If you’re reading this, you or a loved one has more likely than not been involved in a serious motorcycle accident are are searching for information about what to do or where to turn. We understand that life after a serious accident can be confusing, the insurance process can be confusing, the claims process can be confusing – and you will have many questions about what to do and who to hire.
Motorcycle accidents can be profoundly devastating, often resulting in catastrophic injuries or even fatalities. Due to the lack of structural protection and minimal safety features compared to cars, motorcyclists are highly vulnerable in collisions. The most serious injuries sustained in such accidents can include traumatic brain injuries, which may cause cognitive impairment, memory loss, or permanent disability. Spinal cord injuries are another grave consequence, often leading to partial or complete paralysis and a significant reduction in the quality of life. Additionally, severe fractures, amputations, and extensive soft tissue damage can occur, causing long-term pain, limited mobility, and scarring. The emotional and psychological impact of these injuries can be overwhelming, burdening the victim and their loved ones with the challenging process of coping, recovery, and adjustment to a new reality.
Our Hamilton motorcycle accident lawyers understand that the process of finding a motorcycle accident lawyer can be arduous – but rest assured when you contact our Hamilton lawyer, you will be in good hands. Matt Lalande is not only one of Hamilton’s top motorcycle accident lawyers, but he has been riding motorcycles since he was 7 years old and personally understands that bikers and motorcyclists are no doubt among the most vulnerable groups of road accident victims, who are prone to serious injury and mortality.
It’s certainly not easy hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer – especially if you have never been involved in an accident before. We understand that process is new, complex, overwhelming and confusing.
With our motorcycle accident lawyers, the relationship with our clients starts with trust and likeability. When you contact our firm, you are not (and will never be) a file number. Rather, you will be treated as a person with many questions that will need many answers. You will have access to us at all times. You will never be “passed around” around as client but instead, you will always personally know the person working on your case.
When we meet, we will answer all of your questions and explain to you why you need to hire an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer. We will explain the importance of retaining a lawyer with expertise in motorcycle accident law, how we can assist with police, investigate your accident, deal with your insurance company, help assist wit your no-fault benefits, set up your wage replacement, deal with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, hire a rehabilitation team that will assist with your discharge home, assist with having your insurer funds all modifications and assistive devices required around your home, set up your attendant care, PSW’s, housekeeping assistance and many more complex and dynamic issues that will need to be navigated.
When you make the decision to hire a motorcycle accident lawyer, there will be various factors that will influence trust decisions – but for us, what matters are the two pillars of a relationship – trust and likability. Remember, you only have one shot at recovering the compensation you deserve – so make the right decision, and hire the right lawyers that you both like, and trust.
There is no cost to you, ever, to speak to Lalande Personal Injury Lawyers and obtain the legal advice you deserve. There is never any money upfront – we only get paid when you get paid.
After meeting us, you will have the option of engaging our motorcycle accident lawyers to represent you – however, there is certainly no obligation to do so. We are simply happy to explain your rights as a motorcycle accident victim in Ontario.
A free consultation with one of our Hamilton motorcycle accident lawyer can provide invaluable guidance and support for accident victims and their families. During this initial meeting, we will evaluate the circumstances of your accident, assesses the potential for a successful claim, and provide tailored advice on the best course of action. A free consultation not only serves as an opportunity for you, as the motorcycle accident victim, to gain an understanding of your legal rights and options, but it will also allow you to determine if our motorcycle accident lawyer is a good fit for your case. By offering our expertise without any upfront cost, our Hamilton motorcycle accident lawyers can explain how we can help you and your family navigate the complexities of the legal system, alleviating your burden and work towards securing fair compensation for your injuries and losses.
It is very important that you speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer prior to your discharge from the hospital. If you are representing your loved one who is in intensive care or a rehabilitation unit, we are happy to speak with you at your convenience, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Once you retain our motorcycle accident lawyers, we will then retain the appropriate occupational therapists who will be on YOUR side, make sure that insurance coverage is in place, submit the proper notice forms, place the at-fault driver or drivers on legal notice of claim, speak to police, speak to the insurance companies involved, preserve evidence, make sure that your income replacement is in place and any home modifications are done prior to your discharge back home.
