A motor vehicle accident occurs when at least one motor vehicle collides with an object, person, or car. While not an exhaustive list, some of the most common collision types are head-on, hit-and-run, multi-vehicle, rear-end, intersection, side-impact, sideswipe, and lane-change collisions.

Many things can trigger these collisions to occur. Some of the leading factors contributing to fatal collisions in Canada include impaired driving, lack of safety equipment (i.e. no seatbelts), improper speed (i.e. driving too fast), inappropriate driving in an intersection (i.e. running a red light or failing to yield), and distracted driving.

These accidents have the potential to cause serious bodily harm and, in certain circumstances, death. Some common injuries from accidents that our car accident lawyers serving St. Albert have seen clients experience include whiplash, neck injuries, head trauma, brain trauma, fractures, open wounds, facial lacerations, massive blood loss, internal injuries, and loss of limbs. Some of these injuries can be long-lasting, have persisting impacts, and be permanently life-altering.

If you have legal questions following an accident in St. Albert, contact our St. Albert car accident lawyers today for a free initial consultation.

Key Takeaways: St. Albert Car Accident Claims

Car accident claims in St. Albert can become difficult to manage when you are trying to recover from injuries, report the collision, arrange treatment, and respond to insurance companies all at the same time. Knowing the basics of the claims process can help you make practical decisions while also communicating with a car accident lawyer to understand your rights.

Some key information you should know about motor vehicle accident claims in St. Albert includes:

• St. Albert car accident claims may involve rear-end crashes, intersection collisions, hit-and-runs, sideswipes, lane-change accidents, head-on collisions, multi-vehicle crashes, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, and motorcycle accidents.
• Drivers involved in eligible Alberta collisions may be able to submit a report through Report My Collision and obtain a damage sticker after law enforcement review. If a collision was recorded through Alberta’s eCollision system, the province’s Online Collision Report System may allow drivers to obtain a copy of the collision report for insurance purposes.
• Injured drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists may be able to access Section B accident benefits through an applicable Alberta auto insurance policy, regardless of who caused the crash.
• Because St. Albert is closely connected with Edmonton, evidence needed for a claim may involve police records, medical treatment, repair estimates, witnesses, employment documents, or insurance information from more than one community.
• A St. Albert car accident lawyer can help injured people review insurance communications, gather evidence, assess fault, and understand what compensation may be available.

The Impact of Motor Vehicle Accidents in St. Albert

While the city of St. Albert uses various safety precautions to reduce motor vehicle accidents, an upward trend indicates increased collisions and injuries. Road traffic injuries are still the chief cause of injury-related death and disability in the Metropolitan Region. Over 25% of motor vehicle collisions in the area result in injury or death.

Accidents can have a costly and devastating impact on victims, their families, communities, and society. Motor vehicle accidents can:

• Contribute to a loss of productivity;
• Cause victims pain & suffering;
• Reduce quality of life;
• Cause significant property damage;
• Lead to excessive medical expenses;
• Cause life-long injuries; and
• Cause unexpected out-of-pocket expenses (such as funeral costs).

The Capital Region Integrated Safety Partnership (CRSIP), which aims to improve road safety in major metropolitan areas in Alberta, such as St. Albert, has found that car accidents causing injury or death can cost victims and their families tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars. These values also don’t include other costs, such as grief and suffering incurred and the loss of income, which cannot be easily calculated.

Given the significant financial and emotional burden that motor vehicle accidents can trigger, it can be helpful to understand your legal rights and responsibilities after an accident. While monetary compensation may not be able to fully return you to the position you were in before an accident, it could help you move toward recovery.

Our personal injury lawyers serving St. Albert can help accident victims understand their legal options and pursue compensation for the injuries and losses they have suffered. Contacting our St. Albert car accident lawyers can help you navigate the potentially complex minefield of personal injury litigation.

Next Steps After Getting Into a Serious St. Albert Car Accident

While precautions can be taken to avoid accidents, such as practicing defensive driving, following traffic rules, and avoiding distractions, unavoidable motor vehicle accidents can happen instantly, at any minute. The moment of impact can trigger an array of physical and emotional responses. It is important to be alert and control the situation.

