No body wants to cause legal problems for others. We are taught to forgive and forget. But your injuries will be a reminder for the rest of your life. In Alberta the Insurance Act was amended to provide that injuries from a Motor Vehicle Accident that typically are sprains or strains that you should recover from within two years, will be compensated for UNDER $5,500.00 for pain and suffering. So why bother calling me?
The problem is that necessary examination of other injuries and claims may be overlooked. You may have a jaw derangement - displacement from a whiplash injury, and not even be aware of it! Doctors are not the Specialists who treat Dental injuries. Without being directed to the right care giver from the start, you cannot know if you are looking at a lifetime of pain and disability. Then, when you realize what your real injuries are, its too late to fix things.
In addition, your WAD 1 or 2 categorization, does not cover you for your loss of housekeeping, or your lost time from work, or the interference with your marital relationships.
On top of that, you may have out of pocket expenses, and property damage, all of which is in excess of the Minor Injury Regulation cap. But the Defendant’s Insurance Adjuster will never tell you about that! In the worst case of an apparent minor claim that I handled, the Medical Assessor found minimal physical injury from a truck - bicycle collision. The client developed a Psychological Injury known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The Psychological Injury ruined an Honour Roll University Student’s aspirations to become a Lawyer, and she could not drive anymore for fear of another accident.
The claim settled for just under 1⁄2 a Million!