What the Minor Injury Guideline does
The Minor Injury Guideline (MIG) is a framework under the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (O. Reg. 34/10, s.18) that caps medical and rehabilitation funding at $3,500 for injuries that fall within its definition of "minor."
A minor injury is defined as a sprain, strain, whiplash-associated disorder, contusion, abrasion, laceration, or subluxation — and any clinically associated sequelae. The idea is that these soft-tissue injuries follow predictable recovery paths and can be treated within a standardized, pre-approved care plan without case-by-case approval.
The $3,500 cap sits inside the broader accident-benefit structure: if your injury is "minor," that $3,500 is effectively the ceiling on your medical/rehab funding, far below the roughly $65,000 available for non-catastrophic injuries outside the MIG.
Why the classification matters so much
The gap between being inside the MIG and outside it is enormous — $3,500 versus tens of thousands of dollars of available funding. That makes the "minor or not" question one of the highest-stakes early determinations in a claim, and one of the most frequently disputed at the Licence Appeal Tribunal.
Insurers default many soft-tissue claims into the MIG. Claimants and their treatment providers push back by documenting why an injury falls outside it — for example, evidence of a more serious underlying condition, or a pre-existing condition that means the standardized minor-injury treatment will not be effective for that person.
How to get out of the MIG
There are two main routes out. First, the injury itself may simply not be minor — a fracture, a brain injury, or a psychological injury is not a sprain or strain, and is not captured by the guideline.
Second, a "pre-existing condition" exception applies: if you have a documented medical condition that would prevent you from achieving maximal recovery under the $3,500 minor-injury treatment, you can be removed from the MIG even for an otherwise-minor injury. This exception relies on credible medical evidence — typically records predating the accident — which is why early, thorough documentation matters.
What changes on July 1, 2026
The July 2026 reform expands the list of injury categories addressed in the minor-injury framework — moving from the long-standing core categories to a broader enumerated list. The reform is intended to clarify which injuries are treated under the standardized guideline.
What is important for consumers: the expansion changes the boundaries of what is classified as minor, but it does not eliminate the cap or the dispute over classification. If your treatment provider believes your injury falls outside the guideline, the path is still to document the basis for that — through clinical evidence and, if the insurer disagrees, through the LAT.
Frequently asked
What is the dollar limit under the Minor Injury Guideline?
Medical and rehabilitation funding is capped at $3,500 for injuries classified as minor under the guideline. That is substantially less than the funding available for non-catastrophic injuries that fall outside the MIG, which is why the classification is so heavily contested.
Can I be removed from the MIG if I have a pre-existing condition?
Yes. If you have a documented pre-existing medical condition that would prevent you from reaching maximal recovery under the standardized $3,500 minor-injury treatment, you can be taken out of the MIG even for an otherwise-minor injury. This requires credible medical evidence, ideally records that predate the accident.
Does whiplash always fall under the MIG?
Whiplash-associated disorder is within the minor-injury definition — but only without objective neurological signs. Whiplash that produces demonstrable neurological findings, or that is accompanied by other non-minor injuries, can fall outside the guideline. The presence or absence of those signs is exactly what gets disputed.
Who decides whether my injury is "minor"?
In the first instance the insurer applies the guideline based on the medical documentation submitted. If you disagree with being placed in the MIG, you dispute it through the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), supported by medical evidence from your treating professionals.