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Find Lawyers in Alberta, Canada 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.
Kimberley has over 20 years of litigation experience and focuses her practice on serious personal injury claims and medical malpractice. She has many years of experience working for insurance companies and now uses her skills to advocate for individuals making claims for injury. She is experienced with all injury claims including traumatic brain injuries, fatalities, catastrophic injuries, and medical negligence. She has conducted trials at the Court of Queen’s Bench and appeared before...
It is my greatest privilege to guide clients through the legal system, towards recovery for injury and wrongful death claims. Whether the losses stem from motor vehicle accidents, medical negligence, unsafe premises, or defective products, the damages are personal to every client and their families. From our first meetings, to the resolution of a claim, I bring an empathetic and principled approach to ensure my clients are well prepared for each step along the way. In the summer of 2021, I mo...
Hollick Chipman has focused on personal injury law since 1996, and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in this area to his clients. Hollick primarily represents people who have been injured in motor vehicle accidents and also handles other personal injury matters. He has appeared in the Alberta Court of Appeal, the Alberta Court of King’s Bench, and the Alberta Court of Justice. Hollick has served as a Board Member for the Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association and as the Canad...
Gillian is a civil litigator focused on personal injury law, professional regulation and discipline matters, insurance law (with a special interest in disability insurance claims), and Workers' Compensation Board claims. After obtaining her B.Comm. (1989) at the University of Calgary and her LL.B. (1992) at the University of Alberta, she was admitted to the Alberta bar in 1993. A past chair of the Canadian Bar Association Alberta Law Conference, Gillian is also a member of the Canadian Bar As...
Peter has more than 24 years of experience with personal injury claims and disability insurance claims. He helps ill and injured clients recover the disability insurance benefits owing to them because they are unable to work, and the compensation they are entitled to for the damages suffered as a result of an accident. For 20 years Peter acted as defence counsel for automobile, life, and health insurance companies before committing exclusively to advocating for the ill and injured. His keen u...
Brian Devlin QC started his law career with the firm of Jones Black, now known as Bennett Jones. He articled to Jack Major QC, the leading medical negligence defence lawyer in Alberta at the time, who went on to become a judge on the Supreme Court of Canada. Mr. Devlin practiced with Mr. Noel O’Brien QC and Don Macleod QC as the firm of O’Brien Devlin Macleod for approximately 43 years. Mr. Devlin has since decided to streamline and focus his practice and was invited to join the f...
Known for being fair, honest, and a great communicator, Anthony Espejo provides strategic and practical advice for commercial litigation and insurance matters. His expertise leads to targeted advice to find the best resolutions while his experience means he avoids wasting time or energy on strategies that aren’t productive. Clear communication is one of his biggest strengths as an experienced insurance defence litigator. He works through a problem logically to find the most fair and rea...
A personal injury lawyer, Pat has dedicated his 35+ year career to helping people in need obtain funds for their care and treatment, and to recover financially from the impact of an accident. Whether a client has suffered a life-changing injury requiring permanent care or has had to take time off work to recuperate from an accident, Pat has the experience, resources and knowledge needed to attain a fair and timely settlement. Pat begins each new matter by meeting with his client for a detaile...
Christine Felix, K.C., is a personal injury lawyer with more than 28 years of practice in her field. She has successfully represented important cases securing, negotiating, and helping her clients to achieve the best possible outcomes. In 2016 Christine was appointed Queen’s Counsel (King's Counsel as of September 8, 2022), an important recognition of her successful achievements. That same year she joined CAM LLP as a personal lawyer and has been with the firm since then. Before joining...
Brian Filips - a former insurance claims examiner and adjuster for North America's largest insurer - is a civil litigation lawyer representing corporate clients throughout Alberta and elsewhere in Canada. With years of experience with complex insurance-related claims, Brian has earned a reputation for being accessible, for managing files with a cut-to-the-chase efficiency and for placing a premium on collaboration. Brian's in-house experience processing large-loss bodily injury claims affords...
Craig Gillespie is a founding partner of Cuming & Gillespie LLP . He is a leading personal injury, class action, and medical malpractice lawyer with a proven track record of success. With decades of experience representing clients throughout Western Canada, he has secured multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts in complex cases. Craig has been consistently recognized for his exceptional work, including being named medical malpractice lawyer of the year. Beyond his legal practice, Cr...
Jackie is a recognized leader in the area of serious personal injury. Over the past three decades, she has earned her reputation as a highly skilled lawyer and passionate advocate for her clients, working exclusively for injured victims and their families. Jackie has been named in the list of Best Lawyers in Canada - 2023, in the field of Personal Injury Litigation. Jackie’s proven track record of obtaining excellent results for her clients, whether through well-negotiated settlement or...
