and whether someone is advocating for the full story of the injury.
At MacIsaac Gow LLP, we help accident victims across Ontario understand their accident benefits, respond to insurer pushback, and challenge unfair MIG classifications or treatment denials when appropriate. If you’re being told “that’s all you get” but your recovery says otherwise, we can help you understand your options. We offer free consultations and will walk you through the next steps clearly and practically.
Key to Your Legal Success