Our motorcycle accident lawyers will represent you through to settlement or court verdict. Depending on your situation in life, we will be claiming damages for pain and suffering, both psychological and physical, loss of amenities, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of home maintenance abilities, past wage losses, future wage losses, healthcare expenses, attendant care, and medication expenses, etc.
Although we can’t turn back the clock, our personal injury lawyers will fight for justice and ensure that you are placed in the financial position that you are in the day before you were hurt.
Being in involved in a motorcycle accident can be life changing, terribly traumatic and overwhelming. While some motorcycle accidents are minor incidents that don’t require a lawyer, most bike accidents involve extremely complicated insurance issues which usually are not the biker’s fault and too stressful for an injured party to deal with.
Injuries caused by motorcycle accidents unfortunately make up a significant proportion of serious traffic accidents, being a significant cause of increased morbidity and mortality, especially among young men and women. In today’s day and age, a large amount of motorcycle accidents in Ontario are caused by drivers not paying attention, or because there talking or texting on their smart phone. Because riders are unprotected, they often suffer brutal injuries that often cause a lifetime of disability and interruption in their ability to continue their work or career.
Matt Lalande is a Hamilton motorcycle accident lawyer who been representing motorcycle accident victims throughout Ontario since 2003. Our firm understands the impact that being injured can have on the lives of victims, their families and loved ones. The losses can be profound and for victims, often insurmountable without proper legal help. We always worked to pursue the maximum compensation for our clients and ensure their futures are properly protected financially, both from a vocational perspective and future care perspective.
Since 2003, we have recovered millions for motorcyclists in Hamilton and throughout Southern Ontario – and we are prepared to fight, for you.
Our Motorcycle Accident lawyers understand that it will be an uphill battle for injured motorcyclists to recover compensation from insurance companies. Not only are Ontario motorcycle insurance claims becoming increasingly complex to litigate, the system is unfortunately not victim friendly by any means.
If you have been in a motorcycle accident, you should never try and negotiate with the insurance system on your own when trying to recover compensation for your injuries. If you have been hurt while riding your motorcycle, it is absolutely vital that you contact an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer to help you get through these difficult times.
This is a time when you and your loved ones should be focusing on getting home, starting your rehabilitation, meeting with your doctors and your occupational therapists. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will deal with the insurance companies and act on your behalf to make sure you receive the best possible medical care and legal representation.
We always say that if you’re thinking of hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer, you probably should call one.
If you or your loved one has been hurt in a serious motorcycle accident you will no doubt need assistance with the discharge from the hospital or rehab unit back to your house. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will assist in contacting your insurance company to help set up your accident benefits in order to pay for the cost of retaining acute care occupational therapists to assist with your hospital discharge.
Occupational therapists should ALWAYS be retained by your Hamilton motorcycle accident lawyers and not your insurance company. Discharge planning is a primary aspect of an acute care occupational therapist’s job. Obtaining the proper accident benefit funding and proper discharge planning is an important part of acute care practice. The last thing you need is to be discharged home with unmet rehabilitation needs. It’s vital that you retain an experienced personal injury lawyer to help with all of your discharge planning needs.
We understand that there is no amount of money that can turn back to clock and return things were, but we can help you recover money from insurance companies to help compensate you for your losses because you are hurt and you can’t work. By working with an experienced Hamilton motorcycle accident lawyer, you can ensure that your financial future will be protected. We will obtain the appropriate amount of compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance company to help protect you and your family.
Our personal injury lawyers will be able to help put together the right team of medical experts, occupational therapists, life care planners and accountants to help figure out exactly how much money you have lost financially and how much money it will take to get your life back on track.
In most cases, a motorcycle accident victim will seek significant compensation for pain and suffering, past lost income, future lost income, any difference in lost income, health and rehabilitation expenses outside of OHIP, money to replace your inability to take care of your home, and in some cases, financial management fees for the compensation you are seeking.
The amount of compensation is often dependent on the type and severity of injury that you have suffered, your physical pain, psychological anguish and emotional suffering. You may also receive compensation for physical disfigurement, such as scarring and burning type injuries. Our Hamilton motorcycle accident lawyers will also make sure that you are compensated for your wage losses from your accident date until your projected retirement date.
Hamilton motorcycle accident lawyer Matt Lalande has represented families of those killed in motorcycle accidents since 2003.
