Toronto Personal Injury Lawer Blog - Findlay Law

Auto accidents always seem to occur at the most inopportune times. While your first inclination may be to get home as quickly as possible after an auto accident, there are important steps that should be followed in order to avoid criminal prosecution or insurance hassles.

Auto accident steps
The after-effects of being in an accident can rattle even the most level-headed of people. It may be handy to print out this list and keep it in your car in the event you find yourself in an auto accident.

• Remain on the scene.
• Call 911 if anyone has suffered injuries, if there is fairly serious damage to the vehicles involved or if any of the motorists appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• If possible, reposition the involved vehicles so they are out of traffic.
• Gather information from other motorists involved, including names, addresses, phone numbers, driver’s licenses numbers, make/model/color of cars involved, VIN numbers, license plate numbers and insurance information.
• Gather passenger and witness information, including names, addresses and phone numbers.
• Write down all details you can recall about the accident, including the time, location, weather and road conditions, speed of cars and a written and visual description of the accident.
• Take photos of the scene, if possible.
• Do not admit any wrongdoing on your part. This will be the job of the insurance companies to sort out liability.
• Do not move injured persons, as this may further complicate their injuries.

If you are involved in an accident that is not your fault or if you have suffered an injury as a result of an auto accident, you can sue the other drivers. Please contact the auto accident attorneys at Findlay Law Offices in Ontario as soon as possible for a free consultation to determine if you have a case.

Spinal cord injuries can happen to anyone at any time. Auto accidents, sports injuries, falls and assaults such as gunshot wounds or stabbings can damage spinal cord cells or sever vital spinal cord nerves that allow the brain to function properly. The result is complete or partial paralysis.

The location of the injury on the spinal cord determines what parts of the body will be affected. For example, if an injury occurs in the lumbar or thoracic region of the spine, the person may suffer paraplegia. Paraplegic patients lose partial or complete sensation and movement in their legs.

The Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario lists a number of statistics regarding spinal cord injuries, including:

• Paralysis or permanent mobility impairment affects 600,000 people in Ontario
• After a person suffers a spinal cord injury, it takes an average of 2-3 years to become sufficiently independent
• Motor vehicle accidents are responsible for 55% of spinal cord injuries
• The unemployment rate for spinal cord injury victims is 62%

People with paraplegia, or anyone with a disability, have certain rights for equal protection under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Likewise, it is unlawful for paraplegics to be discriminated against as a result of the Canadian Human Rights Act.

Paraplegia is a life-altering condition, but it does not have to end your life. If your paraplegia was caused by the negligence of another party, or if you have faced discrimination due to your condition, contact the spinal cord injury attorneys at Findlay Law Offices in Ontario today to learn more about your rights.

The term “no fault insurance” can be a little misleading. While it may sound like no fault insurance allows you to skirt responsibility when you cause a car accident, this is definitely not the case. In Ontario, no fault insurance actually refers to the law that every party involved in a car accident is at fault and will be required by the insurance company to pay a percentage of the damages.

Each party involved in an accident will deal with his/her own insurance company to file a claim and receive financial compensation. There are certain government-regulated fault determination rules that help insurance companies determine the fault percentages to assign to the various parties involved in accidents. According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, there are specific rules for such situations as:

• Cars traveling in the same direction and lane
• Cars traveling in the same direction and different lanes
• Cars traveling in opposite directions
• Cars at an intersection
• Cars in parking lots
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs

If you do not agree with the ruling of the insurance company, you can speak directly with the insurance adjuster to understand what fault rule applied to your situation. If you can supply new information or evidence that backs up your claim, the insurance company may change its decision. However, if nothing is revised and you still feel you were wronged, a no fault attorney may be able to help.

If you feel you have a no fault case, please contact the experienced attorneys at Findlay Law Offices in Ontario today. We will examine your situation and determine whether or not you have a legitimate case against the insurance company.

Victims who suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) can experience a wide range of effects, from severe paralysis to less obvious symptoms such as headaches or mood swings. While auto accidents, slips and falls and blows to the head are common reasons for TBI, there is no common way that TBI will affect different people. In fact, often there is no outward indication that a TBI has even occurred.

When the effects of mild TBI begin to surface, victims may begin to experience symptoms that interfere with their jobs, relationships and everyday life, such as:

• Concentration difficulties
• Extreme tiredness
• Seizures
• Disruption of sleep patterns
• Loss of memory
• Depression

What to look for in a good personal injury lawyer
Not all attorneys are the same. When you meet with a personal injury attorney, one who specializes in TBI cases, make sure the attorney:

• Carefully listens to your situation
• Asks detailed questions about the event
• Suggests a course of action or several different options
• Offers information about his/her credentials, background and success rate
• Has trial experience
• Treats you with respect

The brain injury lawyers at Findlay Law Offices have extensive experience helping TBI victims receive the compensation and treatment to regain a good quality of life. Whether the victim needs rehabilitation treatment in the form of psychology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy or other medical treatment, our team is committed to handling legitimate claims for TBI damage. The treatment process for TBI victims can be long and complicated, so it is important to have an experienced team on your side to collect the maximum compensation.

Unfortunately, TBI is a common occurrence. When the TBI occurs due to the negligence of another party, it is even more tragic. If you or a loved one have suffered TBI and feel you have a case against another party, please contact Findlay Law Offices in Ontario for a free case evaluation.