How Does Adultery Impact My Divorce Case?
Adultery impacts divorce cases far less than most people think. While it’s natural to assume that you should get “more” out of the divorce because the other spouse “wronged” you, the truth is that the courts are not particularly concerned with who caused the breakdown of the marriage. Legally, both parties are assumed to be…
How To Take Useful Photos of Your Alberta Car Accident Scene
One piece of advice you hear again and again is to take photos after you’ve been in a car accident. They can be vital pieces of evidence in any personal injury case, because they back up your claims about the extent of the damage and the severity of the accident. You don’t have to be…
5 Ways to Make Your Divorce Less Expensive
Almost everyone who calls us about divorce cases here at Merchant Law wants to know how much the divorce is going to cost. Even high net worth couples want to know what to expect so they can plan accordingly. Nobody wants to spend an excessive amount of money on an event that’s already hurting them.…
What Happens if the Other Driver Died in My Alberta Car Accident?
Car accidents are extremely unpredictable. Fault is no determinant of how much a person gets hurt or whether they die. Fault only determines liability. The initial declaration of fault is usually made by the police officer at the scene, but your lawyer can also make an argument for the assignment of fault, and that assessment…
How to Make a Parenting Plan that Works
Unless one parent is proven to be a danger to their child, judges in Canada prefer something close to 50/50 custody and access arrangements. This isn’t possible for all families, but it is true that the children of divorce do better when they are able to have a relationship with both of their parents. Making…
5 Questions an Alberta Personal Injury Lawyer May Ask During the Initial Consultation
Nervous about your free consultation? Wondering what to expect? Believe it or not, your initial consultation with an Alberta personal injury lawyer will be a fairly straightforward affair. Here are some of the questions you can expect us to ask you. #1) What happened, and when did it happen? In Alberta you have 2 years…
Do I Have Grounds for a Personal Injury Claim in Alberta?
Many of our clients and potential clients worry they don’t have grounds for a personal injury case. We encourage people to avoid guesswork: the only real way to know whether you have a “good” or “winnable” case is to consult with a personal injury lawyer. Still, there are a few questions you can ask yourself…
What Happens if Your Divorce Goes to Trial?
When you file for a divorce you will essentially make claims about your family situation and propose a settlement agreement. The vast majority of those couples will enter into several negotiations in regards to the proposed agreement before settling. Some, however, will have to go to court, and will have to show a judge why…
5 Factors That Impact the Value of an Alberta Personal Injury Claim
One of the most common questions our personal injury lawyers get is: “how much is my personal injury claim worth?” It’s difficult to answer this question without looking at all of the details of your case, simply because there are so many factors which can impact the answer. Here are some of the factors your…
Impaired Driving Offences and how to defend them
Introduction: Impaired driving is the act of operating or having care or control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs to the degree that mental and motor skills are impaired. These are considered serious criminal Offences, and is punishable under multiple offences in the Criminal Code of Canada, and can…
Drug offences and how to defend them
The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act is Canada’s federal drug control statute. Passed in 1996 under Prime Minister Jean Chrétien’s government, it repeals the Narcotic Control Act and Parts III and IV of the Food and Drug Act and establishes eight Schedules of controlled substances and two Classes of precursors. It provides that “The Governor…
How Does Distracted Driving Impact Your Personal Injury Case in BC?
On July 23, 2002, Scott Rollins, an off-duty police officer, was driving between mall parking lots when a driver named Mr. Lovely struck his vehicle. In 2007, the case, Rollins v. Lovely, went all the way to the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Seconds before the collision, Mr. Lovely, the defendant, received a cell…