Hamilton Truck Accident Lawyers – Serving Ontario Accident Victims since 2003. No Fees Unless We Win.
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When it comes to the trucking industry, safety is paramount. Drivers and safety directors carry an immense responsibility to ensure that these massive 80,000-pound vehicles are operated with the utmost care and attention.
Unfortunately, when trucks are misused, poorly maintained, or driven recklessly, they pose a significant threat to smaller road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and occupants of cars, pickup trucks, and minivans.
Accidents involving tractor-trailers and other commercial trucks often result in devastating consequences for the victims, leading to life-altering injuries. Large commercial trucks are responsible for a disproportionate number of road fatalities in Canada, with Ontario alone seeing approximately 2,300 trucks per kilometre on average. In Southern Ontario, this number rises to over 10,000 trucks per kilometre, and up to 40,000 near Toronto.
The catastrophic impact of trucking accidents involving big rigs, 18-wheelers, semi-trucks, and other commercial vehicles cannot be overstated. These accidents frequently lead to severe injuries and, tragically, fatalities. In Ontario, collisions involving large trucks contribute to around 19% of all road fatalities, with over 1,000 cases involving large trucks each year. The emotional toll on victims and their families is immeasurable.
At our Hamilton truck accident law firm, we understand the immense physical, emotional, and financial challenges faced by victims of trucking accidents in Ontario. Since 2003, our truck accident lawyers in Hamilton, Ontario have been dedicated to assisting those who have suffered serious injuries in accidents involving large trucks, cargo trucks, courier vans, commercial buses, 18-wheelers, big rigs, semi-trucks, and fuel trucks.
We recognize that no amount of compensation can erase the trauma endured by accident victims, but we are committed to helping you restore your life to the best possible quality. Victims of truck accidents often suffer from catastrophic injuries, including permanent disability, chronic pain, and paralysis, which can affect them for the rest of their lives.
These individuals deserve compassionate legal representation, and they are likely entitled to compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. If you’ve been involved in a trucking accident, we encourage you to contact our Hamilton truck accident lawyers to discuss your rights and options in a supportive and understanding environment.
Truck accident lawyers recognize that victims may require lifelong care, including long-term rehabilitation, physical therapy, occupational therapy, vocational retraining, and psychological counseling. The road to recovery can be long and challenging, and we believe you shouldn’t have to face it alone.
If you’ve been involved in a trucking accident, it is essential to hire a Hamilton truck accident lawyer who specializes in trucking accident compensation and understands the profound impact such an event has on your life. Victims and their families need to secure compensation for the long-term effects of catastrophic injuries, which may include both immediate and ongoing economic damages. You deserve a legal advocate who will fight tirelessly to ensure you receive the resources needed to rebuild your life.
If you’ve been hit by a large truck, entrusting your case to an experienced and compassionate Hamilton trucking accident lawyer is in your best interest. Matt Lalande, a leading truck accident lawyer in Hamilton, Ontario, has recovered millions in Ontario trucking accident settlements and verdicts since 2003. Our team is here to listen, support, and guide you through this challenging time, every step of the way.
If you’re searching for a law firm near you, our Hamilton truck accident law firm is here to provide the legal support you need during this difficult time.
Finding a Trucking Accident Lawyer Near You
If you’ve been injured in a trucking accident in Hamilton, Ontario, finding the right legal representation is crucial. Truck accident cases are often complex, involving intricate regulations, multiple parties, and significant damages – and navigating the intricate web of federal and Ontario-specific regulations governing commercial truck drivers can be daunting.
If you’ve never needed a lawyer before, the process can feel overwhelming. Here’s a guide to help you locate a qualified trucking accident lawyer in the Hamilton area:
1. Ask for Referrals:
- Friends and Family: Start by asking people you trust if they know of any reputable lawyers who handle personal injury or motor vehicle accident cases. Even if they don’t know a trucking accident specialist, they may be able to recommend a good lawyer who can then provide a referral.
- Other Lawyers: If you know a lawyer who practices in a different area of law (e.g., real estate, family law), ask them for a referral. Lawyers often have a network of colleagues they can recommend.
2. Online Directories and Search Engines:
- Law Society Referral Service: The Law Society of Ontario (LSO) offers a referral service that can connect you with a lawyer in your area. This is a good starting point to ensure the lawyer is in good standing.
- Google and Other Search Engines: Search online using terms like “truck accident lawyer Hamilton,” “personal injury lawyer Hamilton,” or “motor vehicle accident lawyer Hamilton.” Pay attention to lawyers who specialize in trucking accidents.
- Hamilton Law Association: The HLA has a directory of lawyers available to the public.
3. Evaluate Online Presence and Reviews:
- Law Firm Websites: Once you have a list of potential lawyers, visit their websites. Look for information about their experience with trucking accident cases, their success rate, and client testimonials.
- Google Reviews and Other Review Platforms: Check online reviews to see what other clients have to say about their experiences with the lawyer or firm. While online reviews should be taken with a grain of salt, they can provide valuable insights.
4. Traditional Media:
- Television, Radio, Print: While less common now, some lawyers still advertise through traditional media. Seeing a lawyer consistently advertised might make them worth researching further.
5. Narrowing Your Choices:
- Meet with at Least Two Lawyers: Despite everyone we meet returning to us, we still think it’s a good idea that you take the opportunity to meet with several lawyers to discuss your case. Remember the old saying, “Don’t get Hurt Twice.” It’s important that you hire the right lawyer since you will be working together for quite a long time.
- Trust and Likability: Legal expertise is essential, but so is your comfort level with the lawyer. Choose someone you trust, who communicates clearly, and who makes you feel confident in their ability to represent you. This is especially important in a potentially lengthy and complex case.
Important Considerations:
- Specialization: Look for a lawyer who specifically handles trucking accident cases. These cases are different from standard car accident claims and require specialized knowledge.
- Experience: Choose a lawyer with a proven track record of success in trucking accident cases.
- Contingency Fees: Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if you win your case. Be sure to discuss the fee arrangement upfront.


Hamilton Truck Accident Lawyer: Free Consultations
es, our Hamilton personal injury lawyers never charge anyone to simply talk with us. Our consultations are 100% free, and we are more than happy to answer all of your questions and take as much time as you need to discuss your case. We believe in providing you with the information you need to make informed decisions about your legal options.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Hamilton Trucking Accident Lawyer?
At Lalande Lawyers, we never ask our clients for legal fees upfront. We work in Ontario truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning our law firm only gets paid when you get paid.
What is a Contingency Fee?
