Many of our past articles have dealt with motor vehicle accident (MVA) trends and provincial legislative changes affecting automobile insurance. Personal injury lawyers need to be aware of these changes. In January 2022, in a move to address the backlog of drivers waiting to be tested due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ontario introduced significant alterations to its G road test,
Several changes have been scheduled in 2023 affecting Personal Injury lawyers and plaintiffs in Alberta involved in Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVAs), slip and fall, and other cases. As of January 1, The Minor Injury Regulation (MIR) amount was updated. For accidents occurring on or after that date, the minor injury cap in Alberta is $5,817 (a 6% increase from 2022).
Statistics Canada has released a comprehensive five-year trend report on the disabled population. This is important information for personal injury and disability lawyers when assessing plaintiffs’ cases. The highlights: More than one-quarter (27%) of Canadians aged 15 years and older, or 8 million people, had disabilities that limited their daily activities. Youth (ages 15 to 24) experienced the largest increase
Statistics Canada recently released its annual trend report on motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) resulting in injury and death, broken out by region and demographics. This can help personal injury lawyers better anticipate and understand the types of cases that are becoming more prevalent. Transport Canada’s National Collision Database (NCDB) contains data on all reportable MVAs in Canada, provided each year
Personal injury plaintiffs’ dissatisfaction with the Insurance Commission of British Columbia is mounting. In previous articles over the years, we have reported on many problems with this insurer. Several constitutional challenges have been levelled: In 2021 the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia struck down key provisions of the Civil Resolution Tribunal Act. This was the second
Personal injury and disability lawyers in Canada need to stay abreast of trends in health treatments and drugs paid by insurers, to be up to date on potential plaintiff concerns and anticipate defence lawyers’ actions. Manulife reported recently that adult ADHD diagnoses are increasing. The insurer found a 24.5% annual increase in unique claimants for ADHD medication among people aged
Personal injury and Family lawyers with disabled clients need to stay current with the federal and provincial support programs available. In many provinces, benefits for people with disabilities are supplemental to the basic social assistance programs. All the jurisdictions listed below have a monthly payment schedule. Federal The Canada Pension Plan Disability benefits (CPPD) provide financial assistance to people younger
Canada’s family law system was in trouble before the COVID-19 pandemic, when the entire justice system was upended for months as courts sat idle during sweeping lockdowns under public health mandates, magnifying the problems. Courts are stymied by a lack of staff and judges. There were 79 vacancies for federally appointed Superior Courts and Courts of Appeal positions across Canada
It’s vital for personal injury lawyers to understand the future earning potential of their plaintiff clients. People with disabilities often face employment barriers, resulting in lower employment rates, a decreased capacity to work full-time, and therefore higher rates of involuntary part-time work. Recent amendments and a deadline pertaining to the Accessible Canada Act (S.C. 2019, c. 10) are also relevant to
Personal injury lawyers are looking to provide services to motor vehicle accident (MVA) plaintiffs in other provinces. This article provides a brief overview of current legislation.Quebec and Manitoba have government-run pure no-fault insurance regimes, with no right to sue for pain and suffering nor for economic loss beyond the no-fault benefits.Saskatchewan also has a government-run system which lets motorists choose