The scene of an accident is bursting with evidence, some of which may help you advance your case. The following steps should be taken if you are in an accident:

1. Find Out if Anyone is Injured: Call 911 to contact emergency services if anyone is hurt. Once it’s safe, secure the scene by turning on your hazard lights and moving away from traffic. Avoid moving anyone severely injured to prevent further harm.
2. Don’t Leave the Scene of the Accident: Leaving the scene of an accident can lead to fines and criminal charges and create added difficulty in making a claim later.
3. Exchange Information: Collect the other driver’s contact, insurance, and vehicle information. If the other driver refuses to provide you with their information, note down their licence plate number and a description of the driver’s appearance. Look for witnesses and ask for their contact information as well. Take photos and videos of the scene. It is at this point that you want to gather any available evidence.
4. Report to the Police: Notify the police if the accident caused damages greater than $5000, if someone is hurt, if one of the vehicles is not drivable, or if one of the drivers does not have a licence, registration, or insurance. Make a police report and ask for a copy. If your vehicle cannot be driven, arrange for it to be towed. A police officer may be able to help you with this task.
5. Report to Your Insurance Company: Inform your insurance company of the accident if you wish to make a claim. This must be done regardless of who is at fault.
6. See a Doctor: Certain injuries, such as internal injuries, may not be evident during an accident but can rapidly deteriorate. Seeing a doctor can help prevent any hidden conditions from worsening and assist you in recovering.
7. Contact Our Accident Lawyers: If you were seriously harmed during an accident and need help getting compensation, contact our law firm for a free initial consultation.

Our legal team understands the claims process and can help you navigate the complexities of a St. Albert motor vehicle accident claim and help you get the compensation you deserve

Seeking Medical Care After a St. Albert Car Crash

After a motor vehicle accident, the main priority is to recover from any injuries you have sustained. Getting medical care plays a crucial role in helping you recover.

Working with medical professionals to investigate and treat injuries can help you heal and support your claim. This can involve getting a combination of treatments that may or may not be covered by the Alberta Healthcare Insurance Plan, private health insurance, or Section B benefits.

Some standard medical and rehabilitative therapies include:

• Getting imaging and medical examinations (i.e. X-rays, MRIs, Ultrasounds, CTs);
• Conferring with specialists (i.e. Surgeons, Neurologists, Psychiatrists, or Orthopedists);
• Taking medication and supplements;
• Getting surgery;
• Attending registered massage therapy sessions;
• Participating in physical therapy;
• Receiving occupational therapy;
• Getting acupuncture;
• Seeing a Chiropractor;
• And More.

Medical care may also involve using aids such as crutches, wheelchairs, braces, walkers, or a splint. Over time, medical costs not covered by public or private health insurance can quickly rack up and diminish available accident benefits. For instance, Section B benefits are capped at $50,000 for medical expenses and are only available for two years after the accident. This may not be sufficient if you experience severe injuries that will take years to heal.

If you or a loved one were seriously injured and require extensive medical and rehabilitation treatment, know that there may be options available to cover the cost. Contact our St. Albert car accident lawyers for a free initial consultation to learn about the avenues available to you.

The Role of Insurance Companies in the Car Accident Claims Process

By law, all Alberta drivers are required to obtain and carry valid auto insurance for their vehicles. At a minimum, the insurance policy must have a minimum of $200,000 in third-party liability insurance and must have accident benefits.

Basic insurance will cover drivers, passengers and possibly pedestrians involved in an accident. Contacting your insurance company can be a helpful first step in getting compensation for a motor vehicle accident, as your insurance coverage may provide accident benefits.

However, given the limitations that basic insurance policies have, it can also be helpful to speak to an experienced St. Albert car accident lawyer to understand other ways you can be compensated for an accident.

Section B Benefits For St. Albert Auto Collisions

Section B benefits are accident benefits that are required as a part of a basic insurance policy. These benefits are provided regardless of who is at fault. They may cover expenses relating to medical treatment, rehabilitation, funerals, income loss, disability, and death.

In the event of serious injury, it is essential to keep receipts for medical and rehabilitation treatment that the Alberta Healthcare Insurance plan or your extended healthcare benefits provider does not cover. Your accident benefits may cover these treatments.

