Car Accident Lawyer
Car accident lawyers Toronto are almost a dime a dozen. Many Toronto personal injury firms and solo practitioner Toronto car accident lawyers are vying for your business, especially when you have been hurt in a serious car crash. Some personal injury firms are so-called “volume shops” that take on so many car accident claims that you may start to feel like just a number or a folder in a filing cabinet. To have a successful claim that gets you maximum compensation, it is always a good idea to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer Toronto. Get the compensation you need and deserve and call or email Verkhovets Law.
At Verkhovets Law, Toronto automobile accident lawyers, our clients benefit from personal service. We understand what you are going through with serious injuries. We know how you feel: you are the person injured and seek the right medical treatment, yet you are battling medical bills, struggling with the claims process, the financial uncertainty, the stress of a drawn-out insurance claim, wondering about possible outcomes. How will the accident affect family members? An experienced personal injury lawyer at our firm reports that prospective clients frequently ask about Toronto car accidents: “When will I get back to normal?” or even the harder question “Will I ever get back to normal?” That’s because serious car accident cases tend to be life-changing.
At Toronto automobile accident law firm Verkhovets Law, our clients benefit from our vigorous advocacy to get you the maximum amount of compensation, to help you get your life back on track. Call or email us now.
Why you need a Toronto personal injury lawyer
Most people are shocked to learn that a huge part of the real reason they need a Toronto personal injury lawyer is to fight their own insurance company for the benefits they thought they were paying for through their car insurance policy and their monthly insurance premiums. Insurance companies often deny treatment that is necessary for you to get better.
At Verkhovets Law, our automobile accident lawyers understand how personal injury victims have been let down by the Ontario insurance system. Ontario implemented so-called “no fault” car insurance in 1989 to try to lessen the amounts of claims put through the system.
So, rather than suing the insurance company of the other driver who collided with your car, today plaintiffs are fighting with their own insurance companies for rehabilitation, physio, medical devices, personal support workers, and so on as they try to get well.
Experienced car accident lawyers for serious accident claims
Because insurance companies start off with almost a default position: “Prove to us that you are injured.” Or put another way, “Prove to us that you are not faking your injuries.” Our experienced car accident lawyers are up against this type of thinking all the time wit insurance companies.
More than one Ontario automobile accident lawyer at our personal injury law firm thinks this is a travesty when you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident!
So, the reason you need personal injury lawyers is not only to sue the driver who caused the accident, but also to fight your own insurance provider because at the end of the day, you have a contract with your insurance company under which they are responsible for certain expenses. You bought a car insurance policy, you paid your monthly car insurance premiums, and now you need to access those benefits to get well again.
The reality of the situation is a car insurance policy is a contract: and when one side defaults on the contract — your insurance company — you can fight them through Canada’s legal system. Any Toronto automobile accident lawyer can tell you that the Ontario car insurance system does not work as intended.
The Toronto automobile accident lawyers at Verkhovets Law also represent injured victims in tort claims, which are claims against the at-fault party. That’s where having an Ontario automobile accident lawyer is a must because these cases go to the Superior Court of Justice. It is not wise to appear at the Superior Court of without a personal injury lawyer. It is risky to appear before the Superior Court of Justice as a “Self-Represented Litigant” (SRL) because legal procedures are complex and the consequences of getting it wrong may be irreversibly damaging to your case. When you’re up against an insurance company that wants to maximize its profits by denying your claim, injury victims always benefit from hiring an accident lawyer Toronto.
Call or email us now for your free consultation to get your Toronto car accident claim started today. You’ll be glad you took the first step.
to get your car accident claims started by our a personal injury lawyers at our firm, arrange your free consultation now.
You’ll be glad you took the first step.
Types of losses our accident lawyers can help you with
At Verkhovets Law, car accident lawyers, we know this is a stressful time, and that you may not realize the full extent – or even the types – of losses you have incurred in the aftermath of a car accident. Our Toronto automobile accident lawyers can help identify the many kinds of financial and personal losses you may be eligible to recover.
