Car Accident Injury Claims

Getting hurt in a car accident is more common than you think. 1,404,406 reported traffic collisions occurred on Alberta roads in the decade between 2010 and 2020. Among these reported collisions, 176,586 individuals reportedly suffered injuries, and 3,170 people lost their lives. This means that every day, an average of 49 people and their families have had to endure the consequences of potentially life changing injuries and devastating losses, which may be caused by the negligence of other drivers on Alberta roads.

If you have been injured in a car accident in Alberta, Chinook Law can assist you in your legal right to claim for financial compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance policy for your pain & suffering, loss of income, loss of earning opportunity, out of pocket expenses, housekeeping expenses, and medical expenses among other applicable heads of damages.

Vehicle Passenger Accident Injury Claims

Passengers in vehicle accidents often suffer worse injuries than the driver in the same accident. This is because passengers are less likely than the driver to be aware of an impending collision and thus do not adequately brace themselves for impact. Furthermore, the structure and safety features of a vehicle is often less capable at protecting passengers when compared to drivers.

As a passenger in a vehicle that was involved in an accident, you do not shoulder any fault for the accident unless your actions interfered with the driver to cause the accident. Irrespective of whether the driver of the vehicle you were travelling in was found to be at-fault for the accident or if another driver on the road caused the accident, you are legally entitled to claim for financial compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance policy for your pain & suffering, loss of income, loss of earning opportunity, out of pocket expenses, housekeeping expenses and medical expenses among other applicable heads of damages.

Motorcycle Accident Injury Claims

Collisions between motorcycles/scooters and passenger vehicles often result in extremely serious injuries for the rider and their passenger. Motorcycles make up approximately 3% of all registered vehicles and only 0.6% of total vehicle milage traveled. Despite this, motorcycle accidents account for 14% of traffic fatalities and 17% of passenger fatalities. Factors that contribute to the high frequency of accidents and severity of injuries include:

  • Physically exposed position of the rider and passenger.
  • Limited effectiveness of personal protective equipment.
  • Amount of experience needed to ride defensively.
  • Low visibility of motorcycles.
  • Relative higher speed of motorcycle to vehicle collisions.
  • Braking distance required by motorcycles.
  • Sensitivity of motorcycles to road and weather conditions.

Cyclist & Vehicle Accident Injury Claims

The joy and convenience of cycling can be overshadowed by the potential dangers it poses, particularly when it comes to cyclist to vehicle accidents. With the rise in popularity of rentable e-scooters and e-bikes, injuries resulting from these kinds of collisions have become far more common.

Accidents between vehicles and bicycles, e-bikes and e-scooters can result in severe injuries for the following reasons:

  • Physically exposed position of the cyclist.
  • High speed differential between the cyclist and vehicle.
  • Complete lack of, or inadequacy of protective equipment worn by the cyclist.
  • Relative weight and size difference between a bicycle and a vehicle.
  • Limited visibility of the cyclist.
  • Lack of roadworks or other infrastructure designed specifically for cyclists.

Pedestrian & Vehicle Accident Injury Claims

In Alberta, pedestrians have the right of way in a crosswalk unless a peace officer or traffic control device directs otherwise. This means that vehicles must stop and yield to pedestrians even if the crosswalk is unmarked.

Of course, pedestrians must also exercise due care to make sure that all vehicles have yielded at the crosswalk before crossing the road because accidents between vehicles and pedestrians often result in very serious injuries for the pedestrian for the following reasons:

  • Lack of protection for the pedestrian.
  • Speed and force of the vehicle.
  • Lack of pedestrian friendly infrastructure.
  • The pedestrian’s limited reaction time.
  • High likelihood of secondary trauma against the ground, roadworks, or other vehicles after the initial impact.

Transit Accident Injury Claims

Public transit remains a convenient and cost-effective method of transportation for many Albertans. On a daily basis, Calgary Transit transports over 27% of the population of the city of Calgary. On a per kilometer and ridership adjusted basis, public transit is far less likely than almost all other forms of motor vehicle transportation to be involved in a traffic collision. This is thanks to the training required to be a public transit operator, as well as the high mass of most public transit vehicles. However, accidents involving public transit vehicles can still result in injuries for the following reasons:

  • Frequent stop and start nature of public transit vehicles.
  • Lack of seat belts, airbags or other safety devices inside of public transit vehicles.
  • Presence of unsecured and overhead cargo along with passengers inside of public transit vehicles.
  • Presence of other unrestrained passengers inside of public transit vehicles.

Ride Share & Taxi Accident Injury Claims

Taxis and ride sharing platforms provide a convenient and cost-effective service. However, despite their many advantages, if you were involved in an accident with one of these vehicles, it can be difficult to navigate the regulatory and insurance coverage framework within this industry without professional legal guidance. Several factors contribute to traffic accidents for ride share vehicles and taxi drivers:

  • Driver fatigue.
  • Lack of professional driver training.
  • Unsafe parking, pick up, and drop off locations.
  • Navigating unfamiliar roads.
  • Distracted driving.
  • Intoxicated driving.
  • Poorly maintained vehicle.
  • Speeding.