Is a Trial the Best Way to Settle a Personal Injury Claim?

If you have been in an accident that resulted to an injury, one thing that you should do after getting the medical attention you need is to file for a personal injury claim. Usually, ICBC handles all insurance policies, so that means that the other party involved in the accident is also represented by them. Some people might think this is a disadvantage, especially if they have more serious injuries.

While you can negotiate with your insurance company with the help of an ICBC lawyer in Coquitlam, if you can’t agree to a settlement, the next step would be a trial. But is this really the best course of action?

In a trial, the court will decide who is at fault when it comes to the accident. The court will also decide how much to award the victims as a compensation from their damages and losses. But this process can take a lot of time, money and effort. And when you are already dealing with your painful injuries and the trauma of the accident, the last thing you might want is to subject yourself to a court trial.

90% of all ICBC cases are also settled before they go to trial. What you can do is retain the services of a good ICBC lawyer in Coquitlam BC such as Learn Zenk Barristers & Solicitors to help you with your claim and your lawyer will negotiate on your behalf. Your lawyer will help you get as close to the value of your claim as possible using evidences and valid arguments. A trial should be a last option.

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Making Pedestrian Accident Claims – Things You Should Know

Pedestrians getting in an accident is not uncommon. Crossing a street can be dangerous. Even when you look into all directions, a drunk driver here or a distracted driver there can cause an accident. Pedestrians should know what their rights are when it comes to pedestrian accidents. Unfortunately, many pedestrians don’t know where to get compensation during these cases.

Even if you are driving a motor vehicle at the time of the accident, you can make a claim. It is a personal injury claim that you can submit to ICBC. You can get the full compensation of your coverage. Your insurance company will also assess your injuries, wage losses and present and future medical expenses to determine how much compensation you can get.

What if you are not insured? If the driver who hit you has an insurance, you can get compensated through the driver’s insurance provider. ICBC also has coverage for uninsured individuals or underinsured motorists. This is under the U.M.P. clause of the coverage.

In general, ICBC takes care of all issues when it comes to pedestrian accidents caused by motor vehicles. It’s also important to talk to Personal Injury Lawyers in Coquitlam such as Learn Zenk Barristers & Solicitors to determine how to file for a claim and how much compensation you should expect. If you plan on suing the at-fault party, personal injury lawyers in Coquitlam can also help you out. A good personal injury lawyer will help you assess your losses and help you negotiate your compensation. 

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4 Mistakes You Should Avoid Making After a Vehicular Accident

 

There are actually a lot of vehicular accident cases that do not get escalated to court. Many just settle it with their insurance company or through their own connections and money. If you find yourself involved in an accident, here are some of the mistakes you should avoid making:

1. Not having your injuries checked.

Even if it’s just a minor accident, you should still go to a hospital and have yourself checked out. Adrenaline can cause you not to feel pain immediately after the accident. Only after the adrenaline rush has faded will you be able to experience the real effects of the accidents. By then, you might have already settled with the other party.

2. Not obtaining the other driver’s information.

Don’t walk away without assessing the gravity of the situation first. Find out how big the damage is to your car and make assessments of your injuries. Take photos of the accident scene and make sure you get pertinent details of the other party such as plate number, name and address.

3. Waiting for a long time before filing for a claim.

There is a deadline to filing for an accident claim. If you don’t file for a claim right away, you could end up losing your right to be compensated.

4. Accepting a settlement from the other party fast.

Don’t accept any settlement offer until you know the full extent of your injuries or damage to your property and livelihood.

Talk to Injury Lawyers in Coquitlam first. Look for injury lawyers in Coquitlam such as Learn Zenk Barristers & Solicitors who will be able to provide you with the help you need in filing for a claim.

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Dealing with Anxiety After an Accident

A lot of people suffer from anxiety related to trauma after an accident. The anxiety can inflict more harm to the sufferer. It can get in the way of doing everyday functions, loss of happiness and quality of life and lead to poor performance at work. Here are some tips on how you can deal with anxiety:

Give Yourself Time to Heal

Anyone who has gone through a vehicular accident can suffer from mental distress. It is a traumatic incident, so it can instill fear in you. Allow yourself time to recover. Most people recover from the emotional distress after they take some time off. Do meditation to help out with your anxiety.