A contingency fee means that you only pay your lawyer if they successfully recover compensation for you. Instead of paying hourly fees or a retainer upfront, our fee is a percentage of the settlement or court award they obtain on your behalf. If we don’t win your case, you don’t owe us any legal fees.
What are the Benefits of a Contingency Fee Arrangement:
- No Upfront Costs: You don’t have to pay any legal fees out of pocket to get started. This makes legal representation accessible, regardless of your current financial situation.
- Reduced Financial Risk: You only pay if your lawyer wins your case, reducing your financial risk.
- Incentive for Success: Your lawyer is highly motivated to achieve the best possible outcome for you, as their fee is directly tied to the amount of compensation they recover.
- Equal Access to Justice: Contingency fees level the playing field, allowing individuals to pursue legal action against large trucking companies and insurance companies, even if they don’t have significant financial resources.
Discussing Fees with Your Lawyer:
When you consult with our Hamilton trucking accident lawyer, feel free to ask us about our fee structure and how contingency fees work. We lawyer will be transparent about their fees and explain all the details clearly.
What is my Trucking Accident Claim Worth?
When you’ve been involved in a trucking accident, one of the first questions that may come to mind is, “What is my case worth?” It’s a valid concern, but it’s important to understand that determining the value of your case is not a simple matter. In fact, attempting to estimate your case’s worth without considering several critical factors could be a serious mistake.
First and foremost, you need to reach what’s known as Maximum Medical Recovery (MMR). This is the point in your recovery process where your condition has stabilized, and further significant improvement is unlikely, even with continued medical treatment or rehabilitation. Until you’ve reached MMR, it’s impossible to fully assess the extent of your injuries and their long-term impact on your life.
But your medical status is just one piece of the puzzle. Another crucial factor in determining your case’s value is your future wage loss. To calculate this, your legal team will need to consult with medical specialists who can provide expert opinions on your long-term prognosis and ability to return to work. These opinions will be tailored to the specific nature of your injuries, whether it’s a spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, or other serious condition.
In addition to medical expertise, your legal team will work with an actuary to calculate your future wage losses. This professional uses statistical analysis and financial modeling to project the long-term economic impact of your injuries, taking into account factors like your age, education, work history, and potential career advancement. The actuary’s report will provide a detailed estimate of your lost earning capacity over your lifetime.


It’s important to understand that the collaboration between medical experts and actuaries is essential in building a strong case for compensation. The medical opinions provide the foundation for understanding the extent of your injuries and their impact on your future, while the actuarial analysis quantifies the economic consequences of those injuries.
Trying to guess the worth of your trucking accident case without this essential information is not only unwise, but it could also be detrimental to your pursuit of fair compensation. Your legal team has a responsibility to ensure that all necessary expert opinions are obtained and that your case is valued based on a solid foundation of medical and economic evidence.
At the end of the day, if you’ve been involved in a trucking accident, your focus should be on your recovery and well-being. Let your legal team handle the complex task of determining your case’s value, and trust that they will work tirelessly to secure the compensation you deserve.
What are the Most Common Injuries to Motorists in Truck Accidents?
Motorists in the Hamilton area are extremely vulnerable to serious injury or death when involved in an accident with a truck. A truck’s sheer size impacts a motorist’s vehicle immensely more than an accident with another car. It’s far more dangerous to those in the car than in the truck, as nearly three-quarters of all truck crash injuries and deaths happen to people in the vehicle hit by the truck.
Truck accident injuries to motorists can be catastrophic, and the severity of the injuries can leave them unable to work because of permanent damage.
Common truck injuries include:
- Back and Neck Injuries: This can include minor neck pain or more serious injuries, like dislocated discs in the spine. Because your back and neck are so critical to everything you do, these injuries often prevent victims from returning to work or daily activities.
- Broken Bones: Truck crashes involve massively powerful impacts on victims, meaning the likelihood of a serious injury like broken bones is high. Victims can fracture bones in the limbs, as well as ribs, collarbones, pelvis, and more.
- Internal Injuries: Powerful blunt trauma from crashes can cause internal bleeding or damage to organs like the bladder, liver, kidney, pancreas, and spleen. These injuries are very difficult to treat and often need surgery.
- Head Injuries: Head trauma from an accident can injure the brain and have long-lasting effects. In addition, head injuries may not immediately be apparent, and sustaining a brain injury does not always mean experiencing unconsciousness. Symptoms that may develop include confusion, nausea, vision problems, and various cognitive difficulties. Head injuries are some of the most heartbreaking injuries sustained in truck accidents, as they often cause loss of cognitive and motor functions. Some people will never be the same again after suffering a brain injury.
- Lacerations: Cuts and lacerations from truck accidents might damage nerves or even sever soft tissue.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Truck accidents can often lead to victims suffering spinal cord injuries, which can cause lifelong paralysis and related disabilities and complications.
- Seat Belt Injuries: Although they work to protect us, seat belts can be another cause of injury in a truck accident, including chest injuries. This is especially true for children who do not have the proper car or booster seats.
What Medical Treatment is Needed For Truck Accident Injuries?
Depending on the injuries you suffer in a truck accident, doctors may utilize a wide variety of treatments to help you recover. For example, spinal cord injuries are a common result of Hamilton trucking accidents and will entail a specific set of treatments.
Treatment for spinal cord injuries often includes:
- Medication
- Chiropractic care
- Orthopedic evaluation by a spine specialist
- Neurological and/or neurosurgical evaluation
- Physical therapy, including traction
- Electrical muscle stimulation
- Ultrasound
- TENS unit
- Therapeutic exercises
- Occupational therapy
- Pain management, including epidural steroid injections
- Nerve and facet blocks
- Surgeries include spinal fusion, laminectomy, discectomy, and microdiscectomy.
Treatments for other injuries require a different care plan, but many require this extensive approach.
Often, for severe injuries such as compound fractures and internal injuries, doctors will need to perform surgery. This also means additional medical treatments and services might be necessary to recover from that surgery. Some crush injuries may require amputation or a permanent implant like a steel rod for a broken bone to address the injury and treat it.
Another example of common trucking accident injuries is brain injuries. Even mild to moderate brain injuries require treatment, therapy, and recovery time. Medical treatment of brain injuries is particularly complex, especially when severe.
Every patient’s needs are different. However, some brain injuries require things like:
- Initial intensive care, including a ventilator
- Brain surgery
- Acute rehabilitation
- Post-acute and subacute rehabilitation
- Outpatient therapy
- Home health services
- Community re-entry services and independent living programs
- Physical, occupational, and speech/language therapy
Severe burns may also result from trucking accidents. Treatment of serious burn injuries may include time in a burn center for wound care, frequent bandaging, debridement, skin grafting, and plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Many injuries can arise from these accidents, requiring comprehensive and personalized care and treatment plans. Our Hamiton trucking accident lawyers will connect you with our network of qualified healthcare professionals to ensure you get the care you need.
