#AskMichaelBlois Ontario offers its residents and visitors countless scenic trails suitable for hiking and off-road cycling no matter what level of experience or ability a person might possess. Chances are that being injured in an accident is the last thing on your mind as you set out for a day of fun and exercise, but accidents and injuries do occur. The law in Ontario offers land owners and occupiers protection against claims made by individuals injured in recreational areas, but the protection is not absolute. If you are injured while hiking or biking on a trail, you could be entitled ...
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#AskMichaelBlois This Sunday, at the 11th hour, will be the 100th anniversary of the end of the first World War. It is a time for all Canadians to reflect on those who bravely answered the call to arms. Of those who answered, approximately 200 were lawyers and 300 were students-at-law from Ontario. These privileged persons volunteered for service, casting off their robes for military uniforms, leaving behind the comforts of their practise’s and of their home’s; of these brave men, 113 would never return. In the great library, at Old Osgoode Hall, stands the memorial to these brave men who paid the ...
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#AskMichaelBlois If you are injured in an automobile accident in Ontario, you might be surprised to learn that your claim for compensation must be filed with your own auto insurance company. You might also have the right to sue the drivers of other vehicles involved in the accident if they were at fault in causing the collision. It is important to know the benefits you are entitled to receive under no-fault insurance and how to protect and assert your right to seek compensation from negligent or careless drivers. Ontario no-fault insurance Statutory Accident Benefits is a mandatory coverage in all ...
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#AskMichaelBlois Whether it’s a customer slipping on a wet floor in a grocery store or two of the more than 9 million registered motor vehicles in Ontario crashing into each other, there are accidents happening all the time. When an accident is caused by someone’s negligence, a victim suffering a physical injury could have a claim for compensation against the other party. It frequently happens that evidence might exist showing the party suing for compensation was also at fault in causing the accident or the injuries. Contributory negligence on the part of the person suing for damages does not automatically prevent the ...
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#AskMichaelBlois The end of winter has a lot of people spending time in their garages getting their motorcycles ready to take onto the roads throughout Ontario. Motorcycle enthusiasts boast of the pleasure of traveling through the cities and countryside without the confinement imposed by the steel and glass enclosure of other types of motor vehicles. Riding on a motorcycle might offer a sense of freedom and the chance to enjoy the sights, scents and sounds of the open road, but it is also a dangerous activity that is responsible for at least 10 percent of all fatalities caused by motor vehicle accidents ...
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#AskMichaelBlois It might seem as though each day brings with it another news story about one of the major car makers or parts manufacturer announcing a recall because of a defect. All of the media attention to car defects and recalls might lead you to believe roads in Ontario and throughout Canada are safer because of them, but it turns out that one out of every six cars on the road has a defect that has been the subject of a recall. When a defect causes an accident, an injured victim could have a claim against the manufacturer of the defective car ...
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#AskMichaelBlois If a police officer stops you for driving while talking on your cellphone without using a hands-free device can cost up to $1,000 in fines if you fight it in court and lose. In fact, the cost of that ticket could be far greater than the fine you must pay under the demerit points system in Ontario. Accumulating too many demerit points could lead to the suspension of your driver’s licence. What are the Things to Consider While Fighting Careless Driving Charges? Click us for Consultation What are demerit points, and how do you get them? Certain driving offences result in ...
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#AskMichaelBlois As a general rule, if you are injured due to the negligence of another person or entity, you have the right to make a claim for compensation against that party. If the entity you wish to sue is a city or municipality in Ontario, you must speak to a personal injury lawyer, and you must do so right away. Waiting could leave you with no recourse and without compensation. The Ontario Municipal Act and how it controls your claim Whether your claim for compensation is for personal injuries or for damage to your personal property, such as your car, ...
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#AskMichaelBlois People generally associate a personal injury lawsuit with a claim filed on behalf of a person injured or killed in an accident caused by the negligence or carelessness of another person. If the victim is a member of your family, you might be able to file your own claim for damages under Ontario law. Ontario Family Law Act Certain members of the family of a person killed or injured in an accident may be entitled to sue for damages under the Family Law Act in Ontario. The law gives the following dependents of an accident victim the right to sue: ...
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#AskMichaelBlois Some of the activities available for you to enjoy whether you live or are vacationing inOntario have risks associated with them. Whitewater rafting, skydiving, bungee jumping and skiing are only a few of the adventure sports in which a participant can be seriously injured or killed when something goes wrong. Companies offering such dangerous activities to the public routinely require you to sign a waiver of liability before allowing you to participate. Before signing a waiver, you should understand the purpose of the document and what you are being asked to give up. Many of the waivers include provisions ...
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