Personal Injuries Increase in Toronto
Toronto’s roads are congested. The rapid growth of the
Greater Toronto Area (GTA), as well as condominium development in the downtown
core has made the city a wonderful, lively place to live and work. But it has
also brought an increase
in accidents involving vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians. In the midst of
this traffic chaos, the insurance claim lawyer is working to ensure accident
victims are justly compensated for their injuries.
Hiring a lawyer is not immediately on the mind of an injured
party – getting medical help is obviously the first priority. However, the
disruption that an accident can cause in one’s life – emotionally and
financially – means that receiving appropriate accident benefits could quickly
become a priority. Because of that, and the various limitation periods for
bringing forward claims, accident victims should engage the services of a
personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
Benefits Available
In addition to tort liability in the case of negligence,
there are a variety of benefits available to accident victims in Ontario under
the Ontario Insurance
Act. These benefits are basic but universal – if you know how to
access them and the kinds of benefits to which you are entitled.
Accessing them
to their fullest extent is something that an experienced lawyer can do.
A personal injuries lawyer will also ensure you meet the
various time limitation periods. They arise quickly in accident settlement
cases – the insurance company must be informed within a week of a pending
action.
A lawyer will also help to determine which insurance company
is liable for paying your benefits, filling out the forms; pressing the insurer
to settle and pay out quickly; and determine if there should be further legal
action over and above the benefits bestowed by the Insurance Act. If a tort case
is feasible, the lawyer will collect witness and police reports, initiate
proceedings, and then pursue your claim through the courts or (more likely) to
a negotiated settlement.
Most commonly, however, the lawyer will be ensuring your
quick access to standard benefits under the Ontario Insurance Act. These
include:
- Limited income replacement
- A benefit if you are not able to carry out normal
activities and require assistance
- Limited coverage of attendant care
- Medical benefits, including rehabilitation benefits
- Funeral and death benefits
Also important is the enhanced coverage available if it is
determined that the injuries sustained fall under the heading of "catastrophic
impairment”. This is harm that is
far-reaching in its consequences and damages go far beyond the relatively
modest prescribed limits in the Act.
Other Injuries and Hiring Lawyers
Traffic accidents are the most obvious way residents of the
GTA can sustain injuries but there are a host of other personal injury
categories. In every event it is advisable to hire a lawyer or firm that
focuses on personal injury law.
Many personal injury lawyers advertise extensively on a
variety of platforms. Check out the online listings of the local personal
injury firms. A good company will have
an informative site – a place you can learn from before approaching them. Look
for biographical information on its staff, and with the expertise of its
lawyers in dealing with injuries.
Hiring an insurance claims lawyer is always a great idea
when you have suffered a personal injury due to an accident. Finding one that
is local to the GTA will help move the case along faster to get you the
financial stability you need right away.