There are many scenarios that can lead to wrongful death motorcycle accidents, some being more common than others. One thing we know for sure is that motorcyclists are up to 27 times more likely to die in a motorcycle accident than those traveling in cars or trucks. The primary cause of motorcycle fatalities are head injuries – or those riders that suffer such trauma to the head that medically, there would be no chance of clinical recovery.
Wrongful death claims after a fatal motorcycle crash can be complicated, depending on the scenario and people involved. For example, if the motorcycle rider was the young father providing for a family, then the damages and compensation would be significantly higher than would be to a single writer with no dependents.
The Family Law Act provides for damages that dependents can claim in a wrongful death case. The dependency loss, if the deceased provided shared income into the family, would be an important claim to make as a loved family survivor. A dependency loss is the loss experienced by the survivors of the lost contribution to the net family income. Future income must be properly evaluated and projected by an economist or actuary who has the expertise to address any issues and potential contingencies.
In short, if a loved one is killed in a motorcycle accident, it’s important that the immediate dependents and survivors, such as a wife, husband or children, claim the loss of shared family income, over their lifetime. Your spouse’s income no doubt had an effect on paying the mortgage, insurance, kids activities, education and other household bills. You can’t be left alone with the burden of these expenses if your loved one was killed in a motorcycle accident through no fault of his/her own.
Also, the surviving spouse and or older children may have a loss of income as well for being off work for grieving purposes, for an extended period of time not covered by a disability policy.
There may also be a loss of economic opportunity to compensate the surviving spouse. Because of the increased family responsibilities, or having their earning potential impacted in some other way – the surviving spouse may lose future economic opportunity. Also, the surviving spouse may simply no longer have the emotional ability to perform full-time or premium work.
Household or childcare services may be required as well to assist the surviving spouse with household and home maintenance activities and childcare that may be required due to increased responsibility.
There are numerous claims that can be made in a wrongful death motorcycle accident case that could be made. There is no doubt because it our doubt that experienced motorcycle accident lawyers must be retained in motorcycle accident fatality cases.
Many people that retain our personal injury lawyers often wrongly assume that if the accident was or may have been partially their fault and because so, they are not entitled to compensation. This is certainly not something you should assume and in fact, is far from the truth.
When describing motorcycle accidents, most people use the term fault, while lawyers use the term liability. Liability in motorcycle accidents is not always easy to determine. In some cases, both parties might be partially at fault for the accident, for example, the rider may have turned left illegally while the driver of an oncoming truck may have been impaired. Sometimes determining fault is not difficulty. Most motorcycle accidents in Ontario are rear end collisions, often caused by drivers not paying attention.
Sometimes, it is very difficult to determine who’s at fault or liable for an accident. For example, if a motorcyclist is riding down a beautiful country two lane road, around a bend, and an oncoming car clips the bike’s mirror. You as a rider may be blamed for taking the curve too fast when, in reality, the curve is not wide enough and the township should have made repairs to it, but did not.
You should never assume that you are at fault, or partially at-fault for a motorcycle accident. Talk to our personal injury lawyers, for free, with no obligation, to start the investigation and determine who is at fault. Not only will this prevent an insurer from taking advantage of you early on, but it will also allow us to collect the evidence your case needs while. Talk to a Hamilton motorcycle accident lawyer to find out more.
Many times, motorcycle accidents are caused other drivers who simply fail to see or recognize motorcyclists in traffic. According to Ontario driving statistics, there are still less motorcyclists hurt or killed than pedestrians or bicyclists, but the actual number of injuries and fatalities caused by motorcycle crashes are still staggering. Some of the major factors of bike wrecks that are “non-traffic maneuvers” are caused by distracted driving, alcohol and speed related causes. Some of the common driver-related causes are speed, entering a corner too fast, loss of control, locking the front brake, not judging the slipperiness of the road and overall biker inexperience.
There are a variety of types of motorcycle accidents that occur on Ontario’s roads and highways regularly, resulting in significant injuries and fatalities for those involved. Some of the more common types of accidents are listed below.
Drivers of passenger vehicles can get distracted when driving by any variety of things. This distraction leaves them less attentive to the road and presents dangers for other vehicles and motorists. In particular, motorcycles are particularly at risk of suffering harm in distracted driving accidents because motorcycles are already harder to see and notice on the road.
