Despite impressive advances in vehicle safety over the last few decades, a car accident remains one of the most potentially devastating incidents a person can experience in their life.
In a normal year, there are upwards of 30,000 fatal and personal injury traffic collisions across Ontario, leaving almost twice as many victims to deal with injuries ranging from bruising, whiplash and broken bones at one end of the scale, to life-changing brain and spinal injuries at the other.
But you don’t have to deal with the physical and emotional fallout from your motor vehicle accident alone. Whatever the severity of your injuries, the car accident lawyers at Edwards Pollard will help you secure fair compensation, so that you can concentrate on rebuilding your life.
What to do after a car accident
It can be difficult to think straight in the confusion and stress brought on after a car crash. Above all else, the first thing to concentrate on is getting yourself and your family out of danger as quickly as possible, with the help of the police and other emergency services if necessary.
If it is safe to do so — and if you are able — document the accident scene and any injuries by taking photographs. Ask nearby witnesses for their contact information, as they are often happy to help and could prove crucial later in the process if an insurance company questions your version of events.
Seek medical attention as soon as you can and follow the treatment advice you get from your care providers. It’s also important to continue monitoring your own condition in the following days and weeks, as some injuries take more time than others to show symptoms.
Another of your early calls should be to an experienced car accident lawyer. Injury victims who contact the car accident lawyers at Edwards Pollard know they will get honest, reliable legal advice from an advocate who will fight for them every step of the way.
What to expect if you file a legal claim
Legal claims involving car accidents are typically divided into two streams, one for no-fault accident benefits and one for tort/negligence claims.
Under Ontario’s no-fault insurance regime, anyone involved in a motor vehicle accident can apply to their own insurer for accidents benefits, which are meant to cover lost income and medical or rehabilitation expenses incurred as a result of the crash. Different monetary caps are activated depending on the severity of a person’s injuries, with categories for minor injuries, non-catastrophic and catastrophic impairments.
If someone else was partially or entirely responsible for your accident, you and members of your family may be able to launch a separate lawsuit in court — known as a tort claim — to seek damages from the at-fault party. In some cases, compensation could be available to cover pain and suffering, income losses and care costs, among other expenses.
Unfortunately, many individuals injured in car accidents are further victimized in the process of attempting to obtain the compensation they deserve, by unfair denials of coverage and benefits from insurance companies they expected to help them.
Some insurers are more aggressive than others, but the car accident lawyers at Edwards Pollard give you the tools to fight back, building up your case with the help of evidence from specialists and medical experts.
How we can help
Long after the immediate pain and suffering associated with a car accident have subsided, many injury victims struggle with the emotional and financial toll imposed by their own recovery processes.
At Edwards Pollard, our car accident lawyers recognize the weight of this burden on clients, and we support them as we would members of our own families. Whether helping injury victims meet legal deadlines or connecting them with medical care providers for the professional opinions they need, the compassion and professionalism that we have built our reputation on are always on display.
In negotiations or in court, Edwards Pollard car accident lawyers bring several decades of combined experience to bear, advocating zealously for your rights and refusing to back down in the fight with insurance companies.
In addition, we have the resources to back you for as long as it takes to bring your case to a successful resolution. We prepare every case as if it will go to trial, but we also look for opportunities to reach a fair and reasonable settlement that works for you throughout the process.
If you have been injured in a car accident and would like to understand your legal options, call Oakville’s car accident lawyers at Edwards Pollard for a free consultation at (289) 529-0404.