You may also require treatment for medical issues that are not immediate but arise from the long-term effects of your injuries. The most expensive type of treatment is often the ongoing care for those with injuries that have devastating life-long effects.
The services needed both medically and to assist the person in daily life can cost staggering sums of money. Rehabilitative therapy and ongoing medical treatment for long-lasting injuries can financially strain the victim and their family. Our Hamilton truck accident lawyers will help you estimate your costs and ensure you get the compensation you need and deserve.
The amount of medical treatment needed for truck accident injuries shows just how important it is to hire a lawyer who will help you receive full compensation for your injuries. Lalande Personal Injury Lawyers is a firm that has years of dedicated experience that enables us to thoroughly and professionally handle your personal injury case.
Why You Need a Commercial Truck Accident Lawyer for Ontario Collisions
Did you know that Canada’s road network stretches over a million kilometres, constantly shared with more than a million commercial trucks, tractor-trailers, and transport trucks? These massive vehicles, especially 18-wheelers, dominate our highways, posing a significant risk to ordinary drivers. When collisions occur, they often result in devastating consequences for the occupants of passenger vehicles.
A commercial truck accident lawyer in Hamilton can attest that the sheer scale of these vehicles, such as semi-trucks and double trailers, is a contributing factor in the severity of crashes. A typical tractor-trailer can extend up to 70 feet, with cabs measuring approximately 20 feet and trailers ranging from 28 to 53 feet. Intermodal containers, tanker trailers, and flatbeds add to the diversity—and the complexity—of navigating commercial transport safely.
The primary danger of these trucks isn’t just their size, but also their stopping distance. At highway speeds in Ontario, a fully loaded semi-truck can take between 350 and 400 feet to stop, depending on road conditions and cargo weight. Even with regulated speed limiters, commercial vehicles can’t stop as quickly as passenger cars, making them a constant hazard in emergency situations.
When a loaded transport truck collides with a vehicle—even a heavy-duty model like the Ford F-250 Super Duty—the outcome can be catastrophic. In our legal experience, the imbalance of force often leaves the driver of the smaller vehicle with severe injuries or worse.
Our Hamilton truck accident lawyers have seen firsthand the devastation caused by these incidents. In Ontario, commercial vehicle collisions have been rising steadily. In 2020, there were nearly 8,500 truck-related crashes, resulting in 96 fatalities. This trend continued into 2021 and 2022, with an alarming spike in deaths and injuries. The Ontario Provincial Police reported over 9,000 collisions involving transport trucks in a single year, underscoring the pressing need for public awareness and legal support.
On a national level, Transport Canada revealed that in 2021 alone, over 36,000 police-reported collisions involved commercial vehicles. These incidents led to more than 340 fatalities and over 7,700 reported injuries, confirming the outsized impact of these accidents on Canada’s roads.
So, why are truck crashes so deadly? Beyond vehicle size and inadequate braking capacity, factors like driver fatigue, distracted operation, improper cargo loading, mechanical issues, and inclement weather significantly elevate the risk. Many drivers exceed legal driving hours, and when exhaustion takes over, the potential for negligence rises dramatically.
For families affected by these collisions, the trauma doesn’t end at the scene. Victims often face long-term medical care, while families who lose loved ones endure ongoing emotional and financial distress. Unfortunately, navigating insurance claims and liability laws in Ontario can be complex. Trucking companies are quick to defend their interests, sometimes leaving victims with minimal compensation.
That’s why working with an experienced truck accident attorney in Hamilton is essential. A knowledgeable legal advocate can help victims investigate the crash, prove negligence, and fight aggressively for fair compensation. From gathering critical evidence and consulting with expert witnesses to negotiating with insurers and presenting the case in court, legal support can make all the difference.
If you or someone you love has suffered due to a collision with a commercial truck, you deserve skilled representation. Contact a commercial truck accident lawyer in Hamilton today to discuss your options and protect your right to compensation.

From the minute I met Matt, he made me feel comfortable and confident that I had made the right decision. I worked closely with Sarah, his law clerk, and she answered all my questions and made me feel like I was her only client. This is how efficient Matt and Sarah are. I would highly recommend Matt and Sarah and wish them continued success. Thank you again, Matt and Sarah—Anne Donnelly.
What Happens During a Trucking Accident Investigation?
The evidence available in a trucking case – both the paper trail and the electronic footprints – dwarfs that of a typical car wreck.
In serious trucking cases, our Hamilton trucking accident lawyers will immediately send preservation letters to every potential defendant or nonparty who may have important evidence regarding your accident. We will ensure the truck is secured and that no one is manipulating it in any way without notice. We will obtain the black box (ECMs and EDRs) from the truck and your or your loved one’s car.
We will also retain the appropriate accident reconstructionist to investigate the accident scene. They will photograph and document the physical evidence and discover as much information as possible from investigating officers.
It’s important to do this sooner rather than later because skid marks and other physical evidence begin to disappear and fade within days of the accident, particularly with the harsh weather conditions in Canada. As this can be challenging, we must start our trucking accident investigation as soon as possible to collect and organize any evidence required to determine liability.
Typically, our Hamilton truck accident lawyers in a trucking accident case will not only want to see the truck in person but also will want:
In addition to seeing the truck itself, our Hamilton trucking accident lawyers will gain access to several other things, including:
- Trucking Black Box: Most trucks are equipped with a “black box” (ECMs and EDRs) that can provide valuable information in case of a truck accident. Electronic data instruction is essential in every trucking case.
- Daily Travel Logs: Legislation and the HTA mandated commercial vehicle service hours, including trucks and truck drivers. Drivers are mandated to keep daily logs that account for on-duty and off-duty time.
- Information About the Truck, Cargo and Weight: The HTA mandates restrictions on the size and weight of tractor-trailers
- Information about Trip Inspections: The HTA mandates Trip inspections every 24 hours that a tractor-trailer is in use to ensure it is in good operating condition. The inspection must be done according to specific regulations.
- Annual Inspection Certificates: The Highway Traffic Act has requirements and component performance standards that the tractor-trailer must satisfy. If satisfied, a mechanic will fill out an annual inspection certificate.