Distracted driving includes any activity that could take a person’s attention from the primary task of driving their vehicle.
There are three main types of distracted driving:
Some common distractions that can put the lives of motorcyclists at risk include:
These are just some of the various ways a motor vehicle operator can fail to pay full attention to the road and make conditions more dangerous for motorcyclists. Ontario has some of the strictest distracted driving laws in Canada, but drivers continue to engage in this dangerous behavior.
If you are the victim of a motorcycle accident due to someone’s distracted driving, you likely have a compensation claim. Our Hamilton motorcycle accident lawyer knows that there is no excuse for distracted drivers to hit motorcyclists, and we know how to hold drivers responsible for their actions. Lalande Personal Injury Lawyers has years of dedicated experience protecting the rights of injured motorcyclists, and we can help you.
Speeding by drivers is an often-cited factor in motorcycle accidents. Another driver’s excessive speed may make it difficult for a motorcyclist to maneuver out of the way in time or may force them to switch lanes into oncoming traffic to get out of the way. Speeding also leads drivers to hit motorcycles from behind because they don’t have the time to stop in time. Speeding is dangerous for everyone on the roads in Burlington and throughout Hamilton, but motorcyclists are at particular risk of speed-related crashes.
Some drivers not only speed, but they engage in reckless stunt driving or speed racing, which involves driving more than 50 km over the posted speed limit. Ontario recently passed stricter laws when it comes to excessive speeding, aiming to reduce speed-related crashes. The Moving Ontarians More Safely Act (MOMS Act) took effect on July 1, 2021, and it allows for a 14-day vehicle impoundment and a 30-day license suspension for those who recklessly speed.
While the new law might not eliminate crashes due to lesser speeding, it can help to eliminate more severe crashes with motorcycles due to stunt driving. Motorcyclists should stay aware of the danger of cars speeding around them and causing hazardous conditions for operating their motorbike. However, even the most vigilant motorcyclist cannot control the actions of other drivers and might find themselves with injuries from a speed-related crash.
Another risk to motorcyclists is intoxicated drivers on the road.
Under Ontario law, impaired driving consists of:
Many drivers express that the small size of a motorcycle makes it difficult to see at times, even when conditions are ideal. The addition of alcohol to a driver’s system means that the driver’s vision and focus decrease, and the driver may not notice a motorcycle until it is too late.
In addition to having reduced focus and reaction times, drunk drivers often ignore traffic signals, stop lights, and speed limits, all of which may cause and increase the severity of a collision. Drunk drivers might drive the wrong way, turn in front of a motorcycle, make dangerous lane changes, or engage in other unlawful conduct that puts nearby motorcyclists at extreme risk of injuries.
To make matters worse, bikers are at an increased risk of injury or death in a drunk driving accident. Drunk drivers often do not slow down as much as sober drivers before a crash, which can increase the impact on the motorcycle. This can lead to more serious injuries.
Motorcycle passengers are also at risk when a bike operator is intoxicated. Drunk motorcyclists can make errors and cause serious injuries to passengers. In some cases, a motorcycle passenger may not be aware that their driver has been drinking. On the other hand, an impaired passenger can make it more challenging for a sober motorcyclist to safely operate the bike. In short, alcohol and motorcycles never mix, whether the drunk individual is on the motorcycle or in another vehicle.
If you suffer injuries on your motorcycle due to the intoxicated driving of another person, you deserve full compensation for your injuries and the damage to your vehicle. Making a case against an impaired driver is not always as simple as it might seem.
Evidence is the key to any motorcycle accident claim, including when a drunk driver causes a crash. In many cases, the Hamilton Police Service will arrest an impaired driver, and they might be guilty of an impaired driving offence in criminal court. However, do not assume that this criminal case will provide the compensation you need for your motorcycle accident injuries and losses.
Instead, you must bring a separate claim, though you can use the criminal offence as evidence of liability for your crash and injuries. Motorcyclists often need the help of a motorcycle injury lawyer to obtain the proper criminal records regarding the driver’s BAC and impairment following the accident.
