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The Top Causes Of Personal Injury Accidents In Autumn

The Top Causes Of Personal Injury Accidents In Autumn

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Autumn has arrived and with it, a change in weather. While many find this change refreshing and love what the season brings, the reality is that new environmental hazards come into play. 

New Hazards Arrive With the Change of Seasons

During autumn, two types of personal injury accidents are likely to occur. 

Slip and Fall Accidents

It’s essential for property owners and managers to ensure that every area is safe and hazard-free during the fall when weather changes increase: 

  • Standing Water
  • Mud
  • Fallen Leaves
  • Fallen Branches
  • Snow

Storms can also cause damage to structures like steps and sidewalks, creating unsafe walking conditions. 

Car Accidents 

Car accidents are more likely to occur for the same reasons listed above. Even safe drivers can lose control when tires hit a wet patch of leaves or ice. 

The change in seasons also results in shorter days. The loss of light earlier in the day can not only impact driving conditions but can also impact a person’s sleep cycle. Fatigued driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving, as sleeping drivers completely lose control over their vehicle. 

What to Do if You Are Injured This Autumn

If you or a loved one are seriously injured in an accident this autumn you could be eligible for a personal injury lawsuit. The compensation obtained through a lawsuit could pay for medical bills, lost earnings, physical pain and suffering, and more. 

Protect yourself and the evidence by taking the following steps after an accident: 

  • Seek immediate medical care. 
  • Take photographs if possible of the scene of the accident and the resulting injuries. 
  • Collect witness contact information.
  • Begin collecting medical records. 

Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney

At Hilborn and Konduros, our experienced team of Cambridge ON personal injury attorneys can help. Contact us for a no-cost consultation at (519) 658-6341. 

Common Causes Of Personal Injury Accidents In Ontario In Spring

Common Causes Of Personal Injury Accidents In Ontario In Spring

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Spring has arrived, a season of rebirth and renewal. Many individuals who spent a long winter cooped up at home will embrace the warmer weather and begin to spend more time with family and friends. Unfortunately, with increased activities comes an increased accident risk. 

Our firm frequently sees an increase in personal injury cases in the spring often caused by:

Drunk Driving

It’s natural to want to have a drink with family and friends. However, in their excitement, many individuals overindulge and then make the poor decision to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. 

Drunk driving accidents can cause catastrophic injuries that change an individual and their family’s lives. 

Dog Bites 

When people spend more time outdoors they often also include their dogs. Even the friendliest of dogs can bite when placed in a stressful situation. 

Dog bites can be minor or they can cause serious damage, including broken bones, nerve damage, muscle tissue damage, and scarring. 

Slip & Falls 

Winter weather can cause damage to streets, driveways, and sidewalks. Cracks and uneven pavement are common causes of slip and fall accidents. While many people fall and are able to get right back up, others aren’t so lucky. Brain injuries, neck and back injuries, and broken bones are just a few of the injuries caused by slip and fall accidents. 

Pedestrian & Bicycle Accidents 

Exercising outside is fun – but can also be dangerous. With an increase in the number of walkers, runners, and cyclists comes an increase in accidents. 

Can Accident Victims File a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

In many cases, when the victim of an accident has incurred serious losses, they are eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit. This civil lawsuit is completely separate from any criminal charges that might be filed. A lawsuit provides the accident victim with the opportunity to recover compensation while pursuing justice. 

Call our Cambridge ON legal office at (519) 658-6341 or contact us using our online form. 

Common Injuries Sustained In Pedestrian vs Car Accidents

Common Injuries Sustained in Pedestrian vs Car Accidents

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When a car hits a pedestrian it’s no surprise that it’s typically the pedestrian that typically sustains the most damage. Often, the injuries sustained by pedestrians can be catastrophic and can impact their overall quality of life. 

The Most Common Injuries Sustained by Pedestrians 

Here are the most frequently diagnosed injuries in pedestrians who have been hit by a car. 

  1. Spinal Injuries: Fractured vertebrae, spinal cord injuries, and herniated discs can result in partial or full paralysis. 
  2. Brain Injuries: Traumatic brain injuries can impact nearly every bodily function. Patients with a TBI frequently have difficulty with speech, memory, and fine motor functions. 
  3. Amputations: Pedestrians hit by cars often lose a limb. 
  4. Internal Injuries: The force of impact can cause serious damage to any of the internal organs. 
  5. Broken Bones: It can take weeks or months for one fracture to heal. If complications arise, that time period can be extended. 

Pedestrians in Ontario are Protected by The Highway Traffic Act 

According to Section 193(1) of the Highway Traffic Act, when a car vs pedestrian accident occurs, the driver is always initially considered at fault. This means that if the pedestrian chooses to pursue a personal injury lawsuit, the driver must prove that the pedestrian was actually at fault. 

Working With A Car Accident Attorney Drastically Increases Chances Of Recovering Compensation 

The legal team at Hilborn and Konduros have helped many car accident victims recover the compensation they need to pay for medical care, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. We offer no-cost consultations to pedestrians who have been hit by a car. 

Our team can help by: 

  • Collecting documentation to support your case; 
  • Collecting witness statements;
  • Speaking with the insurance companies.

We fight aggressively to obtain the maximum possible compensation for our clients, whether it be through a settlement or verdict. 

