How to Find Personal Injury Lawyers in Edmonton?

Do you need an Edmonton based injury lawyer? Here are some guidelines to help you find a personal injury lawyer in Edmonton.

When you have an injury, especially a critical injury, it can have a massive impact on your life. It can disable you and be a hindrance to many aspects of your everyday routine. An injury can affect your income, your home life, right down to what would usually seem like menial tasks that you may normally take for granted. Things such as popping up to the supermarket to buy groceries or taking the dog for a walk can be significantly altered by an injury.

You will be in need of an injury lawyer if you have been injured – physically or psychologically – as a result of some type of negligence or wrongdoing by another person, party or legal entity (a business for example). For instance, an automobile accident that was caused by someone else’s negligent driving and as a result, you bear an injury from it is a situation where you would need the services of an injury lawyer.

The occurrence of personal injury can be a stressful enough time as it is, but if you need to look for an injury lawyer at Umbrella Law have some of the best in Alberta. With the right information and some preparation, choosing an injury lawyer will be an easier task.

There are countless websites with information on lawyers across all fields in the Edmonton area, and in many cases, websites provide specific information such as areas of expertise – in this case, an injury lawyer in Edmonton. Contacting the American Bar Association, who is another great source of information, can help your search. More locally, however, for an injury lawyer in Edmonton, the Law Society of Alberta database has an online search tool where you can access and research the various attorneys. Public access also allows you to search the professional record of every lawyer who is currently practicing and in good standing in Alberta. This information is vital when you are choosing an injury lawyer. You will be able to see what sort of success record the attorney has had historically.

When you have compiled a short list based on your initial research, it is time to make contact. The only way to really know and feel comfortable that all of your needs are being met, it is very important to meet with potential lawyers. You can usually tell by your first meeting if a lawyer is right for you. Your questions to your lawyer should include asking for a full overview of cost structure and finding out exactly what their services will cost you. It is also good to ask if a retainer is needed, and how much that cost is. Another issue to raise would be to ask if there is a backup lawyer should the need arise. For example, your lawyer may fall ill or have an emergency that will take them away from your case. If this scenario happens, who will be your representation?

Selecting Injury Lawyers

Accidents are ill-fated incidents that cause injury to the person and the victim needs compensation for the injury suffered. Accidents have become common incidents in today’s world and can happen to anybody, anytime, anywhere. The first priority after getting hurt in an accident is to seek immediate medical attention, but at the same time getting in touch with a personal injury lawyer is equally important. Personal injury lawyers are the right people to file a compensation claim and pursue the matter to its logical conclusion.

There are several factors to consider before hiring a lawyer to deal with your personal injury claim. First, it is important to consult with a lawyer who is proficient in personal injury law and specializes in dealing with personal injury claims. A general practitioner may be qualified but lacks the expertise and skill in conducting injury claim cases. Hiring injury lawyers conversant with the technicalities and nuances of personal injury claims is the best option. They are more competent to give such type of legal services that require specialized knowledge pertaining to injuries related to accidents occurring on the road, workplace, and medical negligence or in any other manner.

The other important factor to consider before hiring injury lawyers is their experience. Lawyers, who have dealt similar cases earlier, have experience and professionally accomplished. They would be able to understand the difficult legal requirements pertaining to your personal injury and prepare the case accordingly to file your claim. An experienced injury lawyer will be able to extract the maximum compensation for the injury because of his/her wide knowledge regarding personal injury law in Alberta.

Reputation is another factor that needs to consider before hiring an injury lawyer. A lawyer considered good if he possesses a good set of morale and is a person of high integrity. The injury lawyer’s professional record of accomplishment should be of highest standards and he/she commands respect in the legal fraternity. Hiring such injury lawyers will mitigate much of your tension during the proceedings of the compensation claim.

Over and above the factors mentioned, the other most important consideration before hiring injury lawyers is trust. Injury lawyers considered good if they can be trusted. Trust enables you to be open up and explain all the details of the accident that caused the injury, as well as equips the lawyer to represent you. The relationship between a client and a lawyer being fiduciary in nature, trust and confidence are important parameters in selecting a lawyer. This mutual trust and confidence will help the client to get along with the lawyer comfortably and develop an agreeable and cordial relationship.

