A motor vehicle accident can leave you with debilitating, long-term pain that makes it impossible for you to return to your previous job. For this reason, B.C. law permits damages for loss of an accident victim’s “future earning capacity.” Calculating this category of damages is often easier said than done. If the victim was regularly … Continue reading “Proving Loss of Future Earning Capacity While in School”
Calculating the exact amount of a car accident victim’s injuries is often not a simple task. For instance, how do you put a dollar amount on the long-term effects of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, all of which may result from a serious accident? Even when discussing economic damages, such as the loss of … Continue reading “Quantifying the Psychological and Career Damages Caused by a B.C. Auto Accident”
There are some personal injury lawsuits arising from car accidents in which both sides offer extensive expert testimony to bolster their respective cases. In other cases, there is little evidence available to the court aside from the testimony of the parties themselves and any witnesses at the scene. In these situations, the trial judge is … Continue reading “The Importance of Witness Credibility in B.C. Car Accident Cases”
A hit-and-run car accident poses unique legal challenges for the injured parties. After all, who do you sue if you never saw the driver who hit you? Fortunately, B.C. law provides an answer in most cases–namely, that ICBC is responsible for covering injuries from any hit-and-run arising from the “use or operation of a vehicle … Continue reading “When is a Highway Not a Highway?”
Not all multi-party car accidents involve two motor vehicles. In B.C., it is not uncommon for a car to hit a moose or another wild animal. In more populated urban areas, there are frequently collisions between cars and household pets such as dogs. If you are involved in a vehicle-animal collision, do not assume that … Continue reading “Who is Responsible When a B.C. Motorist Hits a Dog?”
Under the normal rules of the road, speeding and running a red light are the type of reckless acts that would make you liable for a car accident. There is a critical exception for emergency vehicles such as ambulances. Under B.C. law, the driver of an emergency vehicle may “exceed the speed limit” and “proceed … Continue reading “Who is Responsible for an Ambulance Accident?”
When you have been seriously injured in a car accident and are facing financial hardship, you may be hesitant to contact a lawyer about your case. But the fact of the matter is that attempting to serve as your own lawyer in a personal injury lawsuit, especially one where you are seeking a significant amount … Continue reading “Do I Need a Lawyer for a Personal Injury Case in British Columbia?”
Although pedestrian accidents are by definition a mismatch–a 1,500-kilogram car versus a human being–that does not mean the motorist is automatically liable for any injuries sustained by the pedestrian. As with any personal injury claim, a court must consider the relative fault of all parties involved. A judge may, in fact, decide that the pedestrian … Continue reading “Is the Motorist Always Responsible for Pedestrian Accidents in B.C.?”