These benefits have a two-year limitation, with each benefit type being capped. For instance, income replacement is capped at 80% of weekly income up to a maximum of $400 per week for 104 weeks. Due to these limits, you may be unable to cover all your expenses or lost income. Our St. Albert car accident lawyers have experience in handling severe motor vehicle accident claims and can assist you in pursuing fair and meaningful compensation that may help cover expenses that your Section B benefits might not.

How Our St. Albert Motor Car Accident Lawyers Can Help Clients

There is an abundance of information available online that can tell you what to do if you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident. However, if you’ve been harmed, it can be difficult to navigate through all the resources available while trying to rest and recover from the accident.

This is why Preszler Injury Lawyers Alberta is here to support you in your time of need. Allow us to use the knowledge and skills we have developed over decades to help you understand your options after you have been harmed in an accident. We aim to help you recover as much as possible from your accident, which is why you don’t pay unless you win.

Types of Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Our Firm Can Assist With

Over the years, our firm has handled many different types of motor vehicle accident cases. We have advanced all sorts of claims involving different types of vehicles and circumstances. Some of the claims we have successfully worked on in the past have involved:

• Trucks (i.e. pickup trucks, long-haul, 18-wheelers, and rentals);
• Cars (i.e. sedans and SUVs);
• Commercial Vehicles (i.e. cargo van);
• All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and Utility Vehicles (UTVs);
• Watercraft (i.e. boats and jet skis);
• Motorcycles, Mopeds, Dirt Bikes, E-Bikes, E-Scooters;
• Buses and Public Transit;
• Bicycles;
• Pedestrians;
• Snowmobiles;
• Rental cars;
• And More.

If you have been in a serious motor vehicle accident, our St. Albert car accident lawyers may be able to help you pursue meaningful compensation.

Car Accident Claims in St. Albert: Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a claim if my St. Albert accident happened while driving to or from Edmonton?

Yes, you may still be able to make a claim if your accident happened while travelling between St. Albert and Edmonton. Many people commute between the two cities for work, school, medical appointments, errands, and family responsibilities. The location of the crash may affect which police service, witnesses, repair shops, or medical providers are involved, but it does not necessarily prevent an injury claim from being filed.

What evidence can help support a St. Albert car accident lawsuit?

Evidence can play an important role in showing how the accident happened and how your injuries affected your life. Helpful evidence may include photographs, dashcam footage, witness names, collision reports, repair estimates, medical records, physiotherapy notes, prescription receipts, employment records, and notes about pain or activity restrictions.

For St. Albert collisions, it may also be useful to document nearby intersections, traffic signs, road conditions, construction areas, school zones, weather, lighting, and any business or residential cameras in the area. A car accident lawyer serving St. Albert can help determine what evidence should be preserved before it becomes difficult to access.

What if my St. Albert car accident injuries require treatment for more than two years?

Some serious injuries require treatment beyond the period covered by basic accident benefits. The Automobile Accident Insurance Benefits Regulation provides access to certain no-fault benefits, but those benefits have limits and may not cover the full cost of long-term recovery.

If your injuries require ongoing physiotherapy, surgery, counselling, specialist care, medication, mobility aids, or home support, a personal injury claim may help address future care needs and other losses not fully covered by insurance. Preszler Injury Lawyers can help St. Albert accident victims understand how long-term medical needs may affect the value and direction of a claim.

Contact Our Car Accident Lawyers Serving St. Albert Today

Over the years, we have developed our craft to understand the needs of our clients better and learn how to support them. We have created dedicated resources to help you manage your claim.

If you or a loved one has fallen victim to a motor vehicle accident, contact our St. Albert car accident lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation. You can call us 24/7 at 1-888-494-7191 or request a consult through our online contact form.

Resources Available for St. Albert Accident Victims

The aftermath of motor vehicle accidents can be devastating. The following is a list of publicly available resources to help you during your difficult time. The following are not associated or affiliated with Preszler Injury Lawyers Alberta but rather serve as an informational resource to help you:

• St. Albert Victim Services
• Alberta Health Services: Grief & Bereavement Support
• St. Albert Collision Reporting
• Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Program

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CAR CRASH IN ST. ALBERT?