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Within the province of Ontario, population is high and so is the number of vehicles. With a lot of vehicles, come a lot of accidents, as unfortunate as this may sound. This is something that you need to take into account that the most common cause for personal injury law case in Ontario is a car accident.
Now, while it’s true that this is a horrific event which could lead to catastrophic and life-changing injuries and even death, the majority of the situations are far from being serious. The accidents that happen inside a city are usually a matter of insurance and there are no serious physical injuries involved. Usually it’s something cosmetic on your vehicle – broken headlights and other similar aspects. This is why 95% of the claims don’t even get to trial – they get settled long before that.
Rules of Fault Determination
However, when it comes to dealing with the insurance company, there are quite a lot of things that you want to take into account. You should be aware that there is a “no fault” rule as per the Insurance Act of Ontario and its Rules of Fault Determination. This means that you are eligible for compensation irrespective of the fact who was liable for the accident or not. Of course, there are certain exceptions such as when you are driving under the influence or when you run a red light or don’t stop on a STOP sign. However, the amount of compensation depends upon the liability of the defendant and the severity of the victim’s injuries.
So, this is the first thing that you need to account for. If you are involved in a car accident, your claim is going to be paid off by your insurance company – that’s why you are paying these monthly premiums. However, the no fault rule doesn’t mean that you are going to receive full compensation and that there is no assignment of fault. The insurance company is going to conduct its research in order to determine how liable you are and it’s going to reduce your compensation accordingly or it’s going to increase your premiums for the future.
In any case, the first thing that you need to do after being involved in an accident, irrespective of whether or not you need medical help is to get in touch with a professional lawyer. Most of the personal injury lawyers deal with similar cases on a regular basis and are experienced to handle a case like yours. This is going to ensure that you get properly represented and that your claim is actually being taken seriously. This is very important and it’s most definitely to be considered, especially when dealing with insurance companies. They have entire legal teams which will do everything to dismantle your claim. That is why it is important to have an experienced lawyer in your corner.