Lastly, though not a major consideration, the location may be another factor while deciding to hire an injury lawyer. Since the victim is injured and may not be able to travel to meet the lawyer; it is advisable to hire a lawyer closer to the place of the injured person. It may not be necessary to meet the lawyer more often, but for exigencies, it is advisable to consider this factor.

Glossary of Personal Injury Legal Terms

Abstract of Title: A chronological summary of all official records and recorded documents affecting the title to a portion of real property.

Ad Litem: A Latin term meaning for the purposes of the lawsuit. A guardian “ad litem” may be appointed by a court to stand in on another’s behalf—someone who is incapable of representing him or herself, such as a child or legally incompetent adult.

Adjudicate: To resolve a legal case.

Assumption of Risk: When a person voluntarily proceeds with a risk despite obvious and known danger. In this situation, the individual assumed the risk and thus will not be permitted to seek monetary damages from those they believe to be responsible.

Civil Rights: A group of rights possessed by all citizens under the protection of the Canadian. Constitution. Civil law covers all individuals whose rights have been violated to file a lawsuit against another person, private companies, as well as government agencies in order to recover damages and modify practices that infringe on civil rights.

Claim (personal injury): A civil action relating to the physical or mental harm suffered by the plaintiff, or on behalf of the injured victim, due to negligence on the defendant’s part.

Class-action Lawsuit: A suit filed by a plaintiff or plaintiffs on behalf of themselves and as representatives of others. Class-action lawsuits are most often filed to hold a company accountable for the liability of its products, such as defective pharmaceutical drugs or toxic materials.

Comparative Negligence: Comparing a plaintiff’s contribution to the accident to the defendant’s negligence.

Compensation: Something that makes up for a loss. In workers’ comp cases, it refers to payment to an injured worker or their dependents.

Damages: Payment, usually monetary, recovered in a civil court case for an injury or loss caused by another person’s negligence. Damages may be either compensatory or punitive.

• Note: Compensatory awards cover actual economic losses and are intended to make the plaintiff “whole” again, whereas punitive damages are intended to deter further misbehavior in the future by punishing the defendant for exceptionally grave misconduct that resulted in serious injuries or death, such as malice, fraud, oppression, or violence.

Defendant: The party against whom the civil lawsuit has been filed (by the plaintiff).

Duty: In cases of negligence, a “duty” refers to an obligation to provide a certain standard of care (see below). Failure to meet this obligation is negligence, and cause for legal action on the part of the injured individual.

Expert Witness: A person who is allowed to testify at a trial because of special knowledge or proficiency in a particular field that is relevant to the case.

Fraud: A blatant false or deceptive statement of fact intended to persuade another person to give up something valuable or a legal right he/she is entitled to.

Gross Negligence: Intentional failure to perform a standard of duty by recklessly disregarding another person’s health or property; also known as willful negligence.

Hazardous Exposure: Physical contact with poisonous substances or proximity to toxic airborne agents that are potentially harmful to health. Liability for hazardous exposure may rest on several parties, including the manufacturer of the product, the company responsible for installation, as well as the owner of the building that contains toxic agents, such as a landlord or employer. Talk to a toxic injury attorney if you have been injured or gotten sick because of hazardous exposure.

A Lawsuit, or Suit: A court action brought by one person, the plaintiff, against another, the defendant, with the goal of seeking compensation for some injury or punishment of a wrong.

Liability: An obligation one is bound to by law to perform; typically involved the payment of monetary damages.

Litigation: the process of taking legal action and/or filing a lawsuit.

Loss of consortium: Damages awarded to the family member (usually a spouse) of a deceased person for loss of companionship.

Medical Malpractice: Negligence by a professional healthcare provider, such as a doctor or surgeon, who departs from the applicable standard of care and by act or omission causes injury to a patient.

Medical Malpractice Caps: Limits, or “caps,” on the amount of compensation a victim of medical malpractice can seek out. These caps are intended to keep insurance premiums low and vary by state.

Mitigating Circumstances: Conditions that do not constitute a justification or total pardon for an offense, but which may be used as a reason for reducing the degree of fault.

Negligence: Broadly speaking, it is carelessness. More specifically, in civil law, negligence is conduct which falls below the standard of care established by law for the protection of others against unreasonable risks of harm.