After working as an insurance defence lawyer for a prominent Edmonton firm, Mr. Huculak joined James H. Brown & Associates in 1996. Since then, he has devoted his practice exclusively to representing injured persons, ensuring they receive justice and the compensation they deserve. Mr. Huculak has comprehensive experience representing and assisting clients who have suffered serious injuries. He has successfully handled claims resulting from motor vehicle accidents, slip and fall cases, ass...
Carsten is a founding member and senior partner of JSS Barristers, the largest civil litigation boutique law firm in western Canada. His practice emphasizes complex and multi-party corporate and commercial litigation, commercial class actions, oil & gas litigation including royalty, environmental and CAPL issues, shareholder disputes, advising creditors and others in insolvency matters and professional negligence claims. During a leave of absence from JSS Barristers, he served as Senior L...
Ron Jewitt has over 30 years of experience litigating injury claims as defense counsel and plaintiff’s counsel. Ron is a Partner and has been with CAM LLP since 1992, exclusively representing seriously injured people. However, his professional experience also includes working on the defence side of insurance files. His expertise has helped clients with all kinds of injuries, from severe fractures and debilitating soft tissue injuries to spinal cord and brain injuries. Ron has a Bachelor...
Ross is well-known and an established personal injury lawyer in Alberta. He provides strategic advice to clients for an efficient resolution of serious personal injury cases. Ross has extensive experience using various methods to achieve resolution, including negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation. He has appeared as legal counsel before all levels of Alberta court. He is a founding partner of McLeod Law and provides guidance and mentorship to junior lawyers. Clients highly recom...
Brian Kapusianyk is a partner in the firm’s Calgary office, practising in the areas of insurance and commercial litigation with an emphasis in professional liability, construction law, D&O litigation, commercial insurance coverage and defence, as well as personal injury and products liability litigation. He has acted on matters in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and the Yukon Territory. He has appeared in the courts at all levels including the Federal Cour...
Justine Lee is a personal injury lawyer experienced in handling injury claims both as defence counsel and as plaintiff’s counsel. As a former insurance defence lawyer, she has an insider’s detailed knowledge of how insurance companies assess, handle and value claims and what needs to be done to put the best case forward for her clients. Justine also has significant expertise dealing with insurance companies and their lawyers in all stages of litigation, including settlement negoti...
I completed articles of clerkship with a predecessor firm of Weir Bowen LLP (Newson Brumlik) in 1980, and am one of the founding partners of Weir Bowen. I have a general litigation practice, with an emphasis on matters involving insurance defence, personal injury, wrongful death, wills and estates, represented adults, and commercial and real estate transactions. I have extensive experience as counsel before the courts of Alberta (at trial and on appeal) and in negotiations, mediations, and ju...
Richard J. Mallett graduated from the University of Alberta law school in 1989 and was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 1990. Rick established Hammer Injury Law in 2023. For the first 10 years of his career, Rick practiced as an insurance defense and corporate lawyer. Since 1999, Rick has acted exclusively for injured people and their families. Rick has appeared in all levels of court in Alberta, including the Court of Justice, Court of King’s Bench, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court of the ...
I have been at Weir Bowen since the start of my legal career in 2009, and I’ve had the good fortune to work with pioneers in the medical malpractice area, and fantastic lawyers in many other areas of law. When you hire me, you get the benefit of not just my experience, but also the experience of our team. I am proud that I have the ability and privilege to be able to work for people who have unfortunately been injured through the negligence of somebody else. Most of my clients have been...
I was born and raised in Grande Prairie, Alberta and moved to Edmonton in 2006. I joined Weir Bowen LLP in August 2012 because of my interest in civil litigation and, more specifically, interests in negotiation, mediation, and trial advocacy. I quickly developed an interest in representing clients in medical malpractice claims. I am proud to help injured clients in their pursuit of justice against the parties that have caused their injuries. Medical malpractice cases often involve complex iss...
Robyn Meara has a personal injury litigation practice. She has extensive experience assisting clients with claims relating to fatalities and serious personal injuries including brain injuries, paraplegia, and permanent disabilities. Robyn is committed to her clients and ensures they receive fair compensation. She strives to achieve top quality results for them in a timely fashion. Robyn has appeared before the Provincial Court and the Court of Queen’s Bench. She also has extensive exper...
In 1991 I left the partnership of a major Edmonton law firm to work with Weir Bowen; particularly with John Weir QC, one of Alberta’s leading medical malpractice lawyers. Since joining Weir Bowen I have focussed my practice on representing individuals who have suffered injuries or death as a result of medical errors. As my practice evolved over time I began representing children who were injured as a result of medical malpractice. Many of my cases involve children who have suffered a br...
