Comparing Findings On Bicycle-Auto Collisions With Pictures Posted On Internet

Some personal injury lawyers in Ontario have shown an interest in some recent findings about collisions between motorists and bicycle riders. The lawyers chose to study those findings, upon noting the increased number of adults that had elected to commute to work by means of a two-wheeled vehicle.

The researchers that took part in the study reviewed by the lawyers had focused on hits to the rear of the impacted bicycle. Out of all the hits studied, 87% involved an impact on an adult rider. Moreover, a large number of those same collisions occurred during hours of daylight. The acts performed by a motorist that might cause an accident with a bicycle include engaging in distracted driving or not yielding the right of way, especially at a corner.

How those acts and the study findings relate to certain pictures shared on the Internet

On July 10, 2019, a fair number of Internet viewers chose to share a picture that had been taken in China. That picture showed a woman trying to get insurance money by pretending to have gotten hit by a motorist. She wanted to claim that the motorist turning a corner had hit her, while she was riding her bicycle.

What does the law say about compensation for bicycle riders?

According to the law, a bicycle rider can seek compensation if an auto-bicycle collision was caused by the involved driver. Naturally, the legal system leaves it up to injury lawyers in Sault Ste. Marie and the insurance companies to determine who should be named at-fault for any given collision. That fact then makes it clear that an attorney for a client with a personal injury claim may have an added responsibility.

What message should the shared pictures be sending to personal injury lawyers?

Those pictures should underscore the significance of the evidence produced in support of a personal injury claim. In other words, an attorney representing someone that claims to have been hit while riding one of the many bicycles on Ontario’s roads should take the time to confirm the veracity of the client’s statement.

In order to confirm that statement’s veracity, it would help to seek out and speak with witnesses. It would also help to search for any cameras in the vicinity of the collision, cameras that might have been focused on the accident site.

In the absence of witnesses or cameras, it would make sense to have a good look at the defendant’s/motorist’s vehicle. Did it have any scratch or any place where paint from the bike had rubbed onto some surface? Such evidence would work to support the claims being made by the client with the personal injury case. Certainly no lawyer wants to defend a client with a baseless allegation.

Why Notify People About The Intention To File A Personal Injury Claim

The legal system insists on maintenance of fairness. Consequently, anyone that intends to file a personal injury claim must first notify each person that would be targeted by such a claim. The notices must be sent out before the personal injury claim has been filed with the help of a personal injury lawyer in Chatham. Even if you plan to sue a government body or a government-controlled service, you must still provide that body or service agency with a notice of your intentions. (more…)

Understanding Liability In Case of A Sidewalk Slip And Fall

Spanning from the years 2009 to 2015, roughly 30,000 ended up in the hospital due to a slip and fall on Toronto sidewalks. These falls were brought on by slippery snow and ice, and in roughly 2,800 cases, resulted in severe enough injuries to require an average of 6 days spent in the hospital. As a result of these accidents, claims are filed against the city by the victims. From reports, we can gather that roughly $6.7 million dollars are spent on such liability insurance claims each year, and for slip and fall cases on roads and sidewalks alone. (more…)