Occupational Disease: An illness caused by long-term employment in a particular line of work, such as construction workers exposed to asbestos, who later develop cancer.

Partial Disability: In a workers’ compensation case, this refers to disabilities that are less than total. Benefits are generally measured by the injured employee’s earning capacity in these situations.

Personal Injury: The area of law which covers all physical, financial, and emotional injuries caused by another person or party’s negligence in using reasonable care. Personal injury cases are considered civil torts, as opposed to criminal lawsuits. Auto accidents and premises liability (slip/fall) are two of the most common types of personal injury cases.

Plaintiff: In civil law, the person or party who brings the legal action or files the lawsuit; also called a complainant.

Premises Liability: The legal responsibility of a property owner or occupier of a property to provide compensation for persons who sustain certain injuries while on their premises. For example, a person who is hurt from a slip and fall accident caused by a spill may be able to sue the property owner for negligence.

Preponderance of Evidence: The amount of evidence a plaintiff needs to win a civil case. A preponderance of evidence means that the proof you present must weigh heavier or be more convincing in comparison to the evidence offered by the other side. To win by a preponderance of the evidence, the proof presented must simply tip the scales in the plaintiff’s favor, compared to the burden of proof standard set in criminal cases, which must be “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Products Liability: The area of civil law that holds manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, retailers, and other parties who make a defective product available to the public responsible for injuries that the faulty product causes.

Proximate Cause: The primary or moving reason why an injury or damage occurred and without which the accident would not have happened, if the injury in question can be foreseen as a natural occurrence of the misdeed.

Settlement: An agreement between both parties in a lawsuit.

Specific Loss: In a workers’ comp case, this is the compensation for amputation or permanent paralysis of members of a worker’s body, loss of hearing in one or both ears, loss of vision in one or both eyes, total or partial disability, and disfigurement.

Standard of Care: For cases of negligence, the degree of care which a reasonable person would have applied under the same or similar circumstances. In medical malpractice lawsuits, doctors or health care professionals who fail to meet the standard established by law to protect patients from negligence, the person may be liable for damages or injuries resulting from their conduct.

The statute of Limitations: The amount of time prescribed by law for a plaintiff to file a lawsuit. Statutes can vary by case type and location of the injury.  In Alberta, you have 2 years to file your claim.

Strict Liability: A legal doctrine that holds a defendant liable for harm caused by their actions regardless of their intentions or level of care. Typically, strict liability is used in defective products or products liability cases.

Third Party Litigation: When a case is brought against a defendant who wants to add another party to the suit. In workers’ compensation law, third-party lawsuits are when an injury is caused by the act or negligence of another party other than the employer (i.e. the manufacturer of a defective tool).

Tort: A private wrong or injury committed against a person or property, resulting in legal liability. Personal injuries arising from negligence are a common example of one type of tort.

Total Disability: In a workers’ compensation case, damages awarded to an employee when they are totally impaired due to a work-related injury.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): An impact to the head that results in a diminished or altered state of consciousness and may impair a person’s cognitive abilities, physical capacity, and/or a disturbance of emotional or behavioral functioning.

Verdict: A judge or jury’s decision on a case.

Vicarious Liability: The liability of one person for the torts of another.

Workers’ Compensation (Workers’ Comp): Mandatory insurance that almost all employers are required to hold in order to cover their employees for economic losses due to a job-related injury or illness.

Wrongful Death Action: A claim submitted versus an individual or business for the death of a person due to irresponsible or wrongful behavior. Wrongful death cases are generally submitted by a surviving family member (normally partner), who can recover damages for psychological and physical suffering, lost wages, funeral service and medical expenses for the deceased, loss of income and making capability, loss of consortium, and more.

See our Edmonton injury lawyer reviews below.

Common injury claims we deal with:

Car Accidents

Valuable Tips if You’ve Been Injured in a Car Accident:

Have you been in a car or bike mishap that was someone else’s fault? Here are the most crucial pieces of advice we can give you:

• DO NOT settle a claim without legal guidance! We know exactly what it could be worth and it might amaze you.
• Insurance adjusters may inform you that your case is restricted by a cap. Do not accept that recommendation without checking with us! We understand what elements may impact that number.
• DO NOT offer a declaration to the at-fault insurance company. You are under no obligation to do so and it might injure your case in the long run.
• DO NOT sign any files from the at-fault insurance company. Their task is to safeguard their best interests … Let us safeguard yours!