In addition to accessing these things, Our Hamilton trucking accident lawyers will also pursue other forms of evidence, such as:
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- Telephone records
- Photographs of the scene and the vehicles involved
- Records from on-board computers
- The trucking accident report
- Communication systems documents
- Satellite tracking information
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- Driver disciplinary records
- Driver logs
- Dispatch records
- Disciplinary records
- Trip summaries
- Daily manifests
- And much more
18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer in Hamilton – Semi-Truck & Tractor-Trailer Collisions
If you’re searching for an 18 wheeler accident lawyer in Hamilton, our experienced legal team is here to provide aggressive representation for victims and families impacted by serious truck collisions. We specialize in complex truck accident litigation, advocating for those who have sustained catastrophic injuries—including brain injuries, spinal cord trauma, and orthopedic damage—as well as for families mourning the loss of a loved one.
As dedicated and compassionate personal injury attorneys, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll a severe 18 wheeler accident can impose. Our goal is to secure maximum compensation for our clients and help restore their lives. For families facing wrongful death claims, we offer strategic and empathetic support to ensure financial protection and justice.
As a top Hamilton trucking accident law firm, we perform detailed investigations to identify key causes of the crash, including:
- Driver fatigue and sleep deprivation
- Negligent maintenance and skipped inspection checks
- Defective brakes, tires, or equipment failure
- Overloaded cargo and improper load distribution
- Adverse weather conditions and inadequate surveillance
- Driver error, including misjudged distances or overdriving headlights
- Substance abuse, including alcohol or drug use
- Product liability in cases involving faulty vehicle parts
- Poor road conditions and defective roadways
Our firm has a strong track record in proving negligence, negotiating fair settlements, and representing victims in court. When you work with a skilled 18 wheeler accident lawyer in Hamilton, you gain a legal advocate who understands both federal trucking regulations and the nuances of personal injury law.
How Truck Accident Injuries Can Keep You from Working
The long-lasting impact of severe injuries from truck accidents can leave a victim unable to return to work. Immediately after the injury, there are lost wages from being unable to work while recovering. The injury may be too painful or debilitating for you to return to your normal job. This puts your job security at risk because your employer may not be patient enough to hold your job open for you.
Injuries that require long-lasting treatment may also limit your ability to work or leave you permanently unable to perform a job. This can have effects on your financial life and on your personal life at home. A failure to continue working can cause marital problems and significant financial strain.
Further, brain injuries may leave you cognitively incapable of comprehending and performing the work you used to do. Psychological trauma may play a role as well. You may have trauma from your accident and be in a mental state that limits your ability to function at work. It may also limit your ability to handle ordinary daily responsibilities.
Whether you cannot work for a few weeks or ever again, you deserve to recover financially from all of your lost earnings. Our Hamilton truck accident lawyers know how to calculate this type of loss and seek the compensation you need.
Pain & Suffering Compensation From Truck Accidents
Victims of collisions involving semi-trucks often have the right to take legal action seeking compensation from the party at fault for the crash.
In that action, a victim typically seeks two types of damages:
- Economic damages seek to compensate a victim for out-of-pocket costs incurred by the accident, such as medical treatment, car repair, lost wages, and future earnings.
- Non-economic damages are the costs a victim’s injuries inflict on the victim’s quality of life. One of the most common categories of non-economics is pain and suffering.
Pain and suffering describe both mental and physical distress caused by suffering injuries in an accident and dealing with the aftermath of those injuries.
Pain and suffering might stem from:
- Injuries that are particularly painful to treat. The treatment for severe burn injuries, for example, often involves the removal of dead or dying skin from the wounded area so that the wound can begin healing. However, the removal of this skin can be excruciating.
- Injuries that result in chronic pain, such as brain injuries that result in chronic headaches or spinal injuries that leave a victim with relentless back pain.
- The emotional pain and suffering experienced when one suffers a permanent and debilitating injury that prevents the victim from participating in hobbies and leisure activities or enjoying life.
- Emotional pain is due to changes in the injured person’s relationships after suffering an injury. An example would be a spinal cord injury that causes the victim’s spouse to become their caretaker or prevents the victim from picking up or playing with their child.
No person experiences pain in the same way as another, making pain and suffering damages, at times, difficult to calculate and prove.
Several factors that commonly figure into assessing the magnitude of pain and suffering include:
- The severity of the injury: Generally, the more severe the injury, the higher the compensation for pain and suffering the victim deserves. After all, suffering a broken arm typically does not produce the lasting physical and emotional devastation that accompanies, say, a paralyzing spinal cord injury.
- How old the victim is: Young people often receive larger pain and suffering awards than older people, likely because of the perception that a life-changing injury affects the victim for a more extended period. This isn’t to say that a young person’s pain is worse than an older person’s, of course.
- The degree of suffering: Most injuries are painful, a natural part of suffering harm. However, the temporary pain of a broken bone will generally (though not always) subside as the bone heals. A traumatic brain injury, however, can result in a cascade of additional physical and mental health issues, change the person’s life entirely, and may continue for many years or even for life.
Pain and suffering are non-economic damage, so unlike medical bills and other definitive expenses resulting from your injury, it is a uniquely difficult damage to calculate. Pain and suffering awards can often be a significant part of personal injury recovery. Our Hamilton trucking accident lawyers have extensive experience handling cases like these, and we will pursue the maximum amount of compensation for your situation.
If you are experiencing pain and suffering from your injuries, you need a Hamilton truck accident lawyer who can help ensure your pain and suffering claim is fully realized and you receive the compensation you deserve. They can help analyze your case and hire the appropriate professionals to accurately determine what you’re entitled to while providing expert opinion and witness.
Permanent Injuries From Truck Accidents
Truck accidents cause many potentially permanent injuries. From spinal cord injuries to severe burns, injuries from a truck accident can leave someone with permanent damage or disability. After a truck accident, survivors often have injuries that take months, years, or even a lifetime to heal.
Some injuries are so severe that medical and legal professionals categorize them as “catastrophic,” which are injuries that permanently affect a person’s ability to function. Injuries that limit a person’s mobility, cognitive skills, or other physical function without the possibility of a full recovery are catastrophic.
There is a wide variety of injuries that could potentially be catastrophic and have permanent effects, and there’s no hard-and-fast medical definition that covers all catastrophic injuries. One way to think of them is any injury that would limit your ability to live independently as you once did. If your injury requires daily care or you need assistance to do basic tasks, then it’s a catastrophic injury.
Catastrophic injuries include:
- Burn injuries
- Blunt force trauma
- Vision loss
- Hearing loss
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Neurological injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
Each injury above can have permanent effects. These types of injuries frequently require a lifetime of costly medical assistance and can place intense pressure on survivors and their families, who have already gone through so much.
