If you have been involved in a car accident you may be entitled to compensation. Your Accident Benefits will cover any accident, but for serious crashes, they may not be enough.
A Pickering personal injury lawyer can help explain your options for recovering compensation and estimate the value of your damages. With a lawyer’s help, you can avoid the hassle of filing an insurance claim and rest easy knowing a Pickering car accident lawyer is looking out for your future.
Our car accident lawyers can meet with you in Pickering for a free initial consultation. Call (416) 364-2000
Seeking Medical Treatment
Even if you do not feel injured, you should still seek medical treatment. In many cases, the symptoms of your injuries will not appear for days. If you do not seek immediate medical attention and follow your doctor’s orders, the insurance company can argue that your injuries are not as severe as you claim them to be.
They might also claim that your injuries are unrelated if you go to the doctor too long after the accident. Also, once you have gone to the doctor, stay on top of all treatments and appointments to show the insurance company your injuries are serious enough to warrant a claim.
Pickering Car Accidents Lawyer Near Me (416) 364-2000
Talking to the Insurance Company
If contacted by the other parties insurance company, politely tell the insurer that you will speak with them later, once you have spoken to a Pickering car accident lawyer. During your call with the insurance company, they may try to trick you into admitting your injuries are not serious or that you were at fault for the accident.
Admitting fault or admitting your injuries are not serious will allow the insurer to reduce your settlement or deny it entirely. It is important to note that you do not need to actually admit fault; the insurer can take your apologizing for the accident as an admission of fault. If the insurer asks you if you are OK and you say yes, the insurer can argue that you admitted you were not injured. A Pickering car accident lawyer will ensure you know what to say when speaking to the insurer to avoid jeopardizing your claim.
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Taking a Settlement
You should only sign a settlement agreement after your Pickering car accident attorney has estimated the full value of your claim. If the insurance company pressures you to sign an agreement right away, it is usually an attempt to get you to settle for much lower than your claim is worth.
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Filing a Claim
If the other driver caused the wreck, you may be eligible to file a liability claim against that driver. A lawyer will use police reports and eyewitness statements to prove liability. If this evidence is not enough to prove the other driver’s involvement, a lawyer will call upon accident reconstruction experts to analyze the crash data and determine the cause and severity of the collision.
This evidence also helps prove that you suffered damages beyond what your car insurance policy can cover. With this information, a lawyer can validate your claim against the other driver.
Receiving Compensation
If your claim is successful, your settlement can include all financial, physical, and emotional losses or injuries that resulted from the car accident. A Pickering car accident attorney will use the evidence listed above to prove you are entitled to damages such as the following:
Financial Damages
- Medical bills
- In-home care
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Long-term health care
Physical Damages
- Permanent disability
- Property damage
- Inability to work at your previous job
Emotional Damages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Accident trauma
In the event the evidence gathered earlier is insufficient to prove these damages, a lawyer will rely on the testimony of medical and vocational experts. These experts can provide proof that you suffered permanent injuries or that your injuries keep you from returning to your job.
Recovering Damages When at Fault
Ontario insurance laws allow you to recover compensation even if you contributed to the accident. However, it is important to note that your percentage of fault will likely decrease your settlement.
A car accident lawyer in Pickering will work with accident reconstruction experts to investigate the accident, determine exactly how the accident occurred, and build defenses against any accusations of liability from the other party.
Contacting a Lawyer
You do not have to accept the insurance company’s offer if you think your injuries and losses are worth more. Contact a Pickering car accident lawyer to discuss your options for recovering a fair settlement for your car accident.
Call or text (416) 364-2000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
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