$1.15 Million Award for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

In this car accident injury case, a 28-year-old dental assistant, injured her neck, left shoulder, and mid‑back developing myofascial pain syndrome and thoracic outlet syndrome, TOS. Of particular interest was the award of $135,000 for pain and suffering and the $60,000 in-trust award for the increase in household chores for the spouse husband.(MacLeod v. Whittemore, 2018 BCSC…

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$185,000 in Pain and Suffering for Permanent Soft Tissue Injury

In this left turn car accident injury case the 23 year old claimant was awarded over $1.8 million in damages, including $185,000 for pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life and $1.28 million for future loss of earnings. The Supreme Court judge required only three weeks to deliver her written decision, creating new expectations that justice should…

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Beating an Offer to Settle: 5 Principles for Double Costs

In awarding this personal injury claimant double costs for beating the pre-trial offer of settlement, the Supreme Court has articulated 5 key principles to consider if you beat an offer to settle. The defendant insurer State Farm cancelled a mediation because their view was that mediation to settle the car accident claim had little chance of…

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Divisibility and Liability in Multiple Car Accident Claims

This Court of Appeal case arose from a three car accident personal injury claim. This case was complicated by numerous tortious and non-tortious incidents which caused or aggravated the chronic mental and physical injuries before and after the car accidents in question.(Khudabux v. McClary,2018 BCCA 234) A review of the trial judge’s reasons can be found at  $75,000 pain and suffering Award for…

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$70,000 Pain and Suffering for Soft Tissue Injuries

In this personal injury case the claimant, a registered clinical counsellor, was injured when her car was rear-ended while stopped at a stop light at the intersection of Highway 99 and Nesters Road in Whistler, B.C.  Fault was admitted and the claimant established injuries to her neck, upper and lower back, right wrist, right leg, and headaches.  Her…

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$1.00 ICBC Offer Rejected and Injury Claim Dismissed

This personal injury claimant proceeded to trial without a lawyer and his claim was dismissed. ICBC had offered $1.00 to the claimant to settle the case before trial and after the claim was dismissed ICBC sought double costs for the claimant’s failure to accept the offer. This ICBC personal injury case involved a collision on Westside Road…

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Loss of Future Earnings Awarded Despite Increase in Salary

When a claimant suffers a personal injury in a car accident the loss of income may not occur right after the injury but can take years to manifest. In this case review we examine the case of a young lawyer suffering a chronic pain condition at the beginning of her career.(Harry v. Powar,2018 BCSC 845) The…

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$170,000 Pain and Suffering Award for Chronic Soft Tissue Pain

The injury claimant was stopped on Highway 1 at the Prest Road exit ramp when  a flatbed truck swerved and struck the left driver’s side of her vehicle. Shaken by the collision, at first the claimant took no notice of any injury. She then developed severe symptoms in the following days. The claimant was found…

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$175,000 ICBC Offer Rejected and Court Awards $174,360 plus Costs

An offer to settle in any personal injury case should be clear and unambiguous. The claimant and ICBC should use plain language when settling car accident cases. The offer  of settlement should avoid colloquialisms or idioms that are understood by a limited audience. In today’s case review an ICBC insured sought to deny an injury…

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$200,000 Award for Carbon Monoxide Brain Injury

 This husband and wife suffered brain injuries from carbon monoxide (“CO”) emissions when maintenance of their living room fireplace was negligently performed. The fireplace had been removed and later reinstalled and serviced by the defendant heating company (Edwards v. Parkinson’s Heating Ltd.,2018 BCSC 593).  The wife was awarded $50,000 and the husband $200,000 for the pain, suffering and…

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