This is why our Hamilton trucking accident lawyers are so dedicated to pursuing maximum compensation. You and your loved ones deserve the best quality care and freedom from financial stress.
The Right Hamilton Truck Accident Law Firm for Catastrophic Injuries
When you have permanent effects from an injury, it is not enough to collect compensation for your past medical bills and lost wages. This will leave you responsible for all of your future financial losses and does not address the magnitude of your injury’s effects on your life. The best way to know how much a claim is worth for a catastrophic injury is to have an experienced Hamilton truck accident lawyer at Lalande Personal Injury Lawyers evaluate your case.
When you have our law firm on your side, you can trust we will seek the most favourable resolution possible for you and your family. We regularly handle cases involving life-altering injuries and will determine the best course of action for your situation.
Trucking companies can be difficult opponents. You should be focusing on your medical treatment and adjustment to life with any new impairments, leaving the legal aspects to us. Contact us today for more information about the many ways we help truck accident victims in the Hamilton area. We have 15 years of experience standing up for the interests of clients injured in serious accidents, including commercial truck crashes.
What is the Legal Process in a Truck Accident Case?
The following briefly explains a truck accident litigation timeline and what you could expect when you retain our Hamilton truck accident lawyers. It is essential to understand that settlement can occur at any time during the noted process below based on the severity and seriousness of the accident and injuries.
For example, many insurance companies will understand the requirements of a paraplegic victim who was hurt by a driver and pay the policy limits on that claim sooner rather than later, assuming the accident is the trucker’s fault.
- The Truck Accident: If the accident is not your fault or partially your fault and you suffer injuries, you will want to speak to an experienced trucking accident lawyer.
- Gathering Records and Preserved Evidence: The next phase of litigation involves gathering relevant records from the truck driver, trucking company, and the Ministry of Ontario.
- Examination for Discovery: The next phase of the process is the examination for discovery or questioning under oath in a boardroom.
- Mediation: Mediation is a voluntary process in which both sides meet with an experienced mediator specializing in facilitating a case resolution.
- Pre-Trial: Pre-trial is when the parties meet privately with a Judge in chambers to discuss the case, its direction, and the prospect of resolution.
- Trial: If your case is not resolved, you can proceed to trial and let a Judge or Jury decide the amount of compensation you are entitled to.
What are the Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Ontario?
Some of the common causes of trucking accidents in Ontario and throughout Canada include:
- Rear End Trucking Accidents
- Jackknife Trucking Accidents
- Tire Blowouts
- Underride Accidents
- Stopped Trucks
- Shifting, Unsecured or Fallen Cargo
- Fatigue and Sleep-Deprived Drivers
- Truck Rollovers
Rear End Trucking Accident
Rear-end accidents are probably the most common types of trucking accidents. Trucks in Ontario can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, and because of the weight (and depending upon the weight of the carry load) of these large commercial vehicles, rear-end trucking crashes can cause major damage and life-changing catastrophic injury or fatality.
Rear-end trucking accidents often occur because drivers are sleep-deprived or fatigued. Also, the trucks may be overweight, the truck driver may have been speeding, or the brakes may have been defective. All of these create unnecessarily unsafe driving conditions.
Jackknife Trucking Accident
A jackknife accident is when the semi-truck is folded so that the cab and the trailer form a 90° angle. Jackknife situations often occur when a driver breaks fast and hard, causing the trailer to swing out and turn toward the truck.
Jackknife trucking accidents can also happen in bad weather and if the truck travels too fast while trying to negotiate a curve – even if the curve is relatively slight. Jackknife truck accidents are also a major cause of under-riding accidents if the truck is not equipped with under-ride guards.
Tire Blowouts
Tire blowouts can happen in several scenarios:
- Trucks are seriously overloaded
- The driver improperly inflated or deflated the tires
- The driver was not properly trained in tire inflation
- The tires were improperly installed, the tires were of incorrect size
- The tires were old and ignored through inspection
- The tire was recalled, and the trucking company didn’t replace it
Tire blowouts can cause drivers to suddenly lose control, giving the cars around them little to no time to react and avoid a collision.
Underride Accident
Underride Accidents are known in Canada as one of the most lethal types of truck accidents. Under-ride trucking accidents happen when a truck not equipped with under-ride guards makes a hard turn and blocks the roadway.
If approaching cars do not see the truck in time to stop, they can ride under the trailer. These accidents are almost always fatal. The biggest concern in underride cases is the vehicle’s ability to see the trailer. This is why visibility surrounding the accident is essential, as well as weather conditions, whether or not the truck has any reflective taping or reflectors on the side of the trailer, and whether or not any reflection can be seen.
The following is an example of an under-ride trucking accident:
Underride trucking accidents in Hamilton are among the most severe and devastating. The survival rate of these accidents is low, especially when trucks do not have the underride guards installed.
Stopped Trucks
Trucks that are stopped on the side of the road always pose a potential hazard. Unfortunately, in some cases, motorists approaching the truck, particularly in bad weather or darker areas, may fail to see the parked truck and cannot avoid a collision.
If truck drivers do not turn on their hazard lights or place warning markers, lights, or warning triangles behind their stopped trucks, they risk causing a terrible rear-end trucking accident. In these cases, call phone records are important to determine how long the truck was stopped on the side of the road before the trucking accident.
Shifting, Unsecured or Fallen Cargo
If a truck or trailer is improperly loaded, the goods may shift when the tractor-trailer turns or follows a curve on the road, causing the trailer to jackknife or overturn. Shifting cargo can also be caused by drivers driving too fast into a curve.
Freight load securement is the cause of many trucking accidents in North America, particularly with trucks carrying lumber, other raw materials, or automobile parts. Improper loading claims are the basis of many trucking accident claims in Ontario and across Canada.
Trucking Roll-Overs
Trucking rollovers are trucking accidents in which the trucker loses control of the truck, causing it to roll over. These types of trucking accidents are extremely devastating when they happen, as many surrounding vehicles could be involved. Roll-over trucking accidents can occur when the truck driver exceeds the speed limit, drives too fast for the conditions, or enters or exits an on/off ramp too fast.
Fatigue and Sleep-Deprived Drivers
Ontario and Canada have maximum hours of service, which govern the driving and off-duty times required of truck drivers. These hours of service apply to drivers who hold CVOR certificates and drivers who operate trucks, tractors, trailers, or a combination of these vehicles with a registered gross weight or actual weight greater than 4,500kg.
