Category: Accidents

Vehicle Accidents with Trains: What it Means for Drivers and Passengers

Canada has the fifth-largest rail transportation system in the world, including approximately 14,000 public and 9,000 private railway crossings along 40,000 km of federally regulated tracks. In Alberta, rail traffic includes freight trains operated by companies such as Canadian National Railway, passenger trains operated by VIA Rail and commuter trains such as the Edmonton LRT and the Calgary CTrain.

Although rail transport is heavily regulated and the subject of extensive programs and policies to ensure safe operation, accidents do occur. The Transportation Safety Board reports that across the country, there were 167 railway crossing accidents in 2024, resulting in 12 fatalities and 24 serious injuries. Continue reading

Alberta Minor Injury Cap – Update 2026

The Superintendent of Insurance Interpretation Bulletin 05-2025 confirms the annual increase in the Minor Injury Cap; the amount for non-pecuniary damages for minor injuries sustained in car accidents in Alberta.

Effective January 1, 2026, the maximum minor injury amount of $6,182 will be increased by 2%, to $6,306. The new amount is applicable to minor injuries resulting from automobile accidents that occur in Alberta on or after January 1, 2026.

Does the move to No-fault affect the Minor Injury Cap?

The Alberta government is still intending to move to a no-fault system effective January 1, 2027. This does not affect the minor injury cap for 2026. Continue reading

What Evidence Will I Need for my Personal Injury Lawsuit?

By Justine Lee.

Good evidence is the backbone of every legal case, and a necessary ingredient for a court to be able to perform its task of deciding whether to grant a plaintiff’s claim. To advance your personal injury claim, there are several types of evidence that your lawyer will work with you to collect to advance your insurance claim, or in preparation for mediation or trial.

What is “evidence”?

Evidence is information used to prove facts; a fact is something that we know to be true. When you are in a lawsuit, you are going to make allegations about facts and circumstances to establish what happened to you and the injuries you sustained. Continue reading

Injuries in Municipal Parks and Other Public Spaces – Who is Liable?

Playgrounds, parks and schoolyards are important and well-used features of most communities, providing spaces for children and families to engage in a variety of outdoor activities, during both winter and summer. Most of the time, these activities simply bring fun and enjoyment. However, sometimes accidents occur and someone is injured. If that happens to you or a loved one, you may wonder who could bear liability.

How common are playground injuries?

Some data is available to help understand the prevalence of injuries occurring in parks and playgrounds. One source suggests that as many as 20,000 to 30,000 children in Canada are treated in hospital emergency departments for playground injuries each year. Continue reading

Alberta Minor Injury Cap – Update 2025

The Superintendent of Insurance Interpretation Bulletin 07-2024 confirms the annual increase in the Minor Injury Cap; the amount for non-pecuniary damages for minor injuries sustained in car accidents in Alberta.

Effective January 1, 2025, the maximum minor injury amount of $6,061 will be increased by 2%, to $6,182. The new amount is applicable to minor injuries resulting from automobile accidents that occur in Alberta on or after January 1, 2025.

Last year the adjustment to the minor injury cap for inflation was 4%. Effective this year, the government has changed the way adjustments are made to account for inflation, adopting a new approach to standardize inflation adjustments used across government by setting an escalator annually in the Alberta Personal Income Tax Act. Continue reading

Helping a Loved One with a Brain Injury or Injury that Prevents Them From Being Able to Instruct a Lawyer

What Is a Litigation Representative?

When a person has suffered an injury that warrants bringing a legal claim for compensation, the usual course is for that person to retain a lawyer to work with them through the litigation or settlement process. However, in some cases, a person’s injuries may be so severe that their ability to make decisions or manage their affairs is compromised. This is sometimes referred to as “lacking capacity” and this situation may be temporary or permanent depending on the injury.

A lawyer is not permitted to take instructions about the conduct of a legal proceeding from someone who lacks capacity. Continue reading