Category: Motor Vehicle Accidents

5 Experts your Personal Injury Lawyer Should Know About

Every personal injury claim has different issues that will have an impact on the outcome of a case. To represent you properly, the lawyer you hire must know which experts are helpful and necessary to prove the essential elements of your case and how to use them effectively to achieve the best outcome for you.

The following list identifies five types of experts frequently needed to address specific questions. An experienced personal injury lawyer will know when such an expert is required, and, equally import, will know who to call on your behalf.

How did the accident happen?

If there are questions about how the accident occurred, and who is at fault, your injury lawyer may need to hire a Reconstruction Expert. Continue reading

Choosing the right type of lawyer to handle your personal injury claim

Not all lawyers are the same

After a motor vehicle accident, many injured accident victims may be tempted to call any lawyer they happen to know, regardless of what kind of law that lawyer practices, to see if they can get advice regarding their injuries and their rights.  Most general lawyers are smart enough to know what they don’t know and, if they don’t practice personal injury law, they will refer their client to a lawyer who has practice experience in the area of motor vehicle accident claims. However, some lawyers dabble in personal injury law and may decide to keep the claim for themselves. Continue reading

How to Avoid Car Accidents at Christmas

Edmonton’s winter season has been balmier than usual, but that doesn’t remove the risk for car accidents. The mild temperatures mixed with snowfall and chilly overnight cooling creates icy, slick road conditions. Add Christmas parties and traveling long distances over the holiday season, and the risk for a car collision is much higher.

The following list highlights some of Alberta’s most common causes for car accidents. As we approach the Christmas break, it’s important to practice road safety, know the risks and know how to avoid car accidents this season.

Common, but avoidable causes for car accidents:

Speeding in Poor Road Conditions

The winter has proven to be quite mild this year with fluctuating cold and warm temperatures. Continue reading

Car Accidents: Who’s at Fault?

It’s no secret that Alberta’s highways are crowded. Some days it seems as though half of the population is on the road, and they probably are. Often the cause for heavy highway traffic is, by no surprise, car accidents. Unfortunately, some people drive too fast or they drive drunk.

Types of Car Accidents

Alcohol may be the biggest factor causing car accident injuries on highways, including death. In addition to a fatality, a serious car accident may involve fractures: head, neck, back injuries and, the most common injury, whiplash. The abrupt smacking that results when a car slams into the rear end of another vehicle often causes chronic back or neck pain, which is often not recognized at the time of the accident. Continue reading

You should have at least $2,000,000 in third party liability insurance!

How much motor vehicle liability insurance do you need in Alberta?  $200,000 is the mandatory minimum, and it may seem like a lot to some people, but it is never a recommended amount.  If you want to protect yourself and your loved ones you need at least $2,000,000 of third party liability coverage.

Many US jurisdictions have mandatory liability insurance amounts that are less than $100,000.  When you hear about big Jury Judgments in the US, more often than not they go unpaid.  In Canada, Judgments are intended to put the victim back in a position they would have been, had the accident not occurred.   Continue reading

How to File a Personal Injury Claim

If you have been injured in a motor-vehicle accident, or hurt through the use of a product or another’s negligence, you have the right to seek compensation for your injuries. An insurance company may offer you a settlement, but a personal injury lawyer will seek full compensation for the true extent of your injuries, including out-of-pocket expenses and future hardships. Each situation is different and talking with an experienced lawyer at Cummings Andrews Mackay LLP will help you determine what you may be able to claim.

The steps below are important to note if you’ve recently been in an accident as they must be put into action immediately following an injury:

  1. Contact the authorities and provide the required information to complete an accident report;
  2. Inform your insurance company of the accident;
  3. Seek medical assistance immediately following an accident;
  4. Contact a personal injury lawyer to maximize compensation.
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