Jury Award of $600 for Pain and Suffering Increased by Court of Appeal

This personal injury appellant sustained injuries in a car accident when his Land Rover was hit from the rear by a Honda Civic. After a nine-day trial, a jury awarded him $19,000 in damages, including only $600 for his pain and suffering. The injury claimant appealed the jury’s verdict and wanted a new trial on…

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Cyclist Wins New Trial: Witness Statement and Evidence Overlooked

This was a personal injury trial involving claims of  brain injury, whiplash and spinal fracture. The bicycle accident occurred on Broadway Street  in Vancouver, approaching the intersection of Broadway and Guelph Street. The cyclist was proceeded forward when a vehicle turned left hitting his bicycle.( Davis v. Jeyaratnam, 2022 BCCA 273)  The Witness Statement The…

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ICBC Wins Appeal of $2.4 Million Income Loss Award

The Court of Appeal has re-defined the concept of indivisible injury in the assessment of civil damages ( Neufeldt v. Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, 2021 BCCA 327 ). The legal distinction between divisible and indivisible injuries is an important question of law in many personal injury cases. In this case review we will explain…

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Medical Malpractice Claim Dismissed Against Delivery Nurse and Hospital

As discussed in previous blog posts, medical malpractice claims are difficult to prove due to the complexity and the legal and evidentiary standards of proof required. To be successful in a medical malpractice claim, you must: prove that there was an error in judgment or practice on behalf of the medical practitioner or medical institution…

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$5.85 Million Settlement Test Future Loss Rates

Loss of future income and cost of future care are often awarded in one lump sum in personal injury cases. A $5.85 million medical malpractice settlement  has tested the court rationale behind the discount rate on future losses. The Court of Appeal has reduced the award of $997,060 for investment management fees to $50,000.00. Defendant’s…

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ICBC Settlements and Collective Agreements

An employers’ duty to accommodate can impact the amount of ICBC injury claim settlement. In this case review, a car accident injury was claimed to have been settled on the mistaken understanding that the employer was willing to accommodate the injury. About a month before the trial of the car accident claims, the claimant sent…

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ICBC Minor Damage Defence Fails

This injury claim first denied based on minor vehicle damage has been overturned by the Court of Appeal. The conclusion that minor car damage means no injury has therefore been debunked by our highest court. In a car accident, just because there is minor car damage does not mean there is no injury. Also, common…

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Lawsuit Against ICBC Lawyer Dismissed as Wild Speculation

This Lawyer  was hired by ICBC to defend against several car accident personal injury claims in 2002. The first three car accidents went to trial with claimant having no lawyer to advocate his case. In his submission to the court, lawyer Mr. Paul Warnett, hired by ICBC, questioned the extent to which the claimant was injured in any of the three…

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Winning Substantial Success in a Personal Injury Case

In many personal injury cases there are several claims being made and some of these claims may not be successful at trial. How do you know when you have achieved substantial success? This is important when deciding on entitlement to legal costs and disbursements. Your substantial success will help determine the amount of money you…

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Running Pedestrian with Hoody and Headphones 80% to Blame for Injuries

The Supreme Court found this running pedestrian, wearing a dark hoody with headphones 80% at fault for an accident resulting in her injury. The pedestrian appealed the finding that he was 80% at to blame for the accident.(Vandendorpel v. Evoy,2018 BCCA 442) The accident occurred at the intersection of Mount View Avenue and Sooke Road…

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