Ontario Personal Injury Lawyer

Ontario Personal Injury Attorney

As a resident or visitor of Ontario, or surrounding areas, it is important that you understand what protections and rights you hold when it comes to personal injury matters. At Duque & Price, an Ontario personal injury lawyer can provide essential legal support at a time when it matters most. While it is often impossible to prepare for a personal injury incident, there are many ways to react and uphold your rights while securing your future.

The personal injury attorneys at Duque & Price have handled a wide spectrum of personal injury claims, such as motor vehicle accidents, construction site accidents, workplace injuries, wrongful death cases, medical malpractice, dog bites, and more. No matter the circumstances of your case, you deserve experienced help as you navigate the road to recovery. Our legal team can help you find recovery for the injuries and damages you have sustained as the result of another individual or entity.

Personal Injury Law Explained

Personal injury law, also referred to as tort law, is the legal space that seeks justice for individuals who suffer harm and injury due to the negligence, recklessness, or intentional action of another party. Through personal injury law, injured individuals are able to seek justice for their incident and find compensation for their related financial and emotional losses.

In order to win compensation in court, plaintiffs will need to prove that the defendant’s actions led directly to the damages they’re claiming. For instance, a property owner may have breached their duty of care by not fixing a broken floorboard, which caused the plaintiff to fall, breaking their hip. In this case, the plaintiff will need to prove how the defendant breached their duty of care, how the breach led to the accident, and how the accident caused the injuries and damages.

Below are some of the types of legal claims that fall under personal injury law:

• Car Accidents
• Wrongful Death
• Medical Malpractice
• Slip and Fall Accidents
• Dog Bites
• Animal Attacks
• Workplace Injuries
• Product Defects
• Defamation
• Construction Accidents

In the event that you have suffered injury due to one of these types of accidents, a personal injury attorney at Duque & Price is available to help you. Our firm strives to provide excellent legal representation and attentive, diligent support to each client.

How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

Personal injury lawyers play a vital role in personal injury claims. They employ thoughtful and tested legal strategies that uplift their client’s experience and fiercely advocate for a fair and full resolution. With an attorney’s well-rounded knowledge and understanding of California laws, rules, and regulations that apply to personal injury, clients can be confident that they are in good hands. Below are specific ways attorneys can support you:

• Case Consultation and Evaluation: When a client first meets with an attorney, they will receive a case consultation and evaluation that will inform them of the likelihood of their case’s success. If the client and attorney choose to move toward negotiations, both can be confident that this case has a good chance of winning a fair and just settlement.
• Intensive Investigation: In order to build a solid, robust, and compelling case that supports their client’s experience, a lawyer will carry out a thorough investigation. This includes looking into medical reports, eyewitness recounts, police reports, the duty of care in their client’s circumstance, and gathering any other relevant evidence that strengthens their case.
• Case Administration and Management: Clients can rest assured that their attorneys and law firms are handling all necessary legal documentation, communication, and administrative details. This includes filling out paperwork correctly, submitting documentation within the specific time requirements, managing communication with opposing parties and the court, and more.
• Legal Understanding and Strategy: Attorneys have studied law and have extensive legal experience, ensuring that they hold a full grasp of the law and regulations that apply to their clients’ cases. They use their depth of knowledge to form a legal strategy that skillfully represents their clients’ claims while also protecting their rights.
• Negotiation and Litigation Representation: A key aspect of support that attorneys offer to their clients is representation during negotiations and litigation. This looks like handling all communications when negotiating a settlement agreement with opposing parties and insurance companies. They will work to present their client’s case to a judge and jury if the negotiations are unsatisfactory.
• Advocacy: Throughout the entire process of working with an attorney, your rights are at the forefront of all they do. They will serve as your legal advocate, answering any questions or concerns you may have and ensuring you receive just treatment.

Ontario Personal Injury Statistics

Ontario, California, is situated in San Bernardino County and is known for being the gateway to the San Bernardino Mountains. It offers scenic overlooks, the historic Route 66, and more. While this is a beautiful destination for many traveling to Southern California, it is important to understand that there are still safety concerns amongst the scenery.

It is reported that in 2019, 16,123 individuals were either injured or killed in vehicle accidents in the county. This shows that there was a 6% increase from the previous year and a 35% increase from nearly 10 years before.

The year 2021 saw a total of 6,311 dispositions in the Supreme Court in the state of California. The preventable injury-related death rate per 100,000 residents in the state the same year was 53.2, with the leading cause of death in the state overall being heart disease, followed by cancer, COVID-19, and then preventable injury.

Average Personal Injury Settlement Amounts in Ontario

After enduring a personal injury, many people want to understand how much compensation they may receive in damage recovery. While many numbers and figures are available online to provide average personal injury settlement amounts in your area, like Ontario, it is not helpful to base your planning on these figures. Each case is highly unique and individual because factors that impact settlements of similar accidents can vary dramatically.

