Initial Client Instructions

1. Notify Your Insurance Company

If you have not already done so, you should immediately report the accident to your insurance company. Do not talk with anyone about the accident other than with the adjuster from your own insurance company or persons from our office. Do not sign any document concerning the accident unless I or my staff have reviewed and approved the document. Please advise us of any other court proceedings or inquests to be held concerning the accident.

2. Correspondence, Documentation and Insurance Policies

Forward any correspondence you receive about the accident or your injuries directly to my office. Please let us have the names, addresses and telephone numbers of any witnesses to the accident. Please forward to us a photocopy of your car insurance policy.

3. Medical Information

We need to know the names of any doctors or health care providers who have treated you regarding the accident as well as any hospitals you were in and if any x-rays were taken. Please notify my office of any new doctor, physiotherapist, chiropractor or other medical specialist you see, and of any major change in your condition. You will be hearing from me or one of my secretaries or assistants, automatically, for a periodic review of your case. Once all of the medical information is obtained, every effort will be made to settle your claim. Please note that no settlement will be concluded without my reviewing the proposal with you, in detail, and securing your instructions to settle or not, at your option.

4. Documentation

Wherever possible, obtain copies of all documents which relate to your case, and keep them together or forward them to my staff. Documents include repair estimates or appraisals, prescription accounts, accident benefit proof of claim forms, doctors' notes, wage verification forms, T-4's etc.

5. Processing Your Claim

Appropriate enquiries will be made, letters sent, and your claim processed, automatically, and you need not worry about this aspect of the case. If you have a question please do not hesitate to call. You will find my legal assistants and law clerks capable, caring and efficient. Your co-operation in leaving a detailed telephone or e-mail message with them, or asking them for assistance, will help us process your claim quickly and efficiently. A personal interview will always be arranged at some mutually convenient time for us to discuss any particular problem, should you desire.

6. Time Lines

It is important to realize at the outset that your case is very likely to take a minimum of 12 months before we are in possession of sufficient information to attempt to negotiate a settlement in your case. The general rule is that the more serious your injuries and the longer the recovery period, the longer it will take for your case to be processed. The reason is that the more serious the case the longer it will usually be before the doctors are in a position to provide us with an opinion as to the future with respect to your injuries. Until we have that opinion we will not attempt to settle your case. Personal injury cases generally take 3-4 years to resolve.

7. People Involved in the Conduct of Your Case

As we have mentioned previously, various members of our staff, specializing in different aspects of your lawsuit, will be involved in the conduct of your case. From time to time you will probably have personal contact with one or more of these staff members as your lawsuit progresses. These people will be thoroughly familiar with your file and no doubt will able to assist you with respect to many of the questions which arise. You should not hesitate to discuss your case with them and seek their assistance when and if the occasion arises.

8. General Information

As well as your injuries it is very likely that you will incur out-of-pocket expenses. It is essential that you ask for and retain receipts for expenses, however small, as they are necessary to properly document your claim.

Some of these expenses will have to be claimed as part of the lawsuit. For example, as has already been mentioned, a rather common expense is transportation while your motor vehicle is being repaired. Another example would be expenses incurred for housekeeping or cleaning. You should, therefore, ask for and keep any taxi receipts and car rental invoices or receipts for extra housekeeping or cleaning so that we may document those claims at the appropriate time.

9. Lost Income

Another common out-of-pocket expense is lost income. You should be prepared, if necessary, to provide us with your tax returns from prior years. In the normal course, we will usually write your employer for a summary of your time off and income lost. Be certain, however, to advise us of any and all forms of income which you had prior to the accident and which you believe may have been affected as a result of your accident.

10. Travelling Expenses to Doctors and Other Health Care Providers

The expenses incurred in travelling to your doctor and other health care provides are reimbursable. Please keep careful records of the distance travelled and the expense incurred in attending these appointments (physiotherapists, occupation therapists, rehabilitation consultants, etc.)

11. Items Not Reimbursable

Please remember that the cost of travelling to see your lawyer is not reimbursable.

12. Conclusion

We are here to help you during this difficult time in your life. Please do not hesitate to call us with whatever questions or concerns you have, which we will see are promptly dealt with.

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