Simon is a seasoned litigator with over 24 years of experience in personal injury and insurance law. Fiercely protecting his clients’ interests and securing their future is his top priority. Simon spent 10+ years working for insurance companies, so he understands the importance of supporting his clients while obtaining a fair and reasonable outcome. Simon is ranked by the Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory as a leading practitioner in Personal Injury - representing plaintiff's. He ha...
Dana attended the University of Toronto, receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree (Honours) before attending the University of Saskatchewan, receiving her Bachelor of Laws degree in 1992. Dana was called to the British Columbia bar in 1993 and practiced in Vancouver with the well-respected law firm, Hammerberg Lawyers LLP, after spending the early part of her career as in-house counsel. Dana successfully completed transfer examinations and was called to the Alberta bar in 2001, moving to Calgary...
Jean Oliver is a personal injury lawyer with over 22 years of experience. Her focus has been primarily on representing people seriously injured due to negligence, including those injured in motor vehicle accidents. In 1996 she was called to the Alberta Bar and had been with CAM LLP since 2012. Before joining the firm, Jean practiced in the area of insurance defence with a large private firm. After that, Olivier spent nine years with Alberta Justice in civil litigation, where she represented t...
Before joining James H. Brown & Associates in 1998, Mr. O’Neill spent several years working in the insurance industry, gaining valuable insight into insurance companies’ practices and tactics. Over the course of his career, Mr. O’Neill has enjoyed outstanding success representing seriously injured clients, including those suffering catastrophic injuries such as quadriplegia, paraplegia and brain injury. Mr. O’Neill is a past Director of the Kinsmen Club of Edmonton...
Tara Pipella has been recognized in the 2022 Edition of Best Lawyers in Canada for Personal Injury Law, and has been regularly listed in the Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory as a leading practitioner in Alberta in the area of Personal Injury litigation, at Pipella Law, www.pipellalaw.com . Tara has successfully carried on the family tradition of her late father, Edward S. Pipella, Q.C., practicing exclusively in the area of personal injury law and acting exclusively for Plaintiffs, succe...
Michael Pucylo is dedicated to helping people who have been injured in motor vehicle accidents. Michael has been successful in resolving motor vehicle accident claims in Alberta, paying particular attention to gathering the necessary medical opinions and employment information to properly quantify his clients’ claims. Using his background in Commerce, Michael can quantify damages for his clients in personal injury cases including self-employed clients. Michael’s 30 years of experi...
David Risling is an experienced litigator with a talent for negotiating and finding creative resolutions for his clients. He is a member of the Executive Committee at McLennan Ross, and focuses his practice on insurance, education, and labour and employment. With deep knowledge of the insurance industry, David represents and advises insurers on a variety of insurance matters, including coverage, liability, and quantum issues. He handles files involving personal injury, negligence law, profess...
Greg received his post-secondary education at the University of Manitoba, where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1975 and his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1978. He won awards for high academic achievement in law school. Greg was called to the Manitoba bar in 1979. He gained extensive trial experience practicing criminal law with the highly respected Winnipeg, Manitoba, law firm of Wolch Pinx Tapper Scurfield. In 1984 Greg began practicing personal injury litigation, and has practiced ...
Raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Lee graduated from the University of Alberta, completing his undergraduate degree in 1995 and law degree in 1999. Before joining the team at James H. Brown and Associates, Lee practiced with a prominent litigation firm in Edmonton, specializing in defending insurance companies against injury claims. Lee gained valuable insight into how insurance companies defended claims and realized that he wanted to work for individuals rather than the corporations. Lee says &ld...
Paul Stein is a Partner in Gowling WLG's Calgary office. He practises in the area of commercial litigation with an emphasis on fire, oilfield, directors and officers, professional liability, environmental, product liability, property and industrial claims, coverage litigation, class actions, construction, commercial and shareholder disputes. Paul has appeared before all levels of court in Alberta, various administrative tribunals and has also conducted matters in British Columbia, Saskatchewa...
Warren Stengel has over 30 years of litigation experience and focuses his practice on serious personal injury claims. He has significant experience working with insurance companies and their attorneys throughout the litigation. His former defence work experience contributes to his knowledge of what needs to be done for a successful resolution on behalf of his client's needs. Warren was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 1992 and joined CAM LLP in 1996. He has been a Managing Partner since 2004 an...
Maia Tomljanovic is a partner at Cuming & Gillespie LLP . She is a seasoned personal injury and medical malpractice lawyer who exclusively represents injured individuals and their families. With a proven track record of success in both Alberta and Saskatchewan courts, she brings a deep understanding of the legal system to her practice. Maia's extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and judicial dispute resolution conferences, allows her to explore a var...
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