At Lalande Personal Injury Lawyers, we believe that there is no justification for impaired driving, and we help injured motorcyclists hold impaired drivers responsible for their losses. Contact our law firm today if you are dealing with the aftermath of a drunk driving motorcycle accident in Burlington or the surrounding areas.
Aggressive driving also poses a significant danger to motorcyclists. Aggression can arise when a driver becomes impatient with traffic or otherwise frustrated with other vehicles on the road. When someone allows their impatience or frustration to spill over into their driving behaviors, it puts everyone at risk, including motorcyclists.
Some aggressive drivers can especially target motorcyclists for different reasons. Drivers might watch motorcyclists maneuver more easily through traffic, and it might fuel their frustration. In addition, aggressive driving behaviors often put motorcyclists at a greater risk of crashes.
Some common aggressive driving acts include:
Any of the above can result in crashes with any type of vehicle, including motorcycles.
In some cases, aggression can escalate even further and turn into road rage. Road rage involves actions that intentionally put others on the road in harm’s way. Road-raging drivers might:
Aggressive and road-raging drivers often cause serious crashes, some of which can involve motorcycles. This type of conduct is not only negligent but often criminal, and the driver might face charges of dangerous driving.
Dangerous driving applies when a driver:
Because aggressive driving and road rage often involve intentionally driving in a risky manner, many drivers end up with this offence on their records. Motorcyclists who suffered injuries can use criminal accusations and evidence to help prove their injury claims, and an experienced Hamilton motorcycle lawyer can help you gather the necessary records and evidence.
This includes road hazards, environmental conditions, and anything else that could alter the condition of the road. While motorcyclists generally ride in the warmer months and are not at risk for snow or slippery ice, they are still at risk for other various hazards such as wet leaves or hidden potholes. During the summer months, there is also a significant amount of construction that can cause hazards to be left on high-traffic streets.
25% of all motorcycle accidents occur when a motorcyclist is choosing to make a left hand turn at an intersection and an oncoming car does not see the rider. Some of the more traffic related factors were at-fault drivers running amber lights and making careless left-hand turns. A car or truck might not see a rider approaching from the opposite direction, either because they were not paying attention or distracted. Crossing through traffic is dangerous for anyone, no matter what type of vehicle they are driving, but for motorcyclists, the risk is significantly higher.
Motorcyclists regularly suffer serious injuries because of the lack of protection and safety equipment. With full exposure to the elements while riding, motorcyclists lack the airbags, seat belts, and other safety equipment found in cars that mitigate the damage and injuries from an accident.
Motorcyclists are more likely to suffer traumatic injuries from the sheer impact of the crash because they have nothing guarding them against the other vehicle or the pavement. Cars are enclosed, and the walls of the car shield drivers from some of the force of an impact. Motorcyclists have no barriers from the ground and everything else around them, subjecting them to the potential for more serious harm in an accident. Besides a safety helmet, motorcyclists don’t have much protection to mitigate injuries from an accident.
The sheer physics of a larger, heavier car hitting a smaller motorcycle is another reason why motorcyclists are more likely to suffer more serious injuries. Motorcyclists often fly from their bikes in a crash, and such ejections infrequently occur in car accidents. This can lead to more severe injuries from the impact of forcefully hitting the ground or another obstacle.
Motorcyclists are also at a higher risk of injury because of all the reasons mentioned earlier regarding negligent drivers. Drivers regularly neglect to act with care regarding motorcycles around them, often not even noticing a motorcyclist until it is too late. This is particularly the case when drivers are making left-hand turns, as they often fail to properly look out for motorcyclists in oncoming lanes.
The greater risk of serious injury in a motorcycle accident makes it more important to seek help from a qualified Hamilton motorcycle accident lawyer. Medical expenses and other costs are often far greater than those stemming from a car accident, and you need a dedicated lawyer who understands the impact of a motorcycle injury and the losses that can result.
After a motorcycle accident in Hamilton or elsewhere in Ontario, you want Lalande Personal Injury Lawyers on your side.
Other common causes of bike crashes are cars changing lanes into bikes, read end type crashes, cars opening their doors on busy roads. Single bike accidents can also cause catastrophic injuries – which can be caused by hitting gravel at high speed around a corner.
