Accidents can pop up when we least expect them – and before you know it, they can turn a normal day into something that will stick with you forever and force you to think carefully about what to do next. In St. Thomas, people often find themselves wondering about their rights and options after a car accident, an accident at work or a slip and fall incident – and it’s not uncommon to meet people who have been putting off getting legal advice because they’ve been worried about the cost or don’t think their case is worth pursuing. Accidents on ski hills or slopes can result in serious injury. We assist individuals in determining liability and seeking compensation to support their recovery.
People who get hurt do however have the option of getting highly skilled help without having to break the bank thanks to free consultation services. These meetings give you a chance to sit down and talk about your injury, ask some really important questions and figure out what options you have in your case. We think that everyone deserves to know their rights, no matter how much money they have in the bank or how serious they think their issue is. Financial losses may occur when brokers fail to act responsibly or disclose important risks. We assist clients in pursuing claims involving misrepresentation, unsuitable investments, and professional negligence to recover lost assets.
The first step in our consultation process is to take a really close look at how your accident happened and what kind of injuries you ended up with. We go through all the relevant documents – police reports, medical records, letters from your insurance company, photos and witness statements – to get the whole picture. This helps us give you a realistic idea about how strong your case is and what kind of compensation you might be able to get.
Living in a place like St. Thomas, which has got a mix of urban and rural areas, means you’ve got to deal with personal injury issues a bit differently than people in other places. Accidents on the highways, workplace injuries or accidents with farm equipment all need different approaches and expertise. With lots of major roads and factories around the area, you’d be surprised how often serious accidents involving big rigs and complicated liability issues pop up.
Insurance adjusters usually get in touch with you within a few days of the accident to try and get a quick settlement before you’ve even had a chance to figure out the full extent of your injuries or losses. They’re good at negotiating, but their priority is defending their company’s financial interests – not necessarily what you think is fair compensation. We strongly advise people not to make any recorded statements or accept settlement offers until they’ve spoken to a lawyer.
Of course, the length of time it takes to sort out a personal injury case can vary a lot, depending on just how complicated the accident was, how bad the injuries were and how willing the insurance companies are to play ball. Some cases can be wrapped up pretty quickly with a few months of negotiations, while others may have to go all the way to court and can take years. In a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in St. Thomas, we can talk through what you can realistically expect and how all these variables might impact the length of time it takes.
In Ontario, there are strict time limits for filing lawsuits in personal injury cases – and these deadlines aren’t to be taken lightly. You’ve got two years from the date of the accident to file your lawsuit, but there are a few situations that can change this. If you want to make sure you’ve got the right to seek compensation you need to keep on top of these deadlines.
The financial impact of serious injuries stretches way beyond just the cost of the immediate medical care. Lost wages, ongoing rehabilitation bills, prescription meds and a lower quality of life are all real costs that should be factored in when you’re thinking about a settlement or court award. At Longo Lawyers, we work hard to track down and document every way your accident has affected your life and your ability to earn a living.
It’s so important to look after your evidence in the weeks after an accident because memories fade fast and physical evidence can disappear in no time. Accident scene photos, medical records, expert witness testimony and proof of employment are all crucial to building a strong case. We help our clients through this process and work with investigators and experts when we need to.
Our clients don’t have to pay our fees out of their own pocket until their case is settled because of our contingency fee structure. During a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in St. Thomas, we can go over how this works and what costs you might incur along the way.