In Part 1 of this article, you learned three important things about personal injury law in Calgary: that the majority of personal injury cases stem from an act of negligence; that negligence occurs when a duty of care is violated; and that the negligence must lead to injury—to “real damages”—before a case should be brought to the Calgary courts. While this basic information may not shed much light on your own unique personal injury case, we hope it provides a solid understanding of the root of personal injury law in Calgary.

We’ll delve a little deeper into personal injury law here, however if you have specific questions regarding your own unique situation, we strongly recommend you contact an experienced Calgary personal injury lawyer for a confidential consultation. In the meantime, here are three more things you should know about Calgary personal injury law.

4. Negligence and Duty of Care Aren’t Always Easy to Establish
If you have ever been in a car accident, even a minor one, the odds are pretty good that there was a minor dispute about who was at fault. Sometimes fault is a clear-cut issue, but many times the Calgary Police and your Calgary personal injury lawyer—not to mention the insurance companies involved—will need to hear witnesses, look at traffic cameras, and try to collect other evidence to determine who was at fault for a given accident.

The same is true of many other kinds of accidents, where the available facts might not immediately identify a specific party as being negligent. The legal particulars of determining when someone had a duty of care and when their actions rose to the level of negligence can also be complex. While the concepts of negligence and duty of care are relatively simple, in practice they are anything but.

5. Insurance Companies Count on Calgary Citizens to be Impatient/Desperate
The factual and legal complexities of establishing negligence can often make a personal injury case drag out. That can leave injured Calgary citizens impatient for a settlement so they can rebuild and move on with their lives, and some may even be desperate for a settlement with mounting bills and an inability to work. Insurance companies count on this and may try to push you into a quick settlement for an amount less than you reasonably deserve. Be aware of this tactic, and never sign anything without speaking to a lawyer!

6. You Are ALWAYS Entitled to an Experienced Calgary Personal Injury Lawyer
No matter what the circumstances of your case or the extent of your injuries, you always have the right to consult with a personal injury lawyer before signing or agreeing to anything. This is the best way to protect your rights and to make sure you receive the compensation you deserve. For a free initial consultation with a leading Calgary personal injury lawyer, please contact our office today.