What Is the Minor Injury Guideline (MIG) in Ontario?

Minor Injury Guideline (MIG): Key Questions and Answers

What is the Minor Injury Guideline (MIG)? The Minor Injury Guideline (MIG) is an Ontario accident benefits regulation that limits medical and rehabilitation funding to $3,500 for injuries classified as “minor,” such as sprains, strains, and certain whiplash injuries.

When does the MIG not apply? The MIG does not apply if a person has any injury that is not considered minor, such as a fracture, fully torn ligament, psychological diagnoses, concussion (mild traumatic brain injury) or another non-soft-tissue impairment. It also does not apply if an individual has a pre-existing condition which will make it more difficult to recovery from an otherwise "minor" injury.

Why does this matter? Being placed in the MIG affects how much treatment funding is available after a car accident.

Introduction

If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Ontario, your insurance company may tell you that your injuries fall under the Minor Injury Guideline (MIG). For many people, this is confusing — especially when pain, limitations, or emotional distress continue long after the crash.

The MIG directly affects access to treatment under Ontario’s accident benefits system and can influence the type and duration of care a person receives during recovery.

What Injuries Qualify as "minor" under the MIG Under the Minor Injury Guideline, a “minor injury” is limited to the following types of injuries:

• sprains and strains

• whiplash-associated disorders (WAD I and WAD II)

• contusions (bruises)

• abrasions and lacerations

• subluxations

• and any clinically associated symptoms arising from these injuries

Does the MIG apply if I have more than one injury?

The MIG applies only when all accident-related injuries meet the definition of a minor injury.

The MIG is an all-or-nothing classification. It is not based on whether most injuries are minor. It depends on whether every injury fits the MIG definition.

Does a concussion fall under the Minor Injury Guideline?

No. A concussion (mild traumatic brain injury) is not considered a minor injury under the Minor Injury Guideline.

Brain injuries do not fall within the categories of sprains, strains, or other soft tissue injuries covered by the MIG.

This means that if a person has suffered a concussion, their claim should not be restricted to the $3,500 MIG limit, even if they also have soft tissue injuries such as whiplash or muscle strain.

What does the $3,500 MIG limit cover?

The $3,500 limit applies to all medical and rehabilitation benefits combined, including:

• Physiotherapy

• Chiropractic care

• Massage therapy

• Occupational therapy

• Exercise and recovery programs
  

Once the $3,500 limit is reached, no further medical or rehabilitation funding is available unless the person is removed from the MIG.

Why do insurance companies apply the MIG?

Insurance companies often apply the MIG early in a claim because it limits treatment costs and simplifies how treatment plans are approved.

However, injuries do not always follow predictable recovery patterns. Some people experience ongoing pain, functional limitations, or psychological symptoms that go beyond what the MIG was designed to address.

When can someone be removed from the MIG?

A person may be removed from the MIG when medical evidence shows their injuries are no longer properly classified as minor.

This can occur when:

There is a non-minor injury, such as a concussion or other brain injury, nerve damage, a psychological impairment, or another condition that is not a soft tissue injury.

A pre-existing condition affects recovery. If a prior condition prevents recovery within the MIG framework and is supported by medical evidence.

Symptoms become chronic or disabling. Some injuries initially appear minor but later develop into chronic pain, lasting functional impairment, or conditions requiring more treatment than the MIG allows.

How to get out of the Minor Injury Guideline?

Removal from the MIG is not automatic. It requires medical support and insurer approval or a legal dispute through the License Appeal Tribunal

This usually involves: A healthcare provider documenting why the MIG is no longer appropriate. Evidence showing the person cannot recover within the MIG framework. Submission of a treatment plan requesting funding outside the $3,500 limit.

What are common misunderstandings about the MIG?

The MIG means my injuries aren’t real. False. The MIG is a funding guideline, not a judgment about whether an injury is legitimate.

Once I’m in the MIG, I can never get out. False. With proper medical evidence, some people can be removed from the MIG.

If I’m in pain, the MIG can’t apply.Not necessarily. Pain alone does not remove someone from the MIG without evidence of a non-minor impairment.

How does the MIG relate to catastrophic injuries?

The Minor Injury Guideline applies only to minor injuries. People with catastrophic injuries are not subject to the MIG limits.

For a broader explanation of catastrophic impairment and higher benefit eligibility, see our guide: Catastrophic Impairment in Ontario.

Final Thoughts

The Minor Injury Guideline plays a major role in many claims made pursuant to the Ontario Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule. While it is meant for injuries that usually resolve with short-term care, not everyone fits neatly into that category.

If symptoms persist, worsen, or include conditions such as a concussion or psychological impairment, it may be important to reassess whether the MIG truly applies.

Understanding the MIG helps injured people protect their right to appropriate treatment and recovery support after a car accident.

Author: Lane Foster, Personal Injury Lawyer This guide explains Ontario accident benefits law and is not legal advice.