And since the Statutory Accident Benefits System (SABS) is mandatory under your insurance, there ar statutory accident benefits we know you are entitled to.
Certain benefits are provided for victims, no matter who is at fault – the rest are sought with a lawsuit that a Toronto personal injury lawyer can help you with. Losses from a car accident can be grouped into three categories: Accident Benefits, Property Damage, and Tort Claims. Each group compensates for losses associated with the car accident. A vehicle insurance lawyer at Verkhovets Law can advise you on each of these car accident benefit categories:
- Childcare assistance for catastrophically injured victims or those with access to optional benefits
- Treatment of disfigurement and scars
- Cost of psychological treatments and therapy
- Funeral and burial expenses of up to $6,000, in the event of death
- Housekeeping and home maintenance benefits of up to $100 a week for the rest of your life (depending on your policy)
- Loss of income; Income Replacement Benefits of up to 70 per cent of gross wages. This is capped at $400 per week as a motor vehicle accident benefit. You can also file a tort claim (see Category 3, below) that has no maximum.
- Non-earner benefits
- Medical costs and costs associated with purchase of medical and/or assistive devices
- Home remodeling and improvement
- Personal care needs including the cost of hiring a caregiver if you are unable to care for yourself
- Physio and other rehabilitation, including case management services, occupational therapy and rehab support workers
- Medical equipment
- Costs of repairing or replacing your car
- Property damage, in addition to that of your car that resulted from a car accident
- Cost of replacing dentures, glasses and other orthodontic and/or dental treatment arising out of injuries sustained in a car accident
- Funeral and burial expense claims in the event of wrongful death (there is no maximum).
- Housekeeping and home maintenance claims for beyond what is provided for by Accident Benefits carrier.
- Attendant care services (personal support worker) over and above that funded by the Accident Benefits carrier.
Loss of income above and beyond what is provided for through Income Replacement Benefits (IBR).
- Loss of competitive advantage and loss of business opportunity
- Costs associated with future care for the injured person
- Pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment of life
Out-of-pocket expenses incurred as a result of the accident
Personal injury lawyer explains fault, negligence, liability, and statute of limitations:
Fault – When any automobile accident lawyer launches an action to claim your damages, a key component to be established is fault under the Insurance Act and Fault Determination Rules. Ontario has a “no-fault” car insurance system, but this does not mean that no one is at fault in a motor vehicle accident.
An automobile accident law firm like Verkhovets Law can help you with your claim, even if you are the driver who has been found at fault.
The term “no-fault” insurance simply means if you are injured or your car is damaged in a motor vehicle accident, then you deal with your own insurance company, regardless of who is at fault. You don’t have to go after the at-fault driver for compensation. What that really means is motor vehicle accident lawyers first file the claim with your insurance company and not the one representing the other driver – even if they’re to blame.
Fault comes into play when a decision has to be made as to whether or not an injured party can pursue a lawsuit against another driver or drivers involved in a motor vehicle accident.
Negligence – Verkhovets Law, automobile accident lawyers, will determine if your accident was caused by negligent actions of the other party and if so, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim against that negligent party.
Even if you share blame for the car accident, you can still launch a lawsuit, and your award will be reduced by the percentage of contributory negligence (percentage of fault apportioned to you). For example: if the judge finds you’re 20 per cent negligent, your award is lowered by 20 per cent. A vehicle insurance lawyer at Verkhovets Law can advise you on negligence.
While fault and negligence are similar in a way, they are not the same. A person may not be at-fault, but may be negligent and contribute to the accident. For example, if person A was going straight through the intersection and saw someone making a left turn, but didn’t slow down or stop as a result of which a motor vehicle accident occurred, they most likely will not be at-fault as vehicles going straight have a right of way. However, they are still negligent because a motor vehicle accident was likely to happen and took no steps to avoid it.
