Toronto Personal Injuries are on the Increase
It is an "interesting” time to be an injury lawyer in
Toronto. Recent Toronto
police statistics showed that in the second half of 2016 almost 1100
pedestrians and bikers were hit by cars. That works out to 9.5 traffic
accidents a day – or one every 2.5 hours. It was a noticeable increase in
statistics over the previous year.
Many reasons are given for the rise in accidents – including
densification and Toronto’s ongoing traffic woes. But in addition to the human
toll, there is a corresponding increase in personal injury claims.
Head
injuries are common especially in accidents involving bicyclists and motor
vehicles. In addition to skull fractures and internal head injuries there are
musculoskeletal damages – fractures, dislocations and strains. Chest problems
include rib fractures and parenchymal lung injury.

Abdomen damage may include
splenic rupture, renal contusion, pancreatic trauma, small or large bowel
contusion, ruptures and hernias.
Coverage for Claims
Of course, the personal injury cases are not all the result
of traffic accidents. Toronto injury lawyers are also busy with claims for harm
caused by interpersonal violence, recreational mishaps, sports accidents and slip and falls.
Many of these injuries are covered by insurance policies.
The Ontario Insurance Actlays out a series of fixed benefits that can be received for vehicle accident
claims, including income replacement and support for care workers. In the case
of "catastrophic injury” – harm that is far-reaching in its consequences –
damages can go far beyond the relatively modest prescribed limits in the Act.
Finding a Lawyer in Toronto
If you go by the webpages, there would seem to be almost as
many personal injury lawyers in Toronto as there are accidents! It is a competitive
industry – and that is to the advantage of you, the consumer. But picking the
right lawyer for you does require homework, unless you are lucky enough to have a
gold-plated recommendation from someone you trust.
Always start with the basics:
- Language: Is English your first language? For
over a quarter of Ontario residents it is not, and that figure is probably
higher in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Find a lawyer who speaks your
language, or who is prepared to bring along an interpreter. The claims process
is complex and the better the communication between you and your lawyer, the
more positive the experience will be. With ease of language comes comfort and
trust.
- Research: Go online. Most personal injury
lawyers have websites and you can tell a lot about the firm by studying them.
Does it strike you that the site’s purpose is informative – or simply to grab
your attention and sell you a product (the lawyer’s services.) Search online
for a head injury claims lawyer who offers you substance and not flash.
Your head injury claim is an
important milestone in your life. Team up with an injury lawyer in Toronto that
is close to home.