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Grande Prairie Personal Injury Lawyers Car & Motorcycle Accident Claims

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    Been in a car accident in Grande Prairie? If so, you need a shrewd car and motorcycle accident claim lawyer who can help you recover the compensation you’ll need to get back on your feet. If your injuries are severe enough then medical insurance will not cover everything. You’ll have lost wages and other expenses to contend with. Let our team help.

    The personal injury lawyers at Merchant Law have decades of experience in personal injury practice. We’re committed to helping you get results.

     

    How long does it take to settle a car accident claim in Alberta?

    First, it’s important to know there’s a statute of limitations on all car accident and motorcycle claims. You have two years from the date of your accident to file your claim. We recommend filing much earlier than that.

    Next, you should be aware the process takes time. For example, the full extent of your injuries and expenses can’t even be properly calculated until you’ve reached maximum medical improvement.

    After that it may take anywhere from 18 to 24 months to settle your Alberta car accident or motorcycle accident claim. 

    The vast majority of these claims will be settled out-of-court, but if the matter does go to trial you can expect it to take a long time. 

     

    How do I claim pain and suffering from an Alberta car accident?

    Pain and suffering awards are automatic parts of the average Alberta car accident or motorcycle accident claim. Only the amount of the pain and suffering claim varies.

    Pain and suffering awards depend on three things. First, they depend on the extent of your injuries. Second, they depend on the impact those injuries are having on your life. For example, if you now have a back injury that makes it impossible to work, then you can expect a larger pain and suffering award. Third, they depend on your lawyer’s negotiation skills and ability to tell your story.

    In Alberta, pain and suffering awards are capped. Minor injuries are capped at $5,296, and major injuries are capped at $370,000. Your Merchant Law lawyer will work hard to maximize your award up to the limit of these caps. 

     

    What is a good settlement offer for an Alberta car or motorcycle accident?

    Many clients who ask this question are asking for a specific dollar amount. Yet you shouldn’t be thinking in terms of dollars and cents.

    Instead, you should be thinking about what a good settlement offer can accomplish for you and your loved ones. An offer should:

    • Pay for all the damages to your vehicle.
    • Pay for all of your medical bills, including bills for continuing care.
    • Cover all of your lost wages.
    • If you can no longer work, offer you compensation for your loss of earning capacity.
    • Pay for any services you must purchase as a result of the accident, such as housekeeping services.
    • Provide you with some manner of compensation for your suffering.

    A settlement that does not either accomplish these things or come close to doing so is not a “good” settlement offer.

     

    When should you call a lawyer for an Alberta car or motorcycle accident?

    Ideally you will call a lawyer the day of your accident, just as soon as you’re medically capable of doing so. The sooner you get a lawyer involved, the stronger your position will be.

    For example, your Alberta personal injury lawyer can file your claim on your behalf and deal with the insurance companies for you. This prevents you from making statements or taking actions which could hurt your case later. Insurance companies are highly adept at nudging people into making decisions that do not serve them. Lawyers who deal with these cases every day of their lives aren’t so susceptible to this nudging. 

    Waiting to call a lawyer gives the defendant, insurance company a head start on defending their case and could create problems later on. While we won’t be able to start launching settlement conferences on Day 1, we will be able to start working hard on your behalf.

     

    How do I know I have a good personal injury case?

    It’s almost impossible to know without an in-depth case review from a qualified personal injury lawyer. You can, however, determine, in general terms, whether you might have a case.

    In order for a personal injury case to exist, the following must be true:

    • Someone must have a “duty of care” to you. Every rider and driver on the highway has a duty of care to every other driver and rider. Each party is expected to obey traffic laws and to do their best to prevent an accident.
    • Someone must fail in that duty of care. That is, they must do something negligent.
    • That negligence must directly lead to some manner of injury on your part, and that injury must create a financial loss that can be rectified.

    If you believe all of this is true, and you believe you were not at-fault for the accident, then it’s worth it to at least sit down with a personal injury lawyer and gain their perspective on your case. Your specific case is likely to have facts and complications that will need to be taken into account before a final determination may be made. 

     

    Need help with your Grande Prairie car accident or motorcycle claim?

    We have offices conveniently located in Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary, Airdrie, and Cochrane. We also serve clients all across Alberta including Lethbridge, Fort McMurray, Medicine Hat, Grande Prairie, Spruce Grove, Lloydminster, Leduc, Okotoks, Fort Saskatchewan, Chestermere, Camrose, Beaumont, Stony Plain, Sylvan Lake, Brooks, Strathmore, High River, Canmore, Morinville, Whitecourt, Hinton, Olds, and Blackfalds.

    Our lawyers are standing by and are ready to help. You’ll find us responsible, kind, and easy to work with. In addition, you don’t have to worry about lawyer’s fees or retainers. All of our personal injury lawyers work on retainer, which means they don’t get paid unless they are able to bring your case to a successful conclusion. 

    Don’t wait. Contact Merchant Law at (780) 474-4878. We serve areas throughout the entire province, and can help you, too.

    Please note: The information provided on this website is Not Legal Advice. The information may or may not be accurate. The information is for discussion purposes only. Reliance upon any information provided would not be grounds to advance a claim against Merchant Law for providing any advice. In order to get a formal legal opinion upon which you may rely about any specific fact scenario, you would have to first retain the services of a lawyer and request a formal legal opinion.