Are you going to be examined for discovery in a car accident case in Ontario?  Here are some topics you will likely be asked about by the lawyer for the at fault driver’s insurance company:

Your Background:

• Your name
• Address
• Education
• Marital / Family Status

Your Home:

• The layout of your home
• Number of bedrooms
• Number of bathrooms
• Size of your lot
• Number of stairs
• Location of the laundry
• Number and size of gardens
• Who cleaned the house before the accident
• Who cleans the house after the accident
• Details about any limitations in housekeeping and home maintenance

Your Injuries

• Head to toe, identify all the body parts that were hurt in the accident
• Details about the prognosis of each injury
• Details about how each injury has improved or not since the accident
• Details about what medical professionals have said about the injuries
• Any planned surgeries
• Details of any psychological / emotional injuries
• Steps you have taken to get better
• All therapies under taken
• Medications since the accident
• Specialists seen since the accident and what they have said
• Description of the pain experienced since the accident

 The Accident

• Details about the vehicle you were in / bike you were on
• Where were you going?
• What route did you take?
• Were you familiar with the route?
• Were you distracted in the vehicle?
• Were you wearing your seatbelt?
• When did you first see the other vehicle?
• What did you see?
• What did you do?
• What part of your body made contact with the inside of the car, if any?
• Did you hit your head?
• How far did your car move at impact?
• Speed at impact?
• Details about lighting, weather, visibility, road condition
• Damage to the vehicles
• Statements given to police
• On site first aid received

Loss of Income / Loss of Competitive Advantage

• Details about your employment history over past 10 years
• Job at the time of the accident, including duties, physical requirements, salary, benefits, performance review, raise history
• Time lost from work after the accident
• Details of return to work
• Description of any current limitations at work

While this is not a comprehensive list, being able to answer these questions confidently and accurately will take you a long way in your discovery preparation.

For more information about the steps in a personal injury law suit, contact a personal injury lawyer at Auger Hollingsworth at 613 233-4529.

Need an Injury Lawyer in Michigan?

OTTAWA PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER – Buckfire & Buckfire PC is the law firm we recommend for people injured in Michigan, including Ontario residents.   Larry Buckfire, David Buckfire and Daniel Buckfire represent victims of all types of injuries, including child lead poisoning, motor vehicle accidents, dog bite accidents and medical malpractice.

We have dealt with Larry Buckfire personally and can attest to his integrity and concern for his firm’s client’s well-being.

Ottawa personal injury law firm Auger Hollingsworth represents people and their families who have been injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident in Ontario.  For more information, email us today at info@ottawalawfirm.ca or call 613-233-4529.

Ottawa Car Accident Lawyer Best Tips: Use Your Cellphone Video Cam

Looking for a great tip after your Ottawa Accident from an experienced Ottawa personal injury lawyer?

Today’s headlines feature a story out of the Maritimes where a former politician was allegedly caught on a cell phone video leaving the scene of an accident.  The story highlights how cell phone video cameras can be used to preserve accident scene evidence.

Assuming you are physically able, and assuming that it is safe to do so, after a motor vehicle collision, consider recording the following:

*your vehicle’s position, the other vehicle’s position, the lay of the intersection, including any signs, streetlights, obstructions, construction or debris.

*witnesses at the scene.  Even if they don’t talk on camera, having video of the witnesses will help our investigators later on.

*license plates at the scene of the accident.

*damage to vehicles involved in the accident.

*road conditions, weather conditions, the position of the sun, streetlights.

*the flow of traffic in the area of the accident.

I can think of many instances when this type of evidence would assist my clients where liability (ie. who is responsible for the accident) becomes an issue.  For example, if the traffic is travelling in the video just moments after an accident at 80 km per hour, it will be very difficult for the at-fault driver to take the position that traffic was travelling at 15 km per hour, a frequent defence tactic.