Seek the Help of Professionals

If the anxiety is getting in the way of life and it becomes more severe as time passes by, seek the help of professionals. Getting therapies can help in minimizing the anxiety or completely getting rid of it. Your doctor can also prescribe medications that can help with your anxiety.

Go to Injury Lawyers in Coquitlam

The role of Injury Lawyers in Coquitlam when it comes to personal injuries is indispensable. It can be hard to prove the mental and emotional damages you might have incurred in the accident. Because of that, you might not get the compensation you are looking for from your insurance company. Lawyers such as Learn Zenk Barristers & Solicitors will ensure that your insurance company will compensate you for your losses including injuries that might not be visible such as anxiety and other mental injuries.

To know more details about Personal injury lawyer in Coquitlam please visit our website: learnzenk.com

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Unable to Work After an Accident – What Can You Do?

Accidents can have a big impact on the life of the people involved in it. The injuries you sustain during the accident may cost you your ability to work whether temporarily or permanently. Not being able to work affects your ability to provide for your family financially as well as your ability to provide care to your family such as do household chores, pick up your kids from school, run errands and many more.

What can you do?

The first thing you should do is contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in Coquitlam. What a personal injury lawyer in Coquitlam from law firms like Learn Zenk Barristers & Solicitors can do is to help you understand the extent of your losses. Your injuries could affect your life more than you realize.

Some people assume their injuries are only temporary but later on find out that their injuries have life-long effects. For instance, some soft tissue injuries may bring about chronic pain to the injured. The rest of your visible wounds might heal but these injuries might stay for a long time.

A personal injury lawyer in Coquitlam can help you file for an insurance claim and deal with your insurance company’s adjuster. With the help of an injury lawyer, you can receive a fairer compensation from your insurance company. Your lawyer can prevent you from accepting a small claim that won’t even compensate all of your losses. This way, you can recover from your injuries without worrying about how to provide for your family and pay for all your therapies and treatments.

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Can You Sue After a Slip or Fall Accident?

Slip and fall accidents are some of the most common types of accidents. In most cases, people get away with just a bruise on their ego. But there are cases when these accidents lead to broken bones and sprains and even loss of lives.

If you have just been in a slip or a fall accident and you think someone is at fault, is there a way for you to sue?

Everyone has a responsibility to keep themselves out of harm’s way wherever you are but especially in public places. You need to be mindful of your surroundings. Pay attention to warning signs like slippery surfaces after a place has been cleaned.

On the other hand, property owners also have a responsibility to keep their property in good condition. They have the responsibility to maintain the property and fix things that can cause injury to other people. If no action has been done and an accident resulted from that, it can be construed that the property owner has been negligent, and this can be a ground for a lawsuit.

You might be wondering how serious your injuries need to be before you can actually file a complaint. It doesn’t have to be too serious. Even if you suffered from a sprain, it’s still important to file a complaint so that the negligent party can take action to prevent more people from getting injured due to their negligence.

If you have suffered from more serious injuries that caused you to lose the ability to work, it’s important to get the help of an Injury Lawyer in Coquitlam. Through an injury lawyer in Coquitlam from law firms like Learn Zenk Barristers & Solicitors, you will be able to get compensated fairly for your losses.

To know more details Coquitlam ICBC lawyer. please visit our website: learnzenk.com

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3 Common Misconceptions Victims Have About Their ICBC Claim

We don’t file for ICBC claim on a daily basis. That said, a lot of people feel at a loss when they already need to file for an insurance claim after an injury or accident. Many people also tend to have misconceptions when it comes to the filing process. Here are some of those common misconceptions:

Misconception #1: ICBC is on my side, they will give me the full value of my claim.

Many claimants believe that ICBC will treat them fairly. But it is the role of insurance adjusters to find ways to save money on the claim. You will soon find out that they are not on your side and that they represent everyone involved in the accident.

Misconception #2: If I give all necessary documents, my claim will be processed without a hitch.

While those police and medical reports will help build a strong case, often times, ICBC will still find a way to save money by undermining the extent or the seriousness of the injury. If you suffer from injuries that are not readily seen in medical reports such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or soft tissue injuries, you might also have a hard time proving your injuries.

Misconception #3: It’s going to be a short process.