Our Hamilton personal injury lawyers know how to evaluate the costs and losses associated with serious motorcycle accident injuries. We know that different injury types will both require different types of medical care and affect your life in different ways. Our motorcycle accident lawyers specialize in representing motorcycle accident victims who have suffered severe life-changing injuries such as:
Broken Bones and Fractures – Devastating motorcycle accidents often lead to orthopedic injuries including broken legs, a broken pelvis, broken arms, broken shoulders, broken ankles, and various types of other fractures. Our motorcycle accident lawyers can help you collect the damages you’re owed.
Spinal Cord Injuries – Spinal cord injuries occur in Ontario every year, and whether complete or incomplete, SCI’s leave victims their friends, and their family, to cope with the aftermath of the catastrophe. Individuals may be left paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair for the rest of their lives and must adjust to the psychological stress of a completely new life. There is no way to plan for something as distressing as a spinal cord injury.
Head and Brain Injuries – Traumatic and acquired brain injuries are caused by external forces that incur serious accidents. Closed head injuries are the most common type of head injuries that occur in motorcycle accidents. A victim may suffer a brain injury that is mild to severe and causes speech impediment, stuttering, memory loss, dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, difficulty thinking, attention deficit, mood swings, and many other life-changing cognitive symptoms.
Facial Injuries – We have represented riders that were hurt riding Harley Davidson Motorcycles and other cruiser bikes. Often times bikers who ride cruisers wear open-face helmets. The lack of protection can cause major facial injuries in the event of an accident. Riders can suffer fractured facial bones, orbital bone fractures, skin abrasions, a broken jaw, and other serious injuries which often require surgery and skin grafting.
Amputation Injuries – Amputation Injuries are common in serious motorcycle accidents. Amputation injuries after an accident often lead to phantom pain, or ghost pain, pain in the wound site, and serious psychological injuries. Many injury victims who undergo amputation are never able to get back to work or do so in a limited capacity for the remainder of their lives.
Rotator Cuff Tears, Muscle Tears, Ligament, and Tendon Tears – Rotator cuff tears are a common cause of pain and disability among motorcycle accident victims. Torn rotator cuff tendons can be partial or full-thickness tears. Although tears can be degenerative, accidents are often the cause of acute tears which often require surgery with a lengthy recovery. Ligaments and tendons in other joints like the wrist or knees can necessitate surgery, reconstruction, or even joint replacement. One of the most common knee injuries in motorcycle accidents is anterior cruciate ligament sprain or tears.
Burn Injuries and Severe Road Rash – Since a motorcyclist does not have the protection that the driver of a vehicle would have, they are at risk for burns and other skin issues if they are thrown from their motorcycle. Being dragged along the road at high speeds, particularly on highways and freeways, can cause severely damaging burns that may require skin grafts or other types of surgical procedures. Burns and road rash injuries are also at risk for complications during the healing process that could lead to fatal infections and flesh-eating diseases.
As an avid motorcyclist, lawyer Matt Lalande understands the injury risks that motorcyclists face every day in the Hamilton area simply to do what they love – ride in the open air. We also see firsthand the challenges of obtaining compensation for motorcycle crash injuries, as insurance companies do not make the process easy.
Our firm has a dedication to standing up for motorcyclists with life-changing injuries, as we know how a crash can alter your future in a single moment. We believe that injured motorcyclists deserve every penny they need to cover their losses, and we will do everything in our power to obtain maximum compensation for you that the law allows.
Lalande Personal Injury Lawyers represents motorcyclists and has been doing so since 2003. No matter how safely you ride, you might end up in the hospital with a catastrophic injury, and you are rightfully worried about your health, finances, and future. We allow you to focus on your physical recovery while our law firm handles the legal side of things.
If you suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident and need help seeking compensation, call us to see if we’re the right firm to handle your case.
If you have suffered serious injuries in a motorcycle accident you need to speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer without delay. A motorcycle accident lawyer can help put the insurance funding and occupational therapist in place to help with your bills, hospital discharge, home modifications, support workers, and rehabilitation. Once this is in place and you are comfortable, then your motorcycle accident lawyers will seek justice and the compensation you deserve from the other motorist that caused your injuries.
By far, the most common type of motorcycle accident is when a car makes a left-hand turn in front of the motorcyclist – which then cuts the motorcyclist off. This is by far the most dangerous position for a motorcyclist to be in, and it accounts for nearly half of all motorcycle accidents in Canada.
