Types of Personal Injury Matters
Personal injury matters happen more often than you think. It can happen while you're shopping at a mall. For example, somebody may have left a slippery substance on the floor and the mall failed to clean it up and left it there for a period of time. There have also been escalator and elevator accidents at malls. When most people think of personal injury, they think about car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, bike accidents, pedestrian accidents, and other accidents that occur on the road. They wonder what happens when drunk drivers cause accidents, pedestrians jaywalk, cyclists forget to wear a helmet or drivers drive without insurance. But the reality is, even in these types of accidents, there could still be insurance coverage for the claim. If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, even if you have no insurance, were at-fault, or even if you were a cyclist or pedestrian hit by a car, you should contact a Toronto personal injury lawyer in Ontario right away.
Car Accidents
Why should you contact the lawyer right away? First of all, in motor vehicle accidents, there is something called accident benefits. Once you're involved in an accident in or relating to a motor vehicle, you will likely qualify, regardless of whether or not you are at-fault or have your own insurance. You are supposed to apply within the first month after the insurance company sends you the forms. Accident benefits gives you entitlement to income replacement benefits, non-earner benefits, housekeeping benefits, attendant care benefits, caregiver benefits, and other benefits. Not all of these apply to a case, but a lawyer can tell you what benefits you can claim. There's usually a lump-sum settlement at the end of an accident benefits claim as well, for future benefits. You should speak to a lawyer even if you are at fault for an accident, because you were still entitled to these benefits. There are even greater benefits if you were severely hurt in an accident, such as in cases of paralysis (quadriplegic, paraplegic), traumatic brain injury TBI (including concussions), coma, or marked impairment in an area of function. Injuries can be physical or psychological, including cognitive injuries. There is a type of impairment called "Catastrophic Impairment" which will raise your policy limits for benefits to a much greater amount. A lawyer can help you apply for catastrophic impairment.
In addition to accident benefits, you may be able to sue the at-fault driver or owner for their negligence and carelessness in hurting you. This is where the courts will assess what losses and damages you have sustained in the accident. It could include payment for your pain and suffering, your lost wages, your housekeeping expenses, your out-of-pocket expenses, your treatments expenses, your babysitting expenses, travelling to appointments expenses, and any other expenses or losses associated with your accident. A lawyer, just like in all forms of litigation, needs to give notice to the defendants that you intend to sue them. As such, you should contact a lawyer right away, so that the lawyer can give notice of your claim right away, so that you will maximize the amount of interest you get. Can't work? You should apply for benefits to help you recover your loss income. Other ways to get temporary employment assistance include EI Sickness Benefits (a form of employment insurance), short-term or long-term disability benefits (private insurance), Ontario Works (OW - social welfare benefits), Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP - social welfare benefits), CPP Disability (Canada Pension Plan benefits) or Workplace safety and insurance board (WSIB benefits). WSIB benefits may affect your ability to claim benefits or sue for your accident, so check with a lawyer to see which benefit maximizes your entitlement first.
Slip and Fall and Trip and Fall
As mentioned earlier, there are other forms of personal injury such a slip-and-fall claims. They are also trip and fall claims, such as where there is a hidden hazard that causes a person to trip. The defendants may be a mall, a plaza, a school, a bank, and many other buildings. A lawyer will investigate who owns or manages the place where you fell. The relevant law is the Occupiers' Liability Act. If you fell in the City of Toronto, or in any other city, town, community or municipality in Ontario, you have 10 days to give notice of a claim. If you miss the 10 day rule, you may not be able to pursue a claim, but a lawyer can help you see if there is a way around the 10 day rule. That being said, you need to speak to a lawyer right away if you're injured on municipal property.
Dog Attacks
Other forms of personal injury include dog bites, or other domestic animal attacks. The person who owns a dog has a responsibility to ensure that their dog does not hurt others. If their dog attacks and injures another person, they may be sued. If they have tenant insurance or homeowner insurance, these forms of insurance frequently cover these claims. If you have been injured by an animal attack or dog bite, contact a personal injury lawyer for a consultation right away.
Product Liability
Sometimes people are injured by defective products. A manufacturer of a product has an obligation to make sure that the product is safe for the intended customer. If it is not, and a person gets injured, there could be a product liability case.
Medical Malpractice
Sometimes doctors, dentists, chiropractors, physiotherapists, massage therapists, and other medical professionals may be negligent in the way they perform their services. Medical malpractice lawyers look into whether or not the health provider has acted negligently or below their Industry's standard of care when providing treatment. If you have been injured as a result of the actions of a medical professional, you should speak to an Ontario personal injury lawyer specializing in medical malpractice right away in order to know your rights. Speak to Injury Lawyers Toronto today.
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