Often times, if it’s a big case, it’s going to be a long process of negotiating back and forth.

This is why you need the help of Personal Injury Lawyers in Coquitlam such as Learn Zenk Barristers & Solicitors. Only with the help of personal injury lawyers in Coquitlam will you be able to stand a chance of negotiating better with the insurance company.

For more details please visit our website: https://www.learnzenk.com/

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4 Common Workplace Accidents and How to Protect Yourself from Them

Accidents do not just happen on roads. They can happen anywhere, even in places you think you are safest such as the workplace. Here are some common accidents that happen in workplaces: 

 

1. Mishandling of equipment and materials

This accounts for 32% of the accidents that happen in the workplace. Workplaces make use of equipment and materials that can potentially harm employees. Only licensed people should handle heavy machineries Make sure you learn how to handle smaller equipment in the work place as well and read the manual before operating it.

2. Slip and fall accidents

According to studies, 16% of accidents that happen in the workplace are slip and fall accidents. A slippery floor or damages in infrastructure like the stairway can cause slip and fall accidents. The management should fix these damages right away or leave ample warning signs to alert employees.

3. Collision or struck by a heavy object

10% of workplace-related accidents involve employees colliding with workplace vehicle or being struck by heavy objects. It helps to keep the workplace properly lit, especially in areas like the parking lot or the production area.

4. Strain or trauma resulting from strain or overuse

Repeated or overuse of muscles and joints can lead to strain or trauma. Musculoskeletal injuries make up 4% of the over-all injuries experienced in the workplace.

If you suffered from an injury in the workplace, make sure you talk to Personal Injury Lawyers in Coquitlam such as Learn Zenk Barristers & Solicitors. It is important to have personal injury lawyers help you so you can be compensated for your injuries and your wage losses properly.

To know more details about Personal Injury Lawyer in Coquitlam BC please visit our website: https://www.learnzenk.com/

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Seeing a Doctor After a Minor Accident – How Important Is It?

A fender bender might typically not cause serious injuries. However, there are still considerable injuries that can arise due to a minor accident. Soft tissue injuries and concussions are just some of the physical implications of a minor accident.

Many people involved in fender benders don’t go to an emergency room to have their condition checked. Adrenaline rush can prevent you from determining whether or not you have sustained serious damages from the accident. This can help mask symptoms such as muscular pain, joint pain and headache. 

Only after the adrenaline rush has worn off, or even after a few days or weeks later, will the victims start to feel the after-effects of the accident.

This is the reason why going to a doctor is important even though the accident is minor. This is to rule out any possibly serious effects of the accident to the vital organs such as the brain.

This is also to ensure that you did not suffer from traumatic injuries such as a heart attack and also get treatment for the psychological effects of a crash such as PTSD or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Seeing a doctor right after a minor accident is imperative not just to your health but also to the possibility of making an insurance claim. When filing for a claim, you will have to provide proof of your injuries.

If you were not able to see a doctor right away and is now making a claim, make sure you get the help of Personal Injury Lawyers in Coquitlam. You can get the help of Coquitlam personal injury lawyers such as Learn Zenk Barristers & Solicitors to solidify your claim.

To know more details about Personal Injury Lawyer in Coquitlam please visit our website: https://www.learnzenk.com/

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Hit and Run Accident Claims in BC – What You Need to Know

Hit and run victims are protected by Section 24 of BC’s Insurance Vehicle Act. That means if you have been hit by an unknown or unidentified driver, your insurance company, which is ICBC, will compensate you for all your injuries and losses even if investigations do not find out who the at-fault driver is. 

 

When filing for a hit and run accident claim, here are the things you need to know about the process:

1. You need to do your part in identifying who the at-fault driver is. 

In order to make your hit and run claim valid, you need to first take action in identifying the other party. You need to prove to the insurance company that you have investigated the matter and taken various steps in order to find out who the driver is. Even if you do not succeed in identifying the driver, merely providing proof that you have taken these measures can help in validating your claim.

2. Notify ICBC as soon as possible.

Unless your injuries have prevented you from notifying ICBC, you must do so within 6 months after getting hit by the other driver.

3. Get the help of an injury lawyer in Coquitlam.

An Injury Lawyer in Coquitlam from Learn Zenk Barristers &Solicitors can help you in collecting evidences to build your case, getting the necessary documents and advising you on what to do to ensure that your claim will be accepted.

