Category: Personal Injuries

10 Myths about Car Accident Claims in Alberta

Car Accident Statistics in Alberta

According to a 2020 report from Alberta Transportation, almost 95,000 car accidents occurred in Alberta, causing more than 200 deaths and injuring more than 11,000 people. That means an average of nearly 260 accidents happen in Alberta each day!

No one anticipates a car accident and you’ve probably heard different opinions about how to handle your claim, whether it’s from family and friends or from information on the internet.

In this blog post, we share some common myths surrounding car accident claims. Understanding the realities of motor vehicle claims will help you prepare in the event you or a loved one is involved in an accident. Continue reading

Alberta Minor Injury Cap – Update 2023

The Superintendent of Insurance Interpretation Bulletin 09-2022 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, 2023, the maximum minor injury amount of $5,488 will be adjusted by six per cent, to $5,817. The new amount is applicable to minor injuries resulting from automobile accidents that occur in Alberta on
or after January 1, 2023.

Questions about the Minor Injury Cap and how it affects you? We are always happy to help people understand their options regarding an injury claim. Contact us if you would like a free consultation to get answers about your specific situation. Continue reading

Update on Parental Negligence and Liability in Personal Injury Cases Involving Children

In an earlier blog post CAM LLP canvassed what happens when a child is injured while a passenger in a vehicle driven by a family member. A recent decision from the New Brunswick Court of Appeal, Edmondson v. Edmondson, 2022 NBCA 4, granted summary judgment to the legal representatives of a five-year-old child against his father for injuries suffered while a passenger on the father’s motorcycle, and found the father liable squarely on the basis of his parental negligence.

The case highlights the high degree of care that a parent must take while transporting their child, should the worst happen and they are in a motor vehicle accident. Continue reading

Mitigation and Returning to Work After an Injury: What you Need to Know

Your duty to mitigate by returning to work

All personal injury plaintiffs are required to try and minimize their damages. This is called the duty to mitigate. Essentially, it means that even if someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, you have a responsibility to take all reasonable steps to heal from your injuries as best you can and to reduce any negative consequences from your injuries. If you could have taken reasonable actions to avoid or minimize a loss and you chose not to, damages for that loss will not be recoverable as our courts consider it unfair to make a defendant pay for losses that a plaintiff could have reasonably avoided. Continue reading

Fatal Accidents: Damages and Compensation for Wrongful Death of a Loved One

Losing a loved one is devastating. This article reviews your potential legal remedies as a result of wrongful death, but we know that no amount of money can replace your loved one.

We also recognize that the first step in dealing with your loss is to obtain emotional support from your family and friends, and to access necessary counselling support to help you cope with the grieving process.

Alberta Health Services has gathered some resources that you may find helpful here and additional resources are available through CAMH Edmonton. Your family doctor may also be able to connect you with local resources. Continue reading

Minor Injury Regulation Update – The Cap Inflationary Adjustment for 2022

The Superintendent of Insurance’s Interpretation Bulletin 05-2021 confirms the annual increase in the amount for non-pecuniary damages for minor injuries sustained in car accidents in Alberta.

Effective Jan 1, 2022, the maximum minor injury amount of $5,365 will be adjusted by 2.3% to $5,488. The new amount applies to injuries resulting from automobile accidents that occur in Alberta on or after January 1, 2022.

If you sustain soft tissue injuries in a car accident you may have heard reference to the minor injury cap or been told that by an insurance company representative that your injury is “caught by the cap.”  Continue reading