If you have had a personal injury accident in Ontario, you will want the best legal representation possible in order to maximize your compensation claim. You will not only want to hire a lawyer to represent you legally, but obtain the most effective representation possible.
Limits to a General Lawyer for a Personal Injury Case Personal injury law is a specialized area of law. When choosing a lawyer, it is best to select a personal injury lawyer who has experience dealing with a case type similar to yours. A general lawyer who does not specialize in personal injury law will not have the requisite field experience to handle your case optimally. A general lawyer who deals with many facets of law may not be willing to take the case and would not realistically be in a position to keep up with constantly changing personal injury legislation and case law that a firm dealing exclusively in personal injury would face regularly. For these reasons, a personal injury lawyer is recommended over a general lawyer. Benefits of Retaining a Personal Injury Lawyer A personal injury lawyer serves you in many ways. Your lawyer will review and explain your chances in getting a settlement and your deadlines and technical requirements that need to be complied with. Your lawyer will help you understand the type of compensation available and assist in completing the necessary documents. Your personal injury lawyer will have the knowledge and experience help to level the playing field against the insurance company. Your personal injury lawyer can be your best source of medical, psychological and vocational assessment referrals, which can be highly important for your case. Your family physician may not know of specialists who deal with personal injury litigation, which can be problematic in attaining reports essential for your case. Similarly, the professional opinions of medical or rehabilitation specialists hired by the insurance company are not designed to work on your side; independent assessments of experts known and trusted by your lawyer are in your best interests. With a personal injury lawyer working on your side, you can focus on your treatment and recovery. Your lawyer takes responsibility for the case and will keep you informed of an appointments you need to attend. We also can help you obtain coverage for treatment from your insurance company, including but not limited to, physiotherapy, massage therapy, chiropractic treatment, acupuncture, psychological treatment and counseling rehabilitation therapy, occupational therapy and driver/passenger desensitization training. Being eligible for treatment doesn’t mean that the insurance will pay the benefits. Sometimes, sufficient medical evidence that proves the need for treatment and a physician’s referral is necessary. Sometimes a lawyer’s pressure in communicating with the adjuster can help as well. Finding the Best Barrie Personal Injury Lawyer for Your Case There are many individual lawyers practicing personal injury law in Ontario. The best lawyer for your case is not necessarily the closest, however, even though there are some logistical limitations in your search. The best lawyer will have personal injury trial experience or access within the firm to a lawyer who has this experience even though you may not need it as most cases are settled without going to trial. You will also benefit greatly if the lawyer you hire is recognized and designated by the law society as a Certified Specialist or has access to resources from one within the firm. Being a Certified Specialist distinguishes a lawyer as a leader in his or her field. Experience in personal injury law is more critical of a factor than dealing with a lawyer you have had past dealings with in getting the most compensation for you. The expertise of a personal injury lawyer is especially critical in cases where the injuries are expected to be long lasting, there is dispute about who was at fault for the accident, and where there are complicating factors (e.g., municipal liability and hit and run drivers). When hiring a personal injury lawyer, you may want to ask if that lawyer also does insurance defence work. Although the laws do not prohibit a lawyer from representing both plaintiff and defence claims which do not involve the same case, there may be concerns and questions about the willingness of such as lawyer to pursue the best possible result for you What Sets Us Apart From The Others? At Littlejohn Barristers, we are dedicated to our clients and their success. We are experienced personal injury lawyers in Barrie with personal trial experience. Our founder, Robert Littlejohn, is a Certified Specialist in Civil Litigation recognized by the Law Society of Upper Canada. We service the Barrie and Collingwood areas and provide a free consultation with information about your rights, entitlements and potential for a law suit. Our Barrie personal injury lawyers are honest and frank. If we are given the privilege to represent you, we will work hard to ensure you receive fair compensation. We don’t charge legal fees up front. Rather they are paid at the end from the settlement. Contact us today for your free initial consultation with the lawyers at Littlejohn in Barrie, Ontario.