If you have suffered a serious accident in Ottawa or Eastern Ontario, Brenda Hollingsworth, a personal injury lawyer at Ottawa law firm Auger Hollingsworth would be pleased to assist you. Contact us today at info@ottawalawfirm.ca or by phone at (613) 860-4529.

Ottawa Accident Claim: The Limitation Period

A caller to our Ottawa accident lawyer today asked a question.  “Have I protected myself against the expiry of the limitation period if I have written to, and am in negotiations with, the insurance company?”

Answer:  No.  The only way to protect your limitation period is to have a statement of claim or notice of action filed with the court.  Starting a lawsuit is the only protection against the expiry of the statute of limitations.

Most accident claims for adults in Ontario (but not all, so contact a lawyer) expire after 2 years from the date of the accident.

Ontario Distracted Driving Laws and Your Accident

OTTAWA ACCIDENT LAWYERS – With the increasing prevalence of Blackberry, iPhone and other cellular devices in workplaces across Ontario, cell-phone-related car accidents have become a bigger concern for Ottawa area drivers.

More than half of Canadians surveyed by CareerBuilder Canada admitted to using cell phones while driving – despite this being an illegal act in Ontario and other provinces. Many added that they feel pressure from their workplaces to answer their phones outside of business hours.

In Ontario, drivers caught using cell phones and other digital entertainment devices while driving face a fine of up to $500. If that usage leads to an accident, they face much more serious Careless Driving charges – potentially ending in a $400-$2000 fine, demerit points and increased insurance premiums.

It’s important to know the facts around using a cell phone when driving. Remember that nobody can force or obligate you to be reachable by phone or wireless device while you are driving. The safest option is to turn your phone off while you drive. If you must leave it on, pull over to the side of the road before taking calls or checking your messages.

If you are involved in a phone-related auto accident, be sure to get medical attention right away, and to follow up with your family physician in the days that follow.  Remember that some injuries take a few days to settle in.  Getting early medical attention is smart for your health and also helps in the event that you wish to pursue a claim for damages.

For more information about what to after an accident, contact the Ottawa injury lawyers at Auger Hollingsworth by email info@ottawalawfirm.ca or telephone 613 233-4529.

Ottawa Playground Accident Lawyer | Personal Injury Lawyer

Playground Injuries

Children love playgrounds.  Playgrounds are a great way to get kids moving.   However, playgrounds are also a common source of injury for young children.  When choosing which playground to enjoy with your children, there are important safety considerations our personal injury lawyers would like to share.

This website: http://www.safekidscanada.ca/Parents/Safety-Information/Playground-Safety/Index.aspx, developed by the Hospital for Sick Kids,  looks at design and water features parents should watch for.

*     *     *

School boards, home owners and municipalities may be legally liable (responsible) for play structure injuries.  If you would like more information about a claim for damages arising from an injury at a park, call Auger Hollingsworth, Ottawa Personal Injury Lawyers at 613 233-4529 or email us at info@ottawalawfirm.ca.

OTTAWA PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER – We are very excited about all the new content uploaded under the RESOURCES menu on our site .  There is lots of info about motor vehicle accident prevention, drowing prevention, dog bites and other accident-related issues.  We hope you’ll check them out.  As much as we like helping injured victims, we’d much rather our clients avoid injuries altogether.

Readers who send us an interesting safety or accident link that is CANADIAN and not from another lawyer’s website will receive a FREE BOOK for their efforts.  Send your suggestions to info@personalinjuryottawa.ca.

If you have been injured in an Ottawa or Eastern Ontario accident, the very best source of information and advice is a toaccident lawyer who can speak with you personally. For more information, contact the personal injury lawyers at Auger Hollingsworth by email info@ottawalawfirm.ca or by phone at (613) 233-4529.

Ottawa Personal Injury for Children | Settlement

What Will Happen To My Child’s Settlement Money or Money Received from a Judgment?

Many parents worry about what happens to the compensation their child will receive by settlement or at trial.