Absolutely. It is better to hire a local motorcycle accident lawyer that you can visit and speak with at any time you wish. You need to make sure that your file is not a number – and that you are actually represented by the motorcycle accident lawyer that you hire, and not a team of paralegals. You only get one shot at obtaining compensation, so it is absolutely important to hire the right local motorcycle accident you are comfortable with. We serve clients throughout the Golden Horseshoe, through Hamilton to Niagara.
Absolutely not – it is MUCH easier for your motorcycle accident lawyers to put together a team of therapists, life care planners, rehab specialists and make sure the insurance funding is in place. It is much more difficult to undo the insurance difficulties that will happen if you wait too long to hire motorcycle accident experts. We cannot stress enough how difficult things will be if you wait too long to hire your motorcycle accident lawyer.
It is really impossible to guess or estimate a good settlement until you reach maximum medical improvement or maximum medical recovery. This means that your physical and psychological condition cannot be improved any further or when a treatment plateau in your healing process is reached. Then at this point, your motorcycle accident lawyers will retain the proper experts to calculate your lost wages, housekeeping and maintenance losses, future health care expenses, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of amenities, among other things.
Yes, currently, the cap on pain and suffering in Ontario is $399,715 as of the middle of April 2021.
Yes, there is a cap on medical rehabilitation benefits in Ontario of $1,000,000 which is available through your no-fault benefit carrier, assuming your injuries are severe enough to be deemed catastrophic.
Hamilton Trial lawyer Matt Lalande has represented bikers and motorcyclists in Hamilton and all over Southern Ontario since 2003. He has recovered millions of dollars in compensation for motorcycle accident victims and their families. Remember the sooner you call our office, the sooner we can help evaluate your situation and begin protecting your rights as an accident victim.
Absolutely. It is free to talk to our Hamilton motorcycle accident lawyers, there is no obligation to retain our firm after we talk AND we never ask our clients for money upfront.
If you have a lawyer that you feel is not representing you properly in your motorcycle accident case, you have the right to obtain a second opinion. We are always happy to help in any way we can.
No, you do not. In fact, we have many clients that cannot come into the office because of their physical disabilities. In that case, we can always set up a talk through zoom, google meet or facetime – whatever you prefer!
Yes absolutely, if you are a loved one have suffered serious injuries in a motorcycle accident it’s very important that you get legal advice early on to obtain your legal rights and what compensation you may be entitled to. For example, if you are a loved one suffered serious injuries and are unable to work, it’s important to get the income replacement process and wage loss claims setup to compensate you for your losses. You need to inform yourself about your legal rights as soon as possible after a motorcycle accident.
In Ontario, your own insurance policy will respond and protect you in the event that the peson who caused your injuries does not have insurance – or enough insurance – to cover your compensation claim. Although the process is vastly different in regards to underinsured and uninsured coverage, rest assured that you are more likely than not will be able to obtain compensation.
Texting and driving is a major cause of motorcycle wrecks in Ontario. You can read more about motorcycle accidents and texting and driving here. Other common reasons for motorcycle crashes are the failure to use turn signals, left and turns, dangerous intersections, lane changing, are rear end crashes and overall driver and experience.
If you suffered serious injuries in a motorcycle accident, it’s better that you hire a personal injury lawyer prior to your discharge from the hospital. This way, your lawyers can hire the appropriate occupational therapists, ensure that your insurance is put in place, your income is replaced, your rehabilitation is put in place, any home modifications are put in place and make sure that your discharge back home is seamless and that you have appropriate attendant care to assist you during your recovery.
It’s estimated that motorcyclists are 15 times more likely to be involved in a crash then drivers of automobiles. Motorcyclists are also 13.5 times more likely to die traffic collisions when compared to victims in car crashes. In 2018, motorcycles represented approximately 3.1% of all registered motor vehicles in Ontario, but accounted for more than 12% of motor vehicle fatalities and 12% of serious injuries.
