If you’ve been injured in a car accident, it’s important to
find the best accident lawyer to help handle your accident claim.
The Nature of
Accident Injuries
According to
Transport
Canada, in 2011, 10,443 Canadians were seriously injured in a motor vehicle
collision. An additional 2,006 people were killed by vehicles in the same year.
Accident injuries can be tricky; the injury isn’t always
apparent, especially if it’s a soft tissue injury, like whiplash. It may take
hours or days for the pain to set in. This is one of the reasons why contacting
a lawyer immediately after an accident is a good idea.
An insurance adjuster for the at-fault person will want to
talk to you after the accident. These adjusters have years of experience with
claims just like yours, while this may be your first time talking to an
insurance adjuster. If you talk to an adjuster before the endorphins wear off,
you may tell that person that you have no pain or injuries, only to have them
surface days later. Everything you tell the adjuster will go into your record
and will have an impact on any later claims.
The best accident lawyers will advise you to avoid speaking
to the insurance adjuster before consulting with your lawyer. It’s not uncommon
for your lawyer to take care of the insurance adjuster’s questions for you,
leaving you to concentrate on your recovery.
Other types of common injuries after automobile accidents
are head and brain injuries, bone bruising and fractures, injuries to your
internal organs, back injuries, joint dislocations or fractures, and connective
tissue injuries. It’s important to consult a doctor after being injured in an
accident since the doctor can give you an idea of your expected recovery time.
Whiplash, one of the most common car accident injuries, can cause indefinite
chronic pain for fifteen to twenty percent of sufferers. This could cause extra
out-of-pocket expenses, like pain medication or other treatment, for years
after an accident.
Making a Claim
No matter what the nature of your injury, a good personal
injury lawyer can help you make your claim. In Ontario, there are two ways to
make your claim. You can file a tort claim, a legal claim against the other
driver, or you can make a claim through the accident benefits program through
your insurance company. Many people hesitate to go through their insurance
company’s accident benefits program because they fear their own auto insurance
will go up. If you’re not at fault, the claim won’t affect your premium.
Talking to an experienced personal injury lawyer can help put your mind at
ease. The best accident lawyers can guide you through the process, helping with
paperwork and the legal necessities along the way.
Keep in mind, a serious injury may require home renovations
and maintenance, housekeeping help, and that can mean income loss for you and
other family members, medical and rehabilitation expenses, and the pain and
suffering that may occur due to physical, mental, or emotional injury.
If you’ve been injured in an accident, you deserve the best
accident lawyer fighting on your behalf.