Imagine, a Calgary couple being rear-ended on Deerfoot. She was 14 weeks pregnant. In the ER, she heard the phrase no parent ever wants to hear: “non-viable.” Under the new draft rules Alberta released just before the long weekend, that loss could be reduced to a line on a schedule totaling: $13,234, despite her grief, despite the ripple effects on her life, no matter, despite losing her unborn child…
What Alberta Just Proposed.
The province of Alberta has published draft regulations for a new no-fault, “care-first” auto insurance system, scheduled to apply to crashes on or after January 1, 2027. Instead of letting a court weigh the facts of your case, a public/government schedule will assign a fixed payout for specific set of permanent injuries, what insiders refer to as a “meat chart.”
Examples from the government’s own draft include:
- Loss of a pregnancy under 20 weeks: $13,234;
- Loss of a pregnancy at 20+ weeks: $18,906;
- Loss of colour vision: $945;
- Loss of an eye: $56,717;
- Tinnitus (constant ringing in ears): $9,453;
- Partial amputation of a hand: $41,592; and
- Moderate traumatic brain injury: $37,811–$66,169.
And there’s a second catch: the payouts are not automatic. Under the draft, insurers decide whether your condition is “permanent” enough to qualify for the scheduled amount in the first place.
Why Fixed Payouts Miss the Human Cost
People do not experience injuries the same way. A journeyman mechanic who loses part of a hand, may lose decades of skilled work. A young parent, with a moderate brain injury may struggle with memory, attention, and the stamina needed to hold a job, or care for kids. Yet a chart treats them as identical to anyone else with the same medical label, and caps their recovery at a pre-set dollar figure. That is not how real lives work.
Victims’ advocates, including trial lawyers and consumer coalitions, have called the draft alarming and offensive because it slaps price tags on intimate losses and strips away individualized assessment.
FAIR Alberta, points out that Albertans were initially promised $400 in annual savings, a promise they say the government and insurers have now walked back. At the same time, premiums are slated to rise before 2027.
A Crash is not Just Today’s Medical Bill
Serious collisions set off a chain of costs that a chart cannot capture:
- Medical & rehab beyond “standard” timelines: neuropsych testing, vestibular therapy for post-concussion vertigo, custom splints, tinnitus-masking devices, and fertility counselling after pregnancy loss.
- Income loss that compounds: missed promotions, reduced hours, or a forced career change, if hand strength, attention, or balance never fully
- Home life disruptions: sleep loss from chronic ear ringing, sensory overload in busy places, or grief that blindsides you at the grocery store when you pass the baby
- Administrative strain: insurer forms, treatment approvals, appeals to a Tribunal, tasks that are hardest when your brain, or body is already working at half-speed.
When the law pre-prices injuries, it risks underpaying the very people who need long-term support the most.
How to Protect Yourself Right Now
You cannot control when a truck drifts into your lane. However, you can control what you do in the first hours and weeks afterward, steps that matter even more, if Alberta moves ahead with a fixed-payout model.
- Get same-day medical care and follow-up imaging, if symptoms persist or Concussions, internal injuries, and pregnancy complications are not always apparent at the scene.
- Document everything: photos, dashcam files, names of witnesses, symptom logs, (headaches, tinnitus episodes, memory lapses), and work impacts (missed shifts, reduced duties).
- Do not minimize losses in early If your hand is numb, or your hearing is “off,” say so, consistently and specifically.
- Track out-of-pocket costs: prescriptions, physio, counselling, childcare during appointments, and mileage to specialists.
- Get competent legal advice before you sign. An Adjuster’s friendly tone does not change their Once you sign a release, you do not get a “do-over,” if symptoms worsen.
Legal Insight: What Changes, and What Does not
- Timeline: Bill 47 (the Automobile Insurance Act) says the new regime applies to collisions, on or after January 1, 2027. If your collision happens before that date, the current at-fault-based system applies, including your right to sue for pain and suffering.
- Decision-maker shift: Under the proposed no-fault model, insurers (and a specialized tribunal), replace courts as the Gatekeepers for benefits and “permanency,” a key switch when a fixed schedule controls
- Savings promise in doubt: Public communications touted potential savings of
$400/year. Advocacy groups now say those savings “will not happen,” pointing to approved premium increases heading into 2026. However, the draft regulation is still under review, and policy may still change.
A Calgary Scenario: Two Crashes, Two Outcomes
Picture two Albertans in January 2027:
- Maya, a Dental Hygienist, develops persistent tinnitus and sound sensitivity after a rear-end She can’t tolerate the high-pitched whirl of a scaler and loses her job. The chart values tinnitus at $9,453, even though she must get vocational re-training.
- Devon, a 3rd-year Apprentice Mechanic, loses part of his dominant hand The schedule sets a $41,592 figure for a partial-hand amputation, even if he cannot return to the trade for which he is trained.
Under a case-by-case at-fault current Court assessment, their compensation would reflect their actual losses. Under a fixed schedule, proposed no-fault “meat-chart”, their unique cases are reduced to pre-set figures with NO foundation.
Where We Go From Here
These rules are a draft. The government can still change course; or rebalance the regulation to reflect real-world harms. In the meantime, your best defense, is careful documentation, timely medical attention, and early legal advice.
If you have been hurt in a crash, and if you are staring at forms, deadlines, or an insurer disputing whether your condition is “permanent,” you don’t have to carry that alone. Pipella Law has over 60 years of experience representing injured Albertans. We work on a contingency basis, no fees until you win, and we will make sure your voice will not get lost in a spreadsheet.
If you or a loved one have been involved in an accident, you know how devastating the consequences can be. That's why having an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side is crucial to help you navigate the legal system and obtain the compensation you need to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and long-term care in Alberta.
At Pipella Law, we understand the challenges you are facing, and we are here to help. Our team of dedicated car accident lawyers in Calgary will conduct a complete investigation of your case and work with leading consultants to build a strong case on your behalf.