There are two main ways your child’s injury lawyer will protect your child’s compensation:

1. An annuity or structured settlement can be purchased. This is a financial product where a registered insurance company pays a settlement to your child over a period of years, sometimes for the child’s whole life. Generally, payments received will be tax free.
2. A second option is a “Henson trust”. A Henson trust is an arrangement where money is held by trustees for the benefit of a disabled child that can be beneficial in the right circumstances.

A third option is payment into Court until your child reaches 18. This is rarely recommended because no interest is paid on the settlement.  However, for people who do not accept interest or when the settlement is small or there is a short time until the child turns 18, this option may make sense.

Make sure the lawyer you hire to get compensation for your child talks about these options with you to help you make appropriate choices for him or her.

OTTAWA PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER - We try to do the opposite of what other law firms do. That seems to work for us. Check out the Yellow Pages if you want proof. No two-page spread for us. Instead we have a tiny box inviting people to order our free book.

Why?

Well, in our view what people really need after an accident is information. You can’t say anything meaningful in the Yellow Pages. But a 27-page book? Lots of important tips and information, including:

• 29 Steps to Take After an Accident
• 7 Common Misconceptions about Your Accident
• The Steps of a Law Suit…
• and more.

Obviously some people will order the book and then not hire us to represent them. Is that okay? Absolutely. Hiring a personal injury lawyer is, well, personal. You have to feel the fit is right.

Plus, many people who read the book realize they don’t need a lawyer and reach a settlement with the insurance company on their own, often using our tips and suggestions. This is also perfectly alright.

However, for many other people, the book establishes a relationship with our firm and helps accident victims realize that they have stumbled upon a law firm that is keen on communication, speaks their language and knows a thing or two about accidents.

Why don’t you order the book to see which category you fit into? It’s free and available on our website  or by emailing info@ottawalawfirm.ca. You can call for it too if you want: 613.233.4529.

If you have been involved in an accident and are injured, you will need more than a book to get the compensation you need to recover. It’s important to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer who can provide sound legal advice. For more information, contact the Ottawa accident lawyers at Auger Hollingsworth by email info@ottawalawfirm.ca or by phone at (613) 233-4529.

OTTAWA PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER – Often, we look forward to a relaxing Canada Day at a provincial park– away from it all. However, undoubtedly our kids will insist at about 8 p.m. that we hightail it downtown to watch the fireworks over Parliament Hill.

Despite the crush of being surrounded by a hundred thousand of our closest friends, this is still probably a wise idea. Do-it-yourself fireworks can be a problem. Canada does not keep statistics on injuries from fireworks. However, in May 1998 the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program examined its information for this type of injury. There were 175 fire-works-related injuries. 42% of the injuries were to kids aged 10 to 14.

Your odds probably don’t improve if you have enjoyed a few cold ones over the course of the day.  At minimum, if you are going to use consumer fireworks, follow these important safety tips from the Canada Safety Council:

• Purchase your fireworks from a reliable source that sells products meeting safety standards.
• Stay away from illegal firecrackers and do not improvise and make your own fireworks.
• Read the Instructions, cautions and warnings on each firework item.
• Store unused fireworks in a closed box away from the firework being lit and do not smoke around the fireworks.
• Set up outdoors in a clear, open space. Light fireworks on a hard, flat and level surface to insure stability.
• Check the wind and have the wind blowing away from the spectators.
• Spectators should be at least 25 feet away from display, keeping special supervision on children.
• Have a bucket of sand, supply of water and a working fire extinguisher on hand.
• Only adults (18 years or over) should handle the fireworks. If you are impaired (alcohol or drugs) do not handle the fireworks.
• Light only one firework item at a time.
• Wear protective eye glasses and gloves. Light at arm’s length and then stand back.
• Never lean over the fireworks and keep hair and clothes away from fire sources.
• Never attempt to re-light a “dud” or defective firework.
• Never hold a lighted firework item in your hand.
• Sparklers should be immersed in a bucket of sand to cool down after burning out, as they remain very hot for some time.
• Fireworks should be disposed of safely and properly.