The problem is that even if truck drivers are mandated to rest after a certain time driving or driving and working, many suffer from sleep deprivation, which is to blame for many trucking accidents in Ontario and nationwide.
Truck Driver Fatigue & Sleep Deprivation
In one publication of “Road Today,” the IHSA reported that Road Safety Authorities agree that fatigue is a leading cause of truck accidents in Ontario. It’s up there with distractions, speed, and impairment.
Ontario and other Canadian jurisdictions have used the National Safety Code standards to guide transportation safety legislation. This includes legislation dealing with “hours of service,” or the maximum driving times and minimum off-duty times of Ontario truck drivers. The service hours apply to trucks, tractors, trailers, or a combination of these vehicles with a registered gross weight or actual weight greater than 4,500 kilograms.
Ontario’s driving limitations are such that for the 24 hours “day,” a driver cannot drive more than 13 hours. A day is defined as a 24-hour period that typically begins at midnight. During the 24-hour “day,” a driver cannot drive after being on duty for more than 14 hours.
The 14 hours of on-duty time can consist of driving time plus any on-duty time when not driving a truck. On-duty but not-driving time can mean, for example, working in the operator’s office or facility, loading or unloading the vehicle, inspecting the vehicle, waiting at the border, etc.
Lastly, a trucking company shall ensure that their driver takes at least 10 hours of off-duty time in a day. Off-duty time means time when a driver is not working or driving (for example, taking a meal break).
A tired truck driver is a safety hazard on our roads. Driver fatigue and sleep deprivation are major issues that have been the cause of countless highway trucking accidents in Ontario and all across Canada. In cases seen by our Hamilton trucking accident lawyers, truck drivers may have taken the required time off over the period of a day. However, many truck drivers are also overworked and sleep-deprived.
Sleep deprivation reduces adequate alertness and performance and can impair a number of important cognitive functions, including attention span, processing speed, reaction times, muscular coordination and overall judgment.
Studies have shown that sleep deprivation and overall driver fatigue can impair a truck driver to a similar extent to alcohol impairment. Long-haul truck drivers seem to be even more affected by fatigue and sleep deprivation.
Although there has been increasing public and regulatory interest in the health consequences of truck driving and sleep deprivation, driver fatigue and drowsiness continue to be an issue among on-duty truck drivers and are still a cause of trucking accidents in Ontario and across Canada.
When our Hamilton trucking accident lawyers represent families impacted by catastrophic trucking crashes, our investigation is very strategic. We go to the roots of truck driver fatigue, focusing on the trucking company’s management, supervision, policies and culture that aids and encourages driver fatigue.
Jackknife Trucking Accidents in Hamilton
Our Canadian highways are filled with 18-wheelers that pose a threat to innocent motorists. These dangerous vehicles are often poorly maintained and driven by tired truckers. Their victims are usually oblivious to the danger of the 80,000 pounds that could careen into their vehicle at any given moment.
Of course, there are many safe drivers, and many companies concentrate on safety. However, the urgency to cover the miles in as short of a time as possible is the norm, with profitability being the driving force. Needless to say, given the number of trucks on our roads, there is a lot that can go wrong. One of the most horrific types of trucking accidents is called the “jackknife” trucking accident, which is explored below.
What is a Jackknife Trucking Accident?
Large trucks are generally made up of a cab and a trailer. A jackknife trucking accident is when a large semi truck trailer swings out from the cab, forming a 90° angle similar to the “V” shape of a pocket jackknife.
Jackknife accidents are typically caused by uncontrolled braking or when a tractor-trailer accelerates too harshly or too early on a corner. This can cause the drive wheels to spin, especially when the truck has recently been loaded.
This can cause serious problems for semis or truck-trailer combinations. When the drive wheel spins, the semi-trailer or trailer can continue forward under its momentum, pushing the drive wheels sideways and jackknifing the truck. This would typically occur when quartering on a road surface that is wet, slippery, or has a negative camber.
The following video depicts a jackknife trucking accident:
Jackknife trucking accidents are extremely dangerous – particularly on busy roadways or highways. The jackknifing of a trailer can cause brutal accidents when the trailer, which rotates about the tractor, extends to adjacent lanes, blocking the incoming or following traffic.
Vehicles can easily get swept up by the swinging trailer and, even more so, can get wedged under the trailer. Motorists can’t always see a jackknifed truck until it’s right in front of them, especially if it’s been spread across other lanes in the opposite direction. On a highway with a speed limit of 100 km/hr, stopping in time to avoid an unexpected collision is difficult.
How Common Are Jackknife Accidents?
In Canada, it is estimated that more than 90% of our consumer goods are shipped via semi-truck, and as of 2020, more than 1 million transport trucks regularly travel across the country. Further, approximately 10,000 Canadians are seriously injured in trucking accidents every year, while around 2,000 Canadians are killed in trucking accidents.
Due to various factors, jackknife accidents are among Ontario’s most common types of trucking accidents. They are also among the most common accidents that result in death. The harsh weather conditions of Canada’s winters, the high traffic volume on our 400-series highways, and the number of road users who travel each day all influence the chances of trucking accidents that can take lives and put drivers at risk.
What Causes a Trucking Jackknife Accident?
There are a variety of factors that can cause a jackknife trucking accident. However, sudden braking is the most common cause of trucking jackknife accidents. A semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds fully loaded, while the average car weighs up to 4,000 pounds.
As a result, a truck requires more room to brake than a motor vehicle and can’t stop on a dime if sudden circumstances require it. When the truck stops too quickly, the trailer cannot move forward due to the cab, and since it is being pulled behind the cab, it swings out to the side instead.
Other common causes of jackknife trucking accidents seen by our Hamilton trucking accident lawyers include:
- Accelerating too harshly or too early on a corner, especially if the road surface is too wet or slippery
- Speeding or taking a sharp turn too fast
- Improper lane changing or merging
- Not adjusting for bad weather conditions such as ice and snow
- Driver inexperience, such as losing control when navigating a curve
- Equipment malfunction or maintenance issues, such as locked brakes
- Oversized loads causing imbalanced weight distribution
- Shifting cargo
- Distracted driving
- Impaired driving
- Driving while fatigued
- Badly worn or bald tyres are more likely to puncture or blow out. Lack of tread depth also reduces grip on slippery surfaces, and this can lead to braking skids, poor steering response and jackknifing.
Jackknife Accidents and Under-Ride Accidents
One of the many reasons why jackknife trucking accidents can be so severe and potentially deadly is because they can lead to under-ride accidents, arguably the worst type of trucking accident.
