Posts by Donald I.M. Outerbridge

All Canadian provinces have a contributive negligence clause, and Alberta is no exception. Contributory negligence allows multiple parties in an accident or injury case to share liability. Many clients are surprised to learn that they themselves may be apportioned a percentage of negligence, even if they are the sole injured victim.   Contributing to Negligence:…

When you get injured after another person acts negligently, they have a duty to compensate you for those losses. Yet you have duties, too, even after you get hurt. Your primary duty is loss mitigation. That is, you must take reasonable steps to minimize the costs of your injuries, from the amount of medical treatment…

The province of Alberta has taken steps to protect personal injury victims from creditors. While your personal injury settlement isn’t 100% safe, Alberta law gives you breathing room that doesn’t exist in other places, such as the United States.   Creditors May Not Create Liens In Alberta, creditors may not create a lien against a…

What if a traffic violation or a poor driving decision didn’t cause your car accident in Alberta, CA? What if faulty brakes caused the problem or another manufacturing issue with your motor vehicle? Alberta allows you to sue any responsible party, which means you could sue the designer, crash testing facility, or manufacturer. Defective vehicle…

You probably know you are entitled to compensation after an accident. When another party is negligent, Alberta law allows you to recover funds for medical bills, lost wages, pain, and suffering. If your attempt to recover these funds is to be successful, you will need help from an experienced personal injury attorney. Here’s how to…

Many people wait far too long before hiring a personal injury attorney. Some even wait until their two-year limitations period has run out. Many misconceptions exist about when you can hire a lawyer and when you should. For example, some people believe you must reach maximum medical improvement before hiring a lawyer or that they…

It is illegal to ride a motorcycle without a helmet in Alberta. Our province has a mandatory helmet law requiring all riders and passengers to wear a helmet that meets the safety standards set by Alberta Transportation. Failing to wear a helmet brings all sorts of terrible consequences, from fines and penalties to increased injury…

In practical terms, a personal injury victim can only recover a limited amount of money. The at-fault policyholder’s liability limits cap those limits. While the driver is responsible for any funds their insurance company doesn’t cover, collecting anything more from them is usually functionally impossible. When purchasing a policy, you need to plan for two…

Operating a boat? You have the same duty of care to other people and watercraft you’d have while driving a car in Alberta. Your first duty is always to take whatever actions you can take to avoid causing accidents and injuries. If someone else’s irresponsible boat behavior harms you in some way, you have the…

If you’re like most Albertans, you love our gorgeous natural environment. Yet whether you’re a hunter or not, there are plenty of hunters out there. The Alberta Hunter Education Instructors’ Association notes that over 150,000 people hold a hunting license in Alberta. Roughly 14 or 15 hunting-related incidents were reported to Alberta Fish and Wildlife…