Some of the factors that impact a settlement amount include economic damages, such as medical expenses, lost wages, future lost earning capacity, ongoing treatment, repair amounts, and more. Settlements also cover non-economic damages, which include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of companionship, and more.
Other items that impact settlement amounts include lawyer and court fees, insurance policy limits, the financial standing of the at-fault party, and more. An attorney can help provide you with an estimate of the damage amount you may be able to recover through a personal injury claim.

How to Respond After a Personal Injury Incident

In the moment of a personal injury, victims may find themselves caught off guard, overwhelmed, panicked, and more. While all of these responses are normal and expected, there are helpful steps to take in the moments following an incident that can help you protect yourself from further harm, ultimately helping the status of your case. Below are steps to follow after a personal injury incident:

• Check for Injuries and Move to Safety: Immediately check to see if you have endured any injuries, and check on the other parties involved. If you are able, move to a safe location. For example, if you were involved in a car accident at a busy intersection, it would be advantageous to move to the side of the road to help prevent further accidents from happening.
• Contact Medical Assistance and Local Law Enforcement: If you or other parties have suffered injuries, contact medical emergency services immediately. It is important to inform local law enforcement of the accident so that they can come to the scene and check in with all involved parties. In many states, this is a legal requirement if there has been any injury or major damages.
• Ensure a Police Report is Made: Ensure that a police or accident report is made, as this will help you further down the line if you choose to pursue a legal claim. A police report will generally offer helpful information that you may need, such as names, contact information, accident details, and more.
• Gather Contact Information: Gather the names, contact information, and insurance information of all parties involved. If possible, gather contact information of any eyewitnesses so that you can refer back to their testimony in the future.
• Document the Scene: If possible, record photos, videos, and detailed descriptions of the accident scene, as these records can be helpful to have.
• Contact Your Insurance Provider: Many insurance policies have a time frame in which clients must report an accident to receive an insurance payout. Make sure you provide the insurance provider with the details of the event and do not admit fault.
• Contact an Attorney: As soon as possible, get in touch with a local personal injury attorney. They will meet with you, advise you on possible next steps, and partner with you as your legal advocate should you decide to pursue a legal claim.

FAQs for Ontario Personal Injury Attorneys

Q: What Portion Do Personal Injury Lawyers Take From a Settlement in Ontario?

A: The portion that personal injury lawyers take from a settlement in Ontario is unique to each law firm, type of case, and payment option. With a contingency fee, an attorney will receive payment only if their client’s case is successful. In this case, they will receive a percentage of the overall settlement amount their client was awarded. Other law firms operate with an hourly fee model or require a one-time lump sum from their clients to cover attorney fees.

Q: How Long Does It Take to Settle a Personal Injury Claim in Ontario?

A: The length of time it takes to settle a personal injury claim in Ontario depends on several factors that are unique to each case. Some of the factors that impact the timeline are the efficiency of all parties involved, the severity of injuries and damages, the negotiation process, the litigation process, and more.

In the event of a straightforward personal injury claim where the fault is easily proven, the timeline will be shorter than in a case where the injuries and damages are extreme, the fault is contested, and the negotiations are contentious.

Q: What Is the Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury in Ontario?

A: The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Ontario is typically two years from the date of the injury or one year from the date the injured party becomes aware of the injury. While there are certain types of legal claims that have no time limit, personal injury victims must file a claim within the two-year timeframe. If they fail to do so, their claim could be considered invalid in court. Negotiations will likely also be unsuccessful, as insurance companies know that litigation won’t be possible.

Q: What Is Personal Injury Law Ontario?

A: Personal injury law in Ontario encompasses a large range of case types in which an individual has endured harm, injury, or damages due to another party’s intentional action or negligence. Personal injury can result from incidents such as car accidents, workplace accidents, medical malpractice, premises liability, slip and fall accidents, product defects, and more. Personal injury law provides a legal space to hold responsible parties accountable for their actions, and it provides protection and support for injured parties.

Q: What Types of Injuries Are Hard to Prove in Personal Injury Claims?

A: The types of injuries that are hard to prove in personal injury claims are non-economic damages. These are the damages and negative impacts an individual endures that are not easily quantified, such as pain and suffering, emotional damages, loss of enjoyment of life, and more. It can be hard to place a monetary value on these intangible aspects of an injury, but they are common, and plaintiffs deserve to be compensated for them.

Contact an Ontario Personal Injury Lawyer Today

In the unfortunate case that you have endured a personal injury at the fault of another party, you may have the right to pursue a legal claim to retrieve compensation to cover the costs of the damages you have suffered. At Duque & Price, we are dedicated to providing solid legal assistance to our clients while tirelessly pursuing a full settlement amount.

We invite you to reach out today to set up a consultation and speak with one of our experienced personal injury attorneys. We can provide a case evaluation, inform you of whether we believe you have the grounds for a legal case, and determine the next steps together. We believe that you deserve the support, advocacy, and assurance that a determined personal injury attorney offers.