Under-ride accidents occur when a vehicle cannot stop in time to avoid striking a truck and ends up sliding underneath the side or rear of the trailer. This can lead to devastating injuries and often horrific death for the driver and occupants of the car, as they can be crushed, decapitated, or suffer severed limbs. Those who survive are at serious risk for traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other devastating catastrophic consequences.
Underride trucking accidents often happen at night or during sun-setting/rising conditions. Underrides normally happen when a truck jackknifes or when a truck driver is attempting to cross a street or make a left turn into a street, and the car runs underneath the side of the trailer.
Rear underride trucking accidents happen when a car rear-ends a trailer. This can happen when the truck is stopped or parked, and there are no warning markers, or they have been improperly placed regarding the truck’s position.
Some trucks are equipped with under-ride guards, which are u-shaped metal bars that hang from the back of larger commercial trucks to prevent cars from sliding underneath in the event of an accident. While these safeguards add extra protection and can prevent fatal consequences, not every truck that drives on Ontario’s roads has them installed.
The following is an example of an underride trucking accident:
The Terror of Underride Trucking Accidents
What happens when a motorcycle or car crashes into the back or side of a semi-truck is horrific and very real. When this happens, the entire front half of the car (sometimes the entire car – and most definitely a motorcycle) is swallowed underneath the trailer, including passengers. For the motorist, the first point of impact is with the rear/side of the truck is their windshield and then the person’s body.
The substantial height difference between a car and a truck (often up to four feet) presents the increased risk of an underride accident, and in some cases, the height of a car may only reach the height of the trailer’s wheels.
This offers plenty of space for a car to become crushed underneath and does not provide any of the protection a car’s safety features are designed to promote because there is nothing for the bumper to collide with on impact.
For example, the front and rear of a car are designed to absorb as much of the impact as possible in a typical motor vehicle collision, but in the case of an underride, there is nothing to absorb or prevent the car from travelling further under the trailer.


Types of Trucking Underride Accidents
There are three main types of underride trucking accidents. These include rear-end accidents, side impact collisions, and offset collisions.
Rear-end Underride Trucking Accidents
Rear-end underride trucking accidents happen when a passenger vehicle or motorcycle runs into the rear of a semi truck’s trailer. They happen for a multitude of reasons. If a truck driver must stop suddenly and a car is following too close, the vehicle may not have time to stop before it slides under the trailer.
This often occurs when trucks are merging too slowly or are parked on the side of the road. It may also happen if a truck stops at a traffic light and the car behind it does not see the light coming up and, therefore, does not anticipate the stop.
Rear underride trucking accidents also happen when parked trucks are poorly marked (i.e., they fail to use marker triangles or are placed too close to the truck), the truck has dim or dirty taillights, or the truck fails to use its emergency flashers.
Another reason a rear-underride accident happens is if the truck is driving too slow—or is too slow to accelerate into heavy traffic. This can also occur if the truck is overweight. Motorists on roadways with 90 km/hr speed limits do not expect to meet a truck travelling at 15 km/hr.
Side Underride Trucking Accidents
Side underride trucking accidents happen when a truck makes a turn or manoeuvre that blocks the roadway, and a passenger car or motorcycle strikes the truck from the side and slides under the left or right side of the trailer.
These collisions are usually fatal. Many underride accidents happen when a trailer backs up or backs into an area off the roadway. Weather conditions or poor lighting may often be a factor. Other factors can be the lack of or dirty reflective taping on the side of the trailer.

There can be conspicuity issues in low light or bad weather—such as the trailer’s ability to blend into the surroundings. This means that the approaching driver does not recognize it across the roadway and instead believes he normally sees the bridge or overpass in that area.
According to Transport Canada, 22% of fatal collisions between cars and trucks occur on the side of the truck. This may happen when a truck is merging, as a car may be in the truck’s blind spot, or the truck driver may overestimate how much space they have to switch lanes. On local roads, it could occur when the truck driver is making a turn or when the truck jackknifes. Side underride crashes often happen during low-light or low-sun angle conditions.
Offset Collisions
An offset underride collision occurs when a car collides with a truck from an angle, such as at the back corner. The truck’s metal corner can quickly penetrate the car’s compartments, puncturing the driver or passenger.
Underride Trucking Accident Prevention
The key to preventing many underride accidents on our roadways is to place shields and bars on the back and sides of semi-truck trailers. This can reduce the chances of cars getting crushed underneath the trucks. Instead, they’ll hit the guards, and the car can deploy its built-in safety features.
Many large commercial trucks have underride guards installed that prevent cars from sliding underneath the trailer in the event of an accident. However, not every truck has them installed, and even when these guards are in place, they are usually only located on the back of the truck and do not account for the possibility of side underrides.
In Canada, rear underride guard testing started in 1997 after research showed that underride rear crashes resulted in many cross-country fatalities over the previous years – particularly with smaller cars like Chevrolet Cavaliers and Honda Civics travelling with speeds as slow as 45 km/hr.
Transport Canada reported that the incidence of serious injury or death could be reduced significantly if rear underride guards were stiffer and lower than they traditionally were in previous decades. In Canada, the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) for underride guards (CMVSS No. 223, “Rear impact guards”) became effective in 2007.
The CMVSS No. 223 requirements are intended to provide rear impact guards with sufficient strength and energy absorption capability to protect occupants of compact and subcompact passenger cars impacting the rear of trailers at 56 km/hr. The Canadian Transportation Equipment Association responded by creating rear underride bars at minimal cost – which was found to have reduced the number of rear impact fatalities by 25% to 40%.

The problem, however, is that rear underride guards get abused over the years, often coming loose, bent, or crumpled when damaged on loading docks or not repaired after previous accidents. As strong as they are, they often end up with bent ends or crumpled centrepieces.
However, underride guards are not mandatory by law in either Canada or the US, but there have, of course, been arguments for and against side underride guards. On the one hand, most motorists would probably not die by hitting the back or side of another car going under 50 km/hr when properly seat-belted. And yet, 80-90% of underride crashes are fatal, even when the impacting motorist is travelling 50 km/hr.
Conversely, it’s been argued that motorists may strike the side guards and be deflected or bounce off into another traffic lane in some situations. This may cause them to crash with another vehicle or the road/sidewalk surface. It’s also been said that side underguards could impede or inhibit firefighter rescue efforts or make maintenance and mechanical inspections more difficult. There are many facets to the argument.

Common Underride Trucking Accident Questions:
What Can I Claim in a Wrongful Death Trucking Accident? How will my Family be Protected?
