Find Lawyers in London, Ontario for Personal Injury Litigation
Practice Area Overview
The primary goal of personal injury law is to put the injured party (the plaintiff) in the same position they were in prior to the injury occurring. Sometimes this is impossible, such as when the plaintiff sustains a permanent or irreversible brain injury or spinal cord injury. In such cases, the goal is to put the plaintiff in as “close a position” as possible to the position the plaintiff was in prior to the occurrence of the injury, including the same financial position had the accident not occurred.
There are several categories of compensation that an injured party may be entitled to receive as part of a personal injury claim. If the injury effects the plaintiff’s employability the plaintiff may be entitled to a loss of income or loss of earning capacity claim. If the plaintiff is no longer able to perform their normal housekeeping chores as a result of their injuries, they may be entitled to recover the ongoing cost of hiring someone to perform these chores. If the injured party is likely to require treatment, medications, or equipment in the future, then a claim can be advanced for the cost of future care. The injured party is usually entitled to reimbursement for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses related to the claim. Another category of damages is compensation for pain and suffering. This award includes compensation for physical pain suffered as well as emotional and psychological injuries sustained by the injured party.
An injured party will only have a claim against a party at fault (the defendant) if the injured party can establish that the defendant was liable or responsible for the injury occurring. In some cases, the injuries to the plaintiff may result from a combination of the defendant’s negligence and the plaintiff’s negligence. A common example is where a plaintiff (who was injured in a motor vehicle accident) had failed to wear a seat belt. The plaintiff’s compensation may be reduced if the defendant can show the plaintiff’s injuries were contributed to by the failure to wear a seat belt. This is commonly referred to as ‘contributory negligence’.
If a plaintiff is unable to resolve their claim with the defendant through the normal negotiating process, then ultimately the plaintiff has the right to have their matter decided by a judge (or judge and jury) at a trial. Only a small percentage of personal injury cases actually proceed to the trial stage as the vast majority of claims are resolved through the normal negotiating process.
Laura has set herself apart as a leader in the legal profession and insurance industry. She has won so many professional awards that we had to lease more web site space to list them all. As Laura’s career was taking off in the courtroom, she briefly explored a career flying Italian fighter jets. Since then, Laura has been completely committed to clients and her practice. She is driven to achieve the best possible outcome in the courtroom, in arbitrations or through negotiation. Not one ...
For more than 20 years, Lisa Fraser’s practice has focused on plaintiff personal injury cases helping people who have been seriously injured in motor vehicle accidents, slip and falls, assaults, dog bites, and other accidents. Lisa has also assisted clients in obtaining benefits they were entitled to such as accident benefits, long-term disability benefits, and CPP benefits. Lisa has been actively involved in the London community throughout her career including 4 years as a trustee with...
Judith Hull is a senior plaintiffs’ personal injury litigator at McKenzie Lake Lawyers LLP. For 24 years, Judith has and continues to represent only plaintiffs and their families who have suffered harms and losses due to the negligence of others, in all areas including motor vehicle collisions, birth trauma and medical negligence, occupiers’ liability, products liability and recreational torts. Judith also practices in the areas of disability benefits including long term disabilit...
Barbara Legate is the founding partner of Legate. Barbara has engraved her vision of excellence in personal injury litigation and service to clients onto the firm. For Barbara, every case is personal. With every client, she asks, "what would I expect if I was sitting in his chair? How can I help my client get back what she has lost, or protect the future of this family?" After over 35 years of practice, Barbara has earned a high level of respect for her thoroughness, legal acumen and results ...
André Michael, a partner with Siskinds LLP since 1993, was called to the Bar in 1988. Born and raised in Antigua in the West Indies, André graduated from De La Salle College in Toronto in 1980 and received his B.A. (Psychology and Economics) in 1983 and his LL.B. in 1986 from the University of Western Ontario in London. André articled and practiced at the litigation firm, Haines, Livingstone, establishing an interest in medical malpractice that he continued to develop aft...
Andy Rady is a Partner and Personal Injury Lawyer at Harrison Pensa . He leads the Personal Injury Practice and focuses on plaintiffs' personal injury cases, disability insurance claims, alternative dispute resolution, and litigation in courtrooms and administrative tribunals. People who have suffered harm as a result of the actions or omissions of others — whether due to motor vehicle collisions, slips/trips and falls, dog bites, defects in consumer products, sexual abuse and harassmen...
Mary-Anne is a senior partner at Beckett and leads the Plaintiff Injury Group. Mary-Anne has been passionately advocating for those injured in motor vehicle collisions and slip and fall accidents, since she was called to the Ontario Bar in 2002. She also represents individuals in disputes with their own insurance companies, particularly for long-term disability benefits and Statutory Accident Benefits, through the motor vehicle insurance system. Mary-Anne has handled many fatality cases repre...
Jim was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1977. He received his education at the University of Western Ontario (B.A. 72); (LL.B. 75). He joined Siskinds in 1979 and became a partner in 1981. From 1981 – 1992, Jim was an adjunct professor for Trial Advocacy at the University of Western Ontario Law School. He was also an instructor for the Bar Admission Course, Civil Procedure and Trial Advocacy and a workshop and seminar instructor for Advocate's Society in Trial Advocacy techniques.
Doug is the managing partner at Wallace Smith LLP, a 6-lawyer civil litigation boutique in London, Ontario. His practice focuses on personal injury, health law, professional negligence and insurance law. Doug is certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a specialist in Civil Litigation. He has extensive trial and appeal experience. He has handled cases at the Ontario Superior Court, the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. He also appears at arbitrations and appeals befor...
Considered by many to be one of Ontario's most respected civil litigators, David Williams practices in the areas of class action litigation, complex commercial litigation and personal injury . Notably, Dave also has a special record of achievement in medical malpractice cases where he has successfully represented plaintiffs. He has also been active in representing Ontario lawyers in litigation supported by LawPro — the Ontario lawyer’s professional liability insurance plan. As a v...
Jory Garibaldi is an Associate in the Plaintiff Personal Injury Lawyers practice group. Jory’s litigation practice includes supporting clients who have suffered injuries and loss as a result of car accidents, medical malpractice, slip and falls, and denied benefits by insurance companies. Jory understands the physical, emotional and financial challenges that her clients and their loved ones experience, as well as the frustration, loss of independence, and loss of dignity that can follow...
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