Have you been injured in a car accident?
If you are in an accident, a few things you need to be sure to do.
- Remain calm. Turn on your hazard lights and in the
case of a minor accident, if safe, move your car to the side of the
road and shut off the engine. If the accident is severe, allow the
professionals to attend the accident for investigation purposes before
moving your vehicle.
- Check yourself and your passengers to determine if
anyone is injured. If so, call 911, provide your location and request
assistance. If you can safely do so, provide aid to anyone in need.
- Call for the police. A police report may assist
you with collecting the information you need about the other party as
well as assist in determining liability for the accident. If the other
party has fled the scene of the accident, call the police immediately
and provide your location and a description of the other vehicle. A
damaged vehicle and an intoxicated driver can be found a lot easier if
reported immediately.
- Once you are certain everyone is safe, obtain information. This includes
- The full name of the other driver(s) involved;
- Contact information including addresses and phone numbers;
- Driver license number;
- The name of the owner if not the same as the driver;
- The make, model and license plate of all vehicles;
- The insurance company and policy number for the other vehicles; and
- Witness names and contact information.
- If you have a camera or a cell phone with a
camera, take pictures of the vehicles, the location and the surrounding
area. You may also wish to take a photo of the other parties license and
insurance documents.
- If your car is immobile, call your towing company.
If you have CAA or other emergency auto protection this service may be
covered. Make sure to remove all your valuables from the vehicle before
it is towed and only leave your vehicle keys with the towing company.
Remember, you still need keys to get into your home.
- If you feel any pain, nausea, stiffness or
experience any headaches see a doctor immediately either by going to a
hospital emergency room, a walk-in-clinic or your family doctor. Do not
wait to see a doctor as initial feelings of pain and discomfort may be
symptoms of more serious injuries.
- As soon as you have time, and a chance to reflect
on the accident, write down or make a voice recording of all details
that you recall from the accident.
- Speak to your lawyer, especially if you received a
ticket from the police. Your lawyer may be able to help you with
preparing your accident statement for your insurance company.
- Call your insurer and report your claim. Your
vehicle may need repairs or, if the damages are more serious, may be
considered a total loss. If repairable, ask your family and friends to
recommend a reliable repair facility. If a total loss, research the
replacement value of your vehicle to assure you receive reasonable value
from your insurer for your vehicle.
- If you are injured your insurance company may
offer you a quick and early settlement to compensate you for your
injuries. Although a few dollars may look good at the moment, be leery.
Even minor injuries have long term effects. A simple lower back pain can
have long term implications affecting both your ability to work in your
chosen field and your ability to enjoy your recreational activities.
Follow through with the treatment plan put in place by your health care
professionals to achieve the best recovery possible.
Often people have very strong emotions at the time
of an accident. Its important that you remain calm and only deal with
the situation at hand. You may have feelings of guilt that you, your
passengers or other people are hurt and scared. However, indicating that
you are sorry or that its all your fault may be considered an admission
of fault and held against you irregardless of the facts related to the
accident. Certainly your insurance company will be more than happy to
hear other people at the scene provide statements that you admitted
fault and took responsibility as they can use this admission to limit or
deny you coverage. In addition, talking about blame at the scene of the
accident can lead to arguments and aggression between parties which
will only further aggravate and escalate an already troublesome
situation. Its best to leave the determination of liability to a time
and place removed from the accident scene.
Injuries
If you were injured, you may be entitled to
compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages, lost earning capacity
and expenses. Whether you were the driver or the passenger, you should
speak to a lawyer. Call our office and we will arrange to meet with you
at your convenience.
We accept cases involving all injuries including:
- Whiplash, neck, and back pain
- Fractures
- Spinal Cord injuries
- Brain injuries from concussions to severe trauma
- Chronic pain
- Anxiety, depression and PTSD
Its our belief that the monetary value of a claim is
only realized after recovery is either complete or at a significant
plateau. Then, with sharing of knowledge between yourself, your
healthcare professionals and your lawyer discussions can begin
respecting an appropriate valuation of the claim.
Our Fees
We offer free consultation for victims of motor vehicle accidents.
If we agree to take on your case our fee for a
personal injury claim will be based on a contingency fee agreement.
Essentially, you pay us a percentage of the result achieved in your
case. We do not charge you any legal fees until your case is complete.
The Law Society of British Columbia stipulates that,
In a
claim for personal injury or wrongful death arising out of a motor
vehicle accident, the maximum contingency fee allowed is one-third of
the amount recovered. In all other cases involving personal injury or
wrongful death, the maximum allowed is 40% of the amount recovered.
In many cases we are able to conclude your claim for
even less than the 33% maximum. During your consultation we will
discuss the structure of the fee agreement in detail.