The Sooner You Have a Great Edmonton Car Accident Lawyer in your corner, the Better Your Claim Will Be!

After a vehicle collision or any other type of motor vehicle accident, the best thing you can do is call us at 780-953-7001 or Toll-Free: 1-833-793-HURT for advice. In fact, the faster you get us on your side, the much better your claim will be handled.

And keep in mind, we work on a contingency basis, which indicates you do not owe us any charges unless your claim achieves success. You have absolutely nothing to lose and so much to get! Let us assist you to recover and proceed with your life.

Wrongful Death

Wrongful Death Claims:

Have you heard that damages in wrongful death cases are restricted by a statute in Alberta? That holds true. However, when someone passes away because of neglect, a partner or dependent may be entitled to a range of claims beyond this limitation.

At Umbrella Law, our Edmonton based wrongful death lawyers have the experience and understanding to help ensure your case is dealt with fairly and you get the compensation you deserve.

Our Wrongful Death Lawyers Get In Touch With the Professionals

We do not pretend to have all the responses. We are experts in the courtroom and in preparing cases. That preparation includes dealing with expert witnesses who help quantify and prove your claim. Our group has actually established relationships with a comprehensive network of respected medical, forensic and other experts who supply us the responses and recommendations we need to make your case strong.

How Do You Select an Edmonton Lawyer?

We know that you have questions and issues. And if you’re searching for a lawyer to assist with your wrongful death claim, you might be overwhelmed with the options in legal counsel. Here is our first piece of recommendations. Call and talk with a number of lawyers. Tell them your story. Then choose your instinct.

• Who did you get in touch with and find easy to talk with?
• Who seems to really care about your case?
• Who has both compassion for your situation and strength to obtain difficult when you require them to?

We look forward to speaking with you.

Slip and Fall Claims

Slip and fall accidents are very common (especially during the winter months) in Alberta. There are lots of hazards that can trigger slip and fall injuries and this kind of accident should be taken seriously. The resulting injuries sustained can have a large influence or impact on your livelihood and is likely open to compensation.

What Counts as a Slip and Fall Accident?

Incidents that are considered slip and fall accidents consist of:

• Falling on a slippery surface area
• Tripping over an item
• Falling into a hole

These accidents typically happen in a parking area, on sidewalks, and inside buildings with slippery or damp floorings.

What Should I Do After the Fall?

After a slip and fall accident, it is very important to take the following these three steps to reinforce your case and increase your chance of getting appropriate payment:

• Take an image
• Gather witness contact info
• Contact the personal injury lawyers at Umbrella Law

Should I Start a Slip and Fall Accident Claim?

If you have actually suffered a severe injury following a fall, the choice to do something about it largely depends upon whether someone is accountable for your injury.

Determining fault can be fairly complex, but usually, liability falls onto one of the following four individuals/organizations:

• Homeowners.
• Snow removal/Property upkeep companies.
• Property owners.

The victim.
As with all accidents, the only method for us to decide if we believe you have a case is to hear the information about your personal experience. The sooner you contact us, the faster we can evaluate the circumstance and provide our expert viewpoint.

When Slip and Fall Cases Need Expertise, We Gain access to Expertise.
Not remarkably, most slip and fall claims in Alberta are connected to snow and ice; however, the team of personal injury lawyers at Umbrella Law have effectively represented our clients in these slip and fall settlements:

• Falls on hazardous stairwells.
• Injuries arising from unsafe treads and deals with.
• Unadvised drop-offs.
• Improper indication.
• Absence of fencing.
• Shopkeeper used cat litter for traction on ice.
• Hazardous animals at large.

Having access to professionals in all areas of personal injury law will help your case immensely!

We can schedule the testing of surfaces by measuring friction coefficients, find sweep logs and invest whatever resources are needed to fix your claim. Our objective is to permit you to concentrate on your recovery while we supply assistance and expertise.

Regarding fees, you don’t pay a cent unless and until we succeed in a settlement of judgment in your favour. Call us today to discuss your case.