The personal injury lawyers and staff at Iacobelli Law Firm wish you a safe and enjoyable Victoria Day long weekend.  Many will be enjoying time with family and friends.  Weather you are staying home or travelling, it is important to stay safe during the long weekend.  Please enjoy responsibly and avoid drinking and driving.  There will be extra police presence on Ontario roads during the long weekend.  Police will be cracking down on aggressive drivers and those that are drinking and driving.  

We are saddened to learn of the tragic death and injury to so many innocent pedestrians today in the North York area of Toronto.   Early reports indicate that 9 people are dead and 16 others are injured, as a result of a van mounting the cut and mowing down pedestrians on Yonge Street near Finch in North York on Monday April 23, 2018.  The area remains closed for the investigation. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.  On behalf of the staff and lawyers at Iacobelli Law Firm, we offer heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the those who were killed in this senseless tragedy.

You were injured in a car accident in Ontario, reported it to your insurance company and now you received an envelope full of forms, what do you do now?  Should I speak to a car accident lawyer or fill out the accident benefits forms on my own? These are some of the questions you may be asking yourself, if you were injured in a car accident in Ontario.  The accident benefits forms themselves are standardized, so you will need to complete the same documents irrespective of which insurance company you are with.  So whether you are insured with Intact, Aviva, State Farm, Allstate, Certas or any other car insurance company licensed in Ontario, you will be asked to complete and submit the same forms. The initial form that you will need to complete and submit to your insurance company is the Application for Accident Benefits or OCF-1.  This form is completed by or for the injured person that is claiming accident benefits.  The other important forms that will need to be submitted quickly are the Disability Certificate (OCF-3) and, if you are unable to return to work, the Employer's Confirmation Form (OCF-2).  There are a number of different health care providers that can complete the Disability Certificate, but lawyers will often have preferences to the specialty or credentials of the health care provider depending on the nature and circumstances of the injury. If you require assistance with activities around your home due to your injuries, you should also have an assessment for attendant care needs performed by an occupational therapist, which will require the submission of additional forms. 

While there is no requirement to have a lawyer assist you with your injury claims following a car accident in Ontario, it is a good idea to get some advice.  Often, injury victims that complete the forms on their own and deal with the insurance company directly end up receiving far fewer benefits.  With that said, there is certainly no harm in meeting with a lawyer to learn more about the process, and the benefits that are available to you so that you can make an informed decision before deciding if you want to handle the insurance claim on your own.  Most people injured in car accidents in Ontario will ultimately benefit from the advice and guidance of an experienced Ontario car accident lawyer.  Car accident injury claims in Ontario are complex, with many rules and timelines that must be satisfied in order to receive compensation.  There are frequent changes to the law regarding car accident compensation.

Our Ontario car accident lawyers offer free consultations to car accident injury victims.  We can meet with you to review the circumstances of your case and will even assist you in completing your accident benefits forms for free.  There is no obligation beyond the initial consultation, and anything you share will remain confidential.   
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By: Andrew Iacobelli
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On Thursday March 22, 2018, a pedestrian was struck and killed in Richmond Hill.  This recent pedestrian accident fatality occurred on Thursday, March 22, 2018, at approximately 5:35 p.m., at the intersection of Hwy. 407 and Yonge Street.

First a foremost, the lawyers at Iacobelli Law Firm offer their sincere condolences to the family and friends of the woman who tragically died in this accident.  

The pedestrian accident is under investigation by the York Regional Police.  According to reports, the female pedestrian was struck by a white 2016 Mercedes Benz SUV.  The  pedestrian was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries, but later succumbed to her injuries in hospital.The driver of the Mercedes, is a 54-year-old woman from Toronto.
Any witnesses who have not yet spoken with police are asked to please come forward and contact York Regional Police Major Collision Investigation Unit by calling 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7704, or to call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS, or leave an anonymous tip online.

If you have lost a loved one as a result of a fatal accident in Ontario, it is important to learn about your rights.  To learn more, contact the fatal accident lawyers at Iacobelli Law Firm for a free, no obligation, consultation by calling 1-866-234-6093. 

