Personal Injury Lawyers are In Demand in Toronto
If you can believe the
headlines, Toronto’s streets are choked with vehicles - and people
suffering injuries as a result of accidents. Although the media tends to
sensationalize the state of our roads, it is true that personal injury trial
lawyers are busy.
Personal injury lawyers are experienced in achieving
settlements covering an astonishing variety of motor vehicle claims. These
include but are not limited to commercial vehicles, motorcycles, public
transportation, bicycle crashes, pedestrian accidents and incidents involving
recreational vehicles and watercraft.
But in downtown Toronto it is mostly cars, bikes and
pedestrians that are at risk and the statistics don’t lie – numbers are indeed
rising.
Trials if Necessary…
People who are making claims after being injured in
accidents are rarely keen to go to trial. It’s another pressure-filled event,
on top of what is often a difficult recovery from injuries. And the outcomes of
trials are not predictable. So it is far more likely that personal injury
lawyers will negotiate a settlement – either quickly with the insurer (if the
claim is straightforward) or in discovery or pre-trial situations. Trials are
always a last resort.
It helps that
in many cases standard benefits are covered under the Ontario
Insurance Act and
adhere to precise amounts. Accident benefits can include:
· Income
replacement
· Coverage
for a caregiver
· Non-earner
benefits
· Medical
and rehabilitation compensation
· Housekeeping
and home maintenance
· Death
expenses and funeral costs
The question might arise – if
specific remedies are prescribed, why bother with a lawyer? The answer is that
the claims process is still relatively complicated, with limitation periods and
a need for specific documentation. A personal injury lawyer can determine ALL
the benefits to which you are entitled, and then shepherd a claim over the
various statutory hurdles.
Finding a Personal Injury Lawyer – Some Tips
The practice of law in Ontario has changed dramatically over the past
decades. Increasingly, the non-criminal branches of law are akin to a service
industry, with lawyers competing to go that extra distance to get your
business.
To that end, if you are unable to physically attend at a lawyer’s
office for meetings, they will come to you. A good firm will also have access
to the best medical referrals, for compiling your claim, as well as treatment
providers.
In multicultural Toronto, over
a quarter of the population does not speak English at home. There are firms
in the city that offer legal service in dozens of languages – and this could be
an important consideration as you build your claim. Communication is key.