Yes, absolutely, the NHTSA reported in 2018 that wearing a helmet reduce the likelihood of death by 37%. To the passenger, wearing a helmet was shown to reduce the likelihood of death by 41%.
t depends. You may be entitled to compensation for your physical pain and suffering, psychological pain and suffering, past wage losses, future wage losses, healthcare expenses, out-of-pocket expenses etc. You need to speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer and obtain proper legal advice as soon as possible if you’re involved in a motorcycle accident. One thing’s for certain, you only have one shot, so you need to hire the right motorcycle accident lawyer to be able to obtain the most compensation possible.
No matter whose faulty accident is, you will have access to your own insurance policy’s statutory accident benefits which will entitle you to access up to $65,000, or $1 million in medical and rehabilitation benefits, depending on the severity of your injury. However, if you have a group benefit policy, that policy will pay the rehabilitation first. Your motorcycle accident insurance will pay the difference, or the excess.
It depends on the injury and the third party policy limits. Settlement can range from $35,000 to $2,000,000.00 depending on the severity of the injury and the amount of money available.
Yes and no. In Canada, there is a cap on pain and suffering awards of approximately $399,000. Normally, this is reserved for the most serious of injuries. However, there is no cap on past wage loss, future wage loss, housekeeping losses, home maintenance losses or future care losses. Remember though, most car insurance policies have limits of $1 to $2 million unless a semi-truck, or commercial vehicle, a municipality or a property was involved in causing your motorcycle accident.
A lane switching motorcycle accident is quite common. This is when a car that’s next to a motorcyclist begins to merge into his or her lane. This happens because motorcyclists are not often seen in blind spots.
Motorcyclists in Canada are 13.5 times more likely to die traffic collisions when compared to victims in car crashes.
Matt Lalande has been representing motorcycle victim since 2003. Not only does he ride motorcycles, but he vigorously pursues justice on the behalf of injured motorcyclists in Ontario.
Read the road ahead, drive to the Right, ride off the road and Reduce your speed.
You have the right to get proper legal advice. You have the right to pursue compensation from the wrongdoer that caused your accident, or the motorcycle accident of your loved one. You have the right to a protected future. You have the right to seek accident benefits from your own insurance company to help rehabilitate you back into society. You have the right to income replacement. You have the right to wage losses, compensation for pain and suffering and if your injuries are devastating, you have the right to lifelong healthcare costs outside of what OHIP would provide you.
Yes you can. Depending on the degree of fault, damages could be apportioned between the parties involved. If you are partially at fault, you should still get legal advice as you may be entitled to compensation.
If you have suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident, you have the right to pursue legal action against those were responsible. Although we can’t undo the damage you face, we can fight to provide you with the financial security you need to begin healing and help go on with your life in the best manner possible.
Lalande Personal Injury Lawyers can help you recover compensation for present or future medical expenses that OHIP will not cover, your lost income and wages, and other associated costs to help protect you, your family and significantly improve your ability to reach maximum recovery. Call us toll-free today, no matter where you are in Ontario at 1-844-LALANDE or local in the Hamilton / Burlington area at 905-333-8888. Alternatively, you can fill in a confidential contact form on our website and our motorcycle intake clerk will get right back to you. Our Hamilton motorcycle injury lawyers would be more than happy to provide you and your family a free consultation, with no obligation, to inform you of your legal rights and your options concerning your motorcycle accident related injuries and losses.
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I was a dental hygienist that suffers from really bad scoliosis. My insurance company ignored my doc & cut my benefits off & told me I could do “something”. Matt got me CPP Disability and and LTD settlement – I don’t know what I would have done without him.
My daughter was killed by a drunk driver and it forever changed all of our lives. It seemed that for two years time stopped. This was no an easy journey. Matt let me sit in on the discovery of the driver and boy, he never let up. In the end, our grand-daughter was taken care of and we were compensated for our loss – which we then donated to a cause we believed in.
I call Matt my knight in shining armour. After I was struck by a car while cycling and permanently crippled, he fielded all communications with my especially difficult and downright nasty insurance adjuster. Every step of my care was a battle and I did not have the strength to fight alone.
I lost my leg in a terrible motorcycle accident and Matt help me recover compensation I need because I could not work and the cost of prosthetics and rehab are out of this world. I don’t know what I would have done without him.
My brother ended up paralyzed after a car accident and Lalande did SO MUCH to help get things straight from him getting out of the hospital to all his care for life. We are so grateful for Matt & Heather. I don’t know how my family could have done this without them.