The personal injury lawyers and staff at Iacobelli Law Firm wish you an enjoyable and healthy family day long weekend.  This weekend the weather is warming up, so it should be a great opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy some quality time with those you care about.  Whatever you do this weekend, make it enjoyable and safe.  

With winter conditions throughout Toronto, GTA and Ontario, it can be a particularly difficult time for pedestrians.  Ice and snow is especially dangerous for seniors or people with mobility issues.  Fortunately, many home owners and businesses take care  to ensure that their properties are cleared of snow and ice to make it safe for pedestrians.  Sometimes, however, property owners fail to take reasonable care of their property. This can result in slippery conditions created by ice and snow.  

Slip and fall accidents can result in serious injuries. Common injuries following a slip and fall on ice or snow include fractures to arms, wrists, ankles, hips, among other things.  Our personal injury lawyers also see serious spine injuries and head injuries resulting from slip and fall accidents during the winter months.  The consequences from a slip and fall accident can be life changing.  In addition to the immediate pain associated with the injury, a slip and fall accident can result in extensive medical treatment, difficulties with household activities and lost income and wages.   

Our slip and fall accident lawyers can review the circumstances of your particular situation and offer guidance on your rights and remedies.  Most injury claims are covered by insurance.  Nonetheless, in order to be successful in your claim for injuries, it is important to consult with a lawyer early so that your rights can be protected.  Ultimately, your lawyer will have to prove that the property owner failed to meet their duty of care.  To do this, information will need to be gathered following your slip and fall accident.  For a FREE Consultation about your slip and fall contact our Toronto slip and fall accident lawyers at 416-900-1070 or complete our contact form here.  

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The lawyers and staff at Iacobelli Law Firm extend a heartfelt Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of our clients, colleagues and friends.  Although for many of our clients, the holidays may be difficult to enjoy due to injury or loss of loved ones, but we hope that the spirit of the season will bring some comfort and joy.  

Merry Christmas.

After a car accident in Ontario, the first concern is for the well being of everyone involved in the crash.   The primary focus will be on medical attention and treatment for anyone that has been injured in the car accident.  The nature and severity of the injuries will dictate the type of medical treatment rendered.  Among other things, treatment may include admissions at hospital, surgeries, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, etc.  Often times, the health recovery and medical attention can take many months or even years following an accident.  The injured person may be disabled (temporarily or permanently) from returning to ordinary activities such as work, household chores, and recreation.  The situation often leads to stress and, sometimes, financial hardship for the injured person and their family.  Faced with health issues, financial losses, and stresses following an accident, families often have little choice other than to commence an injury claim for insurance benefits. 

The insurance regime for motor vehicles accidents in Ontario is extremely complex and ever changing. Nonetheless, it is important to take appropriate steps early after a car accident to commence your claim and preserve your rights.  The initial insurance claim following a car accident is typically with your own auto insurance provider.  Ontario auto insurance policies include some coverage for health care expenses and income losses following a car accident. This coverage is available without regard to fault.  One of the first steps an injured person will need to take after an accident is to provide notice to the insurance company; advise the insurance company of the accident and let them know about injuries.  This can be accomplished by making a phone call to the insurance company and reporting a claim for injuries.  The insurance company will then provide a claim number and assign an adjuster.  The insurance company will also send out several forms that need to be completed and returned to the insurance company.  Although these early steps sound simple, they can have a major impact upon the amount of benefits available through the auto insurance policy and, as such, it is important to have the advice of an experienced car accident lawyer before submitting forms or other information to the insurance company.   The insurance benefits available will depend on the adjuster's assessment of injuries and whether the claimant meets the policy definitions for benefits.  

In addition to the claims for their own insurance benefits, an injured person may also be able to advance some claims against the at fault party, which are covered by the other vehicle's insurance.  In light of changes that have been made to Ontario's auto insurance policies, most accident victims will be required to advance claims against the at-fault party and their insurance policy.  This is because of major cuts to the benefits available under first-party insurance. The result has been that much of the benefits needed by accident victims has been pushed over to the other driver's policy.  This creates even more complexity and challenges for the injured person.  

If you have been injured in an accident, and have questions about your rights, call us for a FREE consultation.  We can answer you questions and help you make informed decision for your future. To learn more contact Iacobelli Law Firm toll free at 1-866-234-6093 or complete our contact form here to request your consultation.