To schedule your no-cost consultation and learn more about your case, call our Cambridge ON office at (519) 658-6341.

What Is Contributory Negligence

What Is Contributory Negligence?

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When an accident occurs it’s frequently easy to determine who is at fault. However, there are times when a victim’s own negligence contributed to the accident or the injuries they sustained. 

Contributory Negligence: What is it? 

Essentially, when a plaintiff’s negligence contributes to the seriousness of an accident, this is considered contributory negligence. 

An example of contributory negligence comes from car accident lawsuits. If a driver is driving drunk and loses control of their vehicle, striking another, they are considered at fault for the accident. However, if the victim failed to wear their seatbelt, the defendant may argue that they contributed to the seriousness of their injuries by failing to use the provided safety device. 

How Does Contributory Negligence Impact Personal Injury Lawsuits? 

If it can be determined that the plaintiff was negligent, the court will assign a percentage to that negligence. Any compensation awarded to the plaintiff will be reduced by that percentage. 

For example, if a car accident plaintiff is awarded $1 million in damages but it was determined that they were 25% at fault, the award would be reduced to $750,000. 

Proving Contributory Negligence

In order to show that the plaintiff was negligent, a defendant must show that the plaintiff owed themselves a duty of care and should have taken steps to contribute to their own safety. It must then be proven that the plaintiff failed to provide that duty of care.

Work With An Experienced Cambridge ON Lawyer

It’s always important to work with an experienced personal injury attorney when taking legal action. An attorney can help: 

  • Collect eyewitness statements;
  • Contact specialists to recreate an accident scene;
  • Collect documentation to support the lawsuit;
  • Speak with insurance companies;

To learn more about your legal options after an accident, contact our law office at (519) 658-6341.

What To Expect During A Personal Injury Lawsuit In Ontario

What to Expect During a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Ontario

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As an accident victim, you may have been relieved to hear that you can file a legal claim seeking compensation from a negligent party. This legal claim, commonly known as a personal injury lawsuit, isn’t a simple process. Below you’ll see an outline of the legal process so that you and your loved ones know what to expect. 

The Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit

Here are the phases of a personal injury lawsuit.

  1. Hiring An Attorney: Choosing the right legal team is perhaps the most important decision in the legal process. When you choose Hilborn and Konduros, you can rest easy knowing you have an experienced legal team on your side. 
  2. Document Gathering: This step involves gathering as many documents that are related to your case as possible. This might include police reports, insurance paperwork, medical records, income statements, and even video evidence. 
  3. Pleadings: The pleadings outlines the case for the court and names the defendants. The defendants then have a set period of time to respond to the legal claim. 
  4. Discovery: During discovery, all involved parties are required to list and provide copies of all documents that are relevant to the case. Oral discovery often takes place in the form of interviews. 
  5. Pre-Trial: A Pre-Trial judge is assigned and the attorneys present a theory. The judge and attorneys will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the case. The hope is that this process will end with a settlement. 
  6. Trial: If a settlement agreement the case will go to trial where our legal team will fight aggressively for the compensation you deserve. 

Our legal team understands how stressful this time is and will help to guide you through this process step by step. 

Is it Better to Settle or Go to Trial? 

The decision to settle or go to trial is a very personal one. Our legal team will always present all offers to settle, however, the choice is ultimately yours. In some cases, no offer is made and the case must proceed to trial. 

Don’t Wait – Call Our Cambridge ON Law Firm Today

Our law firm offers no-cost consultations to accident victims. Call (519) 658-6341 to learn more about your legal rights.  

Cycling Accidents in Ontario Affecting More Children

Cycling Accidents in Ontario Affecting More Children

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Cycling has become a recent trend throughout North America, and accidents and fatalities are up because of it. Local municipalities have increased bicycle lanes to help keep cyclists safer. Unfortunately, despite our greatest efforts, bicyclists keep dying on our roads in Ontario. Even more unfortunate, recent bicycle accidents are affecting our most vulnerable: our children.

Despite Fewer Cars on the Road, Bicycle Accidents Remained Consistent

Canadian Cycling Magazine reported that during 2020, a year when many of us were on lockdown, and fewer cars were on the road, cyclist deaths remained consistent. Their article reported that, on average, 74 cyclists lost their lives each year in Canada, despite bike lanes and fewer cars. None of these are more heartbreaking than when these accidents occur to children.

The Latest Bicycle Tragedy

On September 1, 10-year-old Nikita Victoria Belykh was struck and killed by a car while riding her bicycle in Thornhill. A ghost bike ride was held for her a week later. The ghost bike has become a tradition in the cycling community, where the victim is honoured with a memorial bike ride and an installation of a white “ghost bike” at the site of the tragedy. 

Unfortunately, Nikita’s was the sixth ghost bike installed in 2021 already in Ontario. Even more heartbreaking was that it was the fourth one installed for a child. 

Holding At-Fault Drivers Accountable

Accidents involving bicyclists typically result in serious and often fatal injuries to the cyclist. The goal for us here in Ontario is and continues to be zero deaths of cyclists. It seems we still have a long way to go. 

If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident in Cambridge, let us help. The skilled bicycle accident lawyers at Hilborn and Konduros can help hold the at-fault party accountable for your injuries and damages. Call us at (519) 658-6341 or contact us online to understand how you may be compensated for your injuries.