An accident lawyer will also be able to help you negotiate the value of your claim. Ifyour injuries are severe, you would want to be compensated fairly.

To know more details about ICBC Lawyer in Coquitlam please visit our website: http://www.learnzenk.com/

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How to Reduce the Stress of Litigation After an Accident

Getting in an accident and recovering from the injuries sustained during the accident is a source of stress. With the pain you are feeling and the uncertainty of your future as a result of your injuries, it’s normal to feel stressed-out.

The litigation process after your hospital stay can also bring about a good amount of stress. Litigation often sparks this negative emotion because of the adversarial nature of the process. The typical setup of these litigation cases involve two opposing parties. This alone can make a person involved in the process feel stressed-out.

Although you might not completely get rid of the negative feelings associated with going to court or dealing with your insurance company and the other party, there are ways to keep stress levels down. One of them is to get the help of an ICBC lawyer in Coquitlam who will be able to handle all the legal things needed to get your claim going. An ICBC lawyer in Coquitlam from Learn Zenk Barristers & Solicitors will be able to shield you from most of the difficult parts of filing for a claim and negotiating with your insurance company.

Getting a lot of rest is also important. Focus on your recovery instead. Your lawyer is already working on your claim so concentrate in getting better physically and mentally. Get a lot of support from the people that you love. It helps to do the things you love to do, provided that you are physically capable of doing them. Make sure you don’t tire yourself out or do things that your doctor still prohibits you from doing not just for your health but also to avoid affecting the value of your claim.

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Pain and Suffering ICBC Claims – What You Should Know

One of the most common ICBC grounds for a claim is pain and suffering claim. This is also referred to as general damages. In this kind of claim, the insurance adjusters will assess the extent of the loss of quality of life. The adjusters will determine the impact the injuries that the claimant has sustained when it comes to performing at work or doing their everyday tasks at home. This includes assessment on physical and emotional pain as well as psychological damages due to the accident like PTSD and depression. 

 

In order for the claimant to have strong grounds when filing for pain and suffering claims, he/she must discuss the conditions with the doctor. Your doctor will be able to determine what kinds of therapies and rehabilitation programs you can try in order to improve recovery. Your insurance company and the Court will also use your doctor’s evaluations to determine how much to award you. This is why you should not neglect doctor appointments or skip going to therapy sessions. Your insurance company might see this as a sign that your pain and suffering aren’t really that significant.

It’s also important to discuss it with your ICBC lawyer in Coquitlam. Some pain and suffering cases might be difficult to prove in court or to ICBC. Your insurance company will try to keep the costs of awards down so they might undermine the effects of your pain and suffering. But with the help of an ICBC lawyer in Coquitlam such as Learn Zenk Barristers & Solicitors, you should be able to deal with insurance adjusters better to get maximum compensation.

To know more details about Personal Injury Lawyer in Coquitlam please visit our website: http://www.learnzenk.com/

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What to Do If You Are Pinned as the At Fault Party After an Accident

You’ve just been in an accident and currently recuperating from your injuries. An accident, even minor ones, can leave anyone traumatized. But to top that off, the other party may also pin the fault on you. If this happens to you, what should you do? 

 

Getting the Help of an ICBC Lawyer in Coquitlam

Never be afraid to seek the help of an ICBC Lawyer in Coquitlam such as Learn Zenk Barristers & Solicitors. Many people injured in accidents dispense with the need of a lawyer and attempt to handle the case by themselves not knowing that they are putting themselves at a disadvantageous point. You can easily be swayed by the other party if you don’t make the right arguments or even agree to a low-ball settlement or offer from the insurance company. But with an ICBC lawyer in Coquitlam, you have a much stronger voice when it comes to deflecting fault.

The Insurance Claim Adjuster Might Also Put Fault on You

Keep in mind that the insurance adjuster works for the insurance company. And as such, they will try to get the lowest settlement possible. To do that, they might try to pin the fault on you. Not knowing how to handle the insurance adjuster will surely cause you to lose your ground and even lose your chance at getting a fair settlement.

Don’t be alarmed. If you know that you are not the one at fault and you have a lawyer representing you, you should be able to deflect blame.

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