Fewer losses are more devastating than the unexpected death of a loved one in a trucking accident. Sudden death is a contradiction to everything that is known to be true in life. Losing a loved one to sudden and unexpected death is a disruption in natural law and order of life. It is a heartbreak like no other.
In the US, wrongful death claims are framed as “survivor claims.” In Ontario, the law unfortunately does not permit damages for grief, sorrow, or mental anguish suffered because of the injuries or death of a loved one. Instead, wrongful death claims made by Hamilton trucking accident lawyers are framed under the Family Law Act. Damages claimable in wrongful death cases take the form of economic and non-economic damages.
In terms of non-economic damages, the mere fact that a relative has passed away does not establish a right to compensation—it merely provides the right to make the claim. To succeed in that claim, there must be an actual loss of care, companionship, and guidance that flows from the deceased to the claimant.
When families unexpectedly lose a loved one, there is no question of the enormous grief and mental anguish suffered. But losses of this kind are non-compensable. Sadly, details of the quality of family life and the relationships of the family members do not form a basis for recovery under the Family Law Act.
They are significant only as they furnish an evidentiary foundation for assessing compensation for the loss of care, guidance or companionship that will likely be suffered by reasons of the death. As wrongful death trucking lawyers, we must ensure this assessment is made in an objective and unemotional manner as much as possible.
While there is not a specific formula to determine the quantum of damages to be awarded for the loss of care, guidance and companionship, a number of factors have been taken into consideration by the courts, including:
- The claimant’s age and mental and physical condition – for example, in one seminal case (Fulcher v. Near), the Judge held that the younger the child, the greater the loss.
- Whether the deceased lived with the claimants and, if not, the frequency of visits
- The intimacy and quality of the claimant’s relationship with the deceased.
- Whether or not the claimant is emotionally self-sufficient, whether or not claimants who are children have married, and whether or not spouses who are claimants have remarried.
- The joint life expectancy of the claimant and the deceased, or the probable length of time the relationship might be expected to continue.
In wrongful death trucking cases, the surviving family members are also entitled to bring a claim for economic losses, such as the deceased’s wage losses, when the surviving spouse can no longer benefit from shared family income. If it can be shown that a dependent earned or would have earned income, then surviving family members are entitled to advance a claim for the loss of that income.
Also, there will be expenses for future housekeeping and home maintenance or “handyman” services that your spouse or loved one performed. These are now lost and can be claimed in a lawsuit for damages.
Lastly, if a surviving family member is no longer able to work for reasons related to the loss of a loved one, then the loss of wages for that surviving family member can be claimed as a direct loss (as opposed to a dependency loss), as can future health care expenses.
The Psychological Impact of Truck Accidents on Survivors
Experiencing a truck accident can be a life-altering event, not only physically but also emotionally and mentally. As a survivor, you may find yourself grappling with a range of intense emotions and psychological challenges long after the initial shock of the accident has subsided.
It’s crucial to recognize that these struggles are a normal response to a traumatic event and that seeking help is an essential part of the healing process. Our Hamilton trucking accident lawyers will connect you to the best mental health care providers to help you recover from the psychological aspect of your or your loved ones’ trucking accident.
One of the most common psychological consequences of a truck accident is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms of PTSD can include vivid flashbacks, nightmares, intense anxiety, and emotional numbness. You may find yourself reliving the accident in your mind, experiencing panic attacks, or feeling constantly on edge. These symptoms can be incredibly distressing and can interfere with your daily life, relationships, and ability to work.
Depression and anxiety are also common challenges faced by truck accident survivors. The physical pain, financial stress, and uncertainty about the future can take a heavy toll on your mental well-being. You may experience feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or irritability, as well as difficulty sleeping, concentrating, or finding enjoyment in activities you once loved.
It’s important to remember that you don’t have to face these challenges alone. Seeking professional help from a therapist or counsellor specializing in trauma recovery can be invaluable in your healing journey. They can provide tools and strategies to cope with your emotions, work through the trauma, and rebuild your sense of peace.
In addition to therapy, there are other resources and support systems available to help you navigate the psychological impact of a truck accident. Support groups can provide a safe space to connect with other survivors who understand what you’re going through, while self-care practices such as mindfulness, exercise, and creative expression can help you manage stress and promote emotional well-being.
Having an experienced and compassionate Hamilton truck accident lawyer on your side is just as advantageous here as it is when pursuing compensation and physical treatment. They can help you pursue the compensation you deserve and connect you with resources and support services to address your emotional and psychological needs. They understand the far-reaching impact of a truck accident and are committed to advocating for your overall well-being.
Determining Fault in a Trucking Accident
In trucking accident cases – fault or liability and who responds to claims for compensation can be shared either amongst owner-operators (independent contractor drivers) and/or the trucking employer.
The driver’s insurance policy will respond to the claim if the driver is an independent contractor. If the driver is an employee, the truck trucker’s employer will also be found vicariously liable pursuant to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act. Our Hamilton trucking accident lawyers are experienced in navigating these cases and will help you determine liability appropriately.
If You Have Been Hurt in a Trucking Accident, Our Hamilton Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help
If you or a family member has been involved in a trucking accident or 18-wheeler accident and has suffered serious life-changing injuries, then you need to speak to an experienced truck accident specialist to determine your options and best recourse.
At Lalande Personal Injury Lawyers, we take pride in being trusted Hamilton personal injury lawyers since 2003. Over the years, we’ve helped our clients recover more than $45 Million in settlements and verdicts in personal injury, disability, and employment law cases. Whether you’re dealing with a life-changing injury, a denied disability claim, wrongful death, a hurt child or employment termination, we are here to provide compassionate and experienced legal representation. If you believe you have a case, call us today—we’re ready to help you secure the compensation you deserve.
Call Lalande Personal Injury Lawyers today, no matter where you are in Ontario at 905-333-8888 for your free consultation. Alternatively, you can contact us online, confidentially, by filling out a contact form.
Truck Accident Lawyer Near You in Hamilton, Ontario
Matt Lalande is a respected Hamilton truck accident lawyer delivering compassionate advocacy and results-driven representation. Part of a esteemed family of trial lawyers and judges since 1973, Matt is your trusted Ontario commercial truck accident lawyer near you. Since 2003, he’s handled complex 18 wheeler accident cases, serious injuries, wrongful death claims, injured children’s cases, denied long-term disability claims, and wrongful dismissal. If you’ve been in a truck crash in Hamilton, call Matt Lalande and his team for unmatched experience and personalized support.
Lalande Personal Injury Lawyers1 King St W – Suite 1705
Hamilton, ON L8P 1A4
Canada
Phone: (905) 333‑8888
Open 24 Hours
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