Statute of limitations – Our automobile accident lawyers know that in Ontario, there’s a time limit on filing your lawsuit – per the Limitations Act 2002, s.4 – that runs out two years after the date of your accident. There are certain exceptions, however. You must also give the other side notice within 120 days. One of the exceptions is if your injury isn’t diagnosed until a later date. There are other exceptions. If you are uncertain whether you can still file your claim, give us a call for a free consultation.
At Verkhovets Law, we’re an automobile accident law firm that has a reputation for helping injury victims.
Our car accident lawyers handle many types of claims
Like snowflakes, no two car accidents are the same. So, it’s important for your case the Toronto automobile accident lawyers at Verkhovets Law have a deep well of experience in navigating a variety of potential injury claims. It might surprise you to learn there are many kinds of motor vehicle accidents involving different types of vehicles and a variety of possible injuries. Good news: our Toronto automobile accident law firm is well-equipped to handle the particular facts surrounding the accident that happened to you.
A car accident lawyer Toronto at Verkhovets Law can help you if you’ve been involved in one of these types of accidents:
- Head-on collisions
- T-bone accidents
- Rear-end collisions
- Rollover accidents
- Sideswipes
- Single-car accidents
When you meet with any automobile accident lawyer at Verkhovets Law, they can help you handle these types of vehicle claims:
And our car accident lawyers will help you with these types of personal injuries:
Broken bones
Concussions
Internal injuries
Soft tissue injuries
Whiplash
Whether your claim involves a car, motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian, reach out to our car accident lawyers so we can walk you through all the possible scenarios to identify the type of accident that happened – and where to go from there.
What's your claim worth? Car accident lawyers explain
All experienced motor vehicle accident lawyers will tell you that, unlike the U.S., there isn’t a personal injury magic fairy in Canada doling out massive cash awards. Nor is there a handy dandy guideline to consult. We’ll figure out what your claim is worth by keeping the upper limit in mind, and knowing the ranges awarded in previous personal injury cases. But there are common elements that come into play: the type of action, negligence factors, and the nature and extent of your damages.
$391,453
Maximum damages for
pain and suffering
$41,503.50
Deductible on any award
of damages of pain and
suffering
Indeed, the Supreme Court of Canada has capped damages for pain and suffering claims – currently, it’s set at $391,453 (the amount grows annually for cost-of-living increases and inflation). In 1978, our top court put a $100,000 lid on what they perceived as serious suffering claims – and it’s reserved now for the worst-of-the-worst injuries like paralysis and traumatic brain injury sustained in a car accident.
Additionally, there is a deductible on any award of damages for pain and suffering. Currently, the deductible stands at almost $40,000.00. It increases every year for inflation. The deductible is not applicable in some cases where the injuries are more severe and damages are more extensive.
Meanwhile, the Ontario courts have pretty much generally established the other award amounts for personal injury law claims via the outcomes of prior cases (called precedents). Depending upon the particular circumstances of your car accident, apportionment of negligence, projected development of injuries and cost of required care, motor vehicle accident lawyers will determine and advise you on the monetary value of your pain and suffering claim. In doing so, our car accident lawyers will utilize their knowledge of statutory law, case law and extensive experience in assessing, litigating, and settling various types of personal injury claims.
It is important to note that income loss, out-of-pocket expenses, loss of competitive advantage, loss of business opportunity, and future care costs are separate legal claims, in addition to pain and suffering, above. There is no limit of the monetary value of damages that can be recovered. There is also no deductible.
Personal attention from your car accident lawyers
Verkhovets Law, motor vehicle accident lawyers, take the complicated legal stuff off your hands while you are dealing with both the physical and emotional fallout that you’re suffering because of an automobile accident.
As your dedicated car accident lawyers, we will ensure the proper steps are taken to file your claim in a timely fashion, and the process flows smoothly. Our pledge is to work tirelessly on your behalf – and fight for the maximum recovery you and your family deserve.
Call our car accident lawyers now
