Settling the Score on Personal Injury Claims

Compared to its neighboring country in the south, Canada experiences smaller numbers of traffic-related accidents and fatalities. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the country is any safer. The problem with accidents is that they can still occur no matter how much one prepares for it. In Canada, as is the case everywhere, accidents still happen on the road, and regions like Ontario has its fair share of road side disasters.

Accidents in general aren’t even limited to vehicular-related ones. Victims of accidents, whether from a vehicular collision or from accidental injury, can claim damages and charge a responsible party for personal injury. In a personal injury case, the claimant should prove that the defendant’s negligence led to the accident that caused the damage. Should the claimant win the case, the defendant is obligated by law to pay the plaintiff for the damages caused, as well as cover any medical fees.

While it’s entirely possible to file a claim and accomplish the litigation process without help, claimants should consider enlisting an attorney for support. Lawyers can provide legal guidance which can help claimants make better informed decisions during the legal proceedings. The professionals can also serve as legal representatives for the claimants in court and negotiate settlements between the involved parties.

The World's Biggest Personal Injury Payout at a Glance

Did you know that the Guinness World Record for the highest personal injury payout to an individual is valued at more than $160 million? This is just four-fifths of the overall personal injury payout settled in 1993 in the Supreme Court of the State of New York.

Six years prior to the verdict, nine people in a rent-a-car station wagon were involved in an accident with a tractor trailer that had broken down that day. Among them was a couple from Sri Lanka; the wife was so severely injured as to require nursing care for almost fifty years.

Details of the court describe future pain and suffering comprising the biggest part of the huge payout ($92 million). The rent-a-car dealership and the company where the tractor trailer driver reported to were found equally liable in the accident.

How did an ordinary accident case yield millions in compensation? As mentioned earlier, the severity of her injuries came to the point that she needed nursing care for the next several decades, including labor and medical equipment expenses.

Ontario has had its fair share of personal injury awards. However, the payouts were a fraction of this world record. Nevertheless, given the right circumstances, personal injury settlements can reach into the millions.

Should You Hire a Lawyer After a Car Crash?

There's good news for drivers: according to Statistics Canada, the number of casualties in vehicular accidents has been slashed by half over the last 25 years, despite the growing number of vehicles on the road. Having said that, these accidents are still a fact of life, with over 120,000 related injuries reported in 2009 alone.

Aside from vehicle repairs following these mishaps, drivers and passengers also have to deal with expensive medical bills for treating their injuries. Granted, victims can seek damages from the driver proven to be at fault, but the process is rarely smooth. Insurance adjusters can use every trick in the legal books to low-ball a settlement claim. After all, they work for insurance companies and also look to save more money for their employers. If you feel that you aren't being given a reimbursement commensurate to the damage and injuries you sustained following a vehicular accident, a Toronto personal injury lawyer will ensure that you do.

Your lawyer can also help if there are disputes over who caused the accident. Saying “I'm sorry” after an incident will often be taken by the other party as an admission of fault, even when you are the victim. Personal injury lawyers will ensure that the erring party is the one who pays the aggrieved.