Who Pays for My Treatment After a Car Accident in Nova Scotia

After a car accident, one of the first questions we often hear is, “Who’s going to pay for all of this?” The ambulance. The hospital stay. The chiropractor. The prescription meds. Even the mileage for follow-up appointments, it adds up fast. If you’re recovering from an accident in Nova Scotia, you’re not alone in wondering how the system works.

Understanding who pays medical bills after a car accident in Nova Scotia isn’t always intuitive. The process is layered, and while the province’s insurance framework is designed to help, it’s not without complications.

Let’s break it down clearly—without the legal jargon—and cover what you’re entitled to, what you need to do, and where things can get tricky.

Who Pays for My Treatment After a Car Crash?

The good news? Nova Scotia operates under a no-fault insurance system. That means regardless of who caused the collision—whether it was you, the other driver, or even a third party—your own auto insurance is typically your first source of coverage.

This is what’s known as no-fault insurance Nova Scotia drivers are required to carry. It’s meant to streamline access to benefits and reduce the need for early legal battles over blame.

But don’t let the phrase no-fault fool you into thinking it’s all automatic. It still requires paperwork. Medical documentation. Timely reporting. And sometimes, unfortunately, a bit of a fight with your insurer to get what you’re owed.

How Insurance Applies to Minor Injuries

If your injuries are considered minor under Nova Scotia law—think whiplash, sprains, soft tissue injuries, or mild strains—there’s a cap on how much you can recover in general damages (i.e. pain and suffering). That cap doesn’t apply to medical care itself, but it can influence how insurers treat your claim overall.

Under Nova Scotia car accident treatment coverage, most people with minor injuries are eligible for treatment through their own insurer’s Section B benefits, without needing a referral from a family doctor. This is known as the protocol and dictates you are entitled to 22 treatment sessions within 90 days of the accident. This typically involves Physiotherapy but can involve the below treatment modalities.

You can access:

• Chiropractic treatment
• Physiotherapy
• Massage therapy
• Acupuncture

The catch? There’s a timeline. Most insurers require treatment to begin within 90 days of the accident, and they’ll only cover sessions up to a certain maximum, both per visit and per treatment type.

That’s why early reporting and follow-through matter. Miss the window, and you may have to pay out of pocket.

How Insurance Applies to Non-Minor Injuries

Now, if your injuries are non-minor—for instance, fractures, concussions, significant mental health impacts, or long-term disability—the situation changes.

You’ll still access benefits through Section B, but your treatment will likely extend beyond the pre-approved protocols for minor injuries. In these cases, insurance companies often require detailed medical assessments, treatment plans, and in some cases, independent medical evaluations (IMEs) to determine necessity.

And this is where things can get contentious. It’s not uncommon for insurers to question the legitimacy of treatments, even those recommended by a physician. In some cases, they may label therapy plans as “unproven” or “excessive,” despite evidence of progress. These disputes can create unnecessary stress for injured individuals who are simply trying to recover.

This is why early legal support can be valuable. Not because you’re going to court tomorrow, but because you’re laying the groundwork. Protecting your claim. And making sure someone’s keeping your insurer honest.

How to Access Your Benefits

Let’s talk about Section B benefits Nova Scotia residents may not even realize they have. These benefits are part of every standard auto insurance policy in the province, and they provide:

• Up to $50,000 in medical and rehabilitation expenses
• Up to $250/week in income replacement (for up to 2 years)
• Coverage for essential services (like housekeeping) if you’re unable to do them
• Funeral expenses and death benefits (in fatal cases)

It’s comprehensive on paper—but only if you know how to activate it.

To access these, you’ll need to:

• Notify your insurer immediately – even if the accident wasn’t your fault
• Submit a completed accident benefits application (most insurers have a deadline—usually 30 days)
• Follow medical advice and attend recommended treatment
• Keep records – receipts, appointment logs, progress notes from therapists

What many people don’t realize is that every delay, whether it’s filing forms or attending appointments, can quietly erode your claim. Even honest mistakes can raise red flags. For example, failing to list all injuries up front might result in those injuries being considered “unrelated” down the road.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed in the aftermath of a crash. Between physical recovery, time off work, and managing day-to-day logistics, benefits paperwork can unintentionally fall by the wayside. Unfortunately, insurers may not accept delays as justification, and incomplete files can affect your entitlement to coverage. They want documentation, consistency, and timeliness.

Skipping or delaying any of these steps may result in reduced or denied coverage.

Delaying treatment—even with good intentions—can create serious problems. If there’s no timely medical evidence, insurers may use that gap to deny your claim altogether. Reversing these decisions later can be a time-consuming and difficult process that often requires legal assistance.

What If Your Costs Exceed Section B Coverage?

This happens more than you might think.

The $50,000 medical coverage under Section B might sound like a lot, but for serious injuries, it can disappear fast, especially if you need surgery, long-term rehab, or psychological counselling.

And here’s something many clients don’t expect: those expenses don’t just pile up—they recur. Ongoing physiotherapy, assistive devices, mobility aids, and even home modifications. It adds up.

Some people also face indirect costs—missed work, childcare needs during appointments, or hiring help for daily tasks they can no longer manage.

When that happens, you may need to:

• Use private health insurance (if you have it)
• Apply for government programs, such as MSI or disability supports
• Pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver, seeking damages not covered by insurance

It’s unfortunate, but there are cases where the basic coverage barely scratches the surface. And that last option requires robust documentation, legal guidance, and—frankly—patience. But for many people, it’s the only path to full recovery, both medically and financially.

What About Passengers, Pedestrians, or Cyclists?

Good question. If you’re a pedestrian or cyclist struck by a vehicle, or a passenger in someone else’s car, you’re still entitled to coverage. You don’t need to own a vehicle or have your own insurance policy to access benefits. Generally, you’ll file a claim with the insurer of the vehicle involved in the accident.

If that vehicle isn’t insured—or if it was a hit-and-run—you might still have options. Nova Scotia’s Facility Association acts as a kind of last resort insurer. It’s not always fast or easy, but it exists for precisely these scenarios.

We’ve had clients caught in these situations, unsure where to turn. Many people don’t realize that you don’t need to be driving—or even own a vehicle—to access treatment benefits. Pedestrians, cyclists, and passengers are generally covered under the vehicle’s insurance policy if they are involved in the crash. Misunderstandings about eligibility can delay access to critical care.

Again, the process isn’t always straightforward. But the right to treatment coverage remains—and it’s worth pursuing.

Why Legal Advice Matters Early

When you’re dealing with medical expenses car accident Nova Scotia coverage, there’s more than just policy language to navigate. There are deadlines, interpretations, disputes over definitions—like what qualifies as “reasonable” treatment or whether your injury is truly “non-minor.”

We’ve had clients who were denied physiotherapy coverage because an adjuster decided it was “too soon” to start rehab. Others were told their counselling sessions weren’t necessary, despite clear notes from a treating psychologist.

These kinds of obstacles are frustrating—and, frankly, avoidable if you have early legal help.

Consult with Preszler Injury Lawyers to Understand Your Rights

Car accidents are stressful. Dealing with treatment coverage shouldn’t add more uncertainty to the mix. At Preszler Injury Lawyers, we work with Nova Scotians every day who are just trying to get the help they need to heal.

Whether your injury is minor, severe, or somewhere in between, you deserve to understand your rights—and to have someone in your corner when insurance questions become barriers.

If you’re unsure what your policy covers, struggling with paperwork, or getting pushback from an insurer, we’re here to help. We’ll walk through your options, help you access the coverage you’re entitled to, and—if needed—fight for the compensation you deserve.