Iacobelli Law Firm is pleased to continue its support for the Brain Injury Association of York Region (BIAYR).  The Brain Injury Association of York Region provides free resources and advocacy for those affected by an acquired brain injury in York Region.  Among other resources, the BIAYR provides support groups and education for those impacted by an acquired brain injury.  The BIAYR is an excellent resource for our clients and our community, and we are proud to be a 2022 Gold Sponsor for this organization. 
If you or a loved one has experienced an acquired brain injury, check out the BIAYR for resources that can help you.

Andrew Iacobelli is an experienced personal injury lawyer who established Iacobelli Law Firm with offices located in Ontario, Canada and Florida, U.S.A. Andrew restricts his practice to the representation of personal injury victims in claims involving serious injuries and wrongful death in Canada and the United States.  Andrew is the author of "Are You a Canadian Injured in the United States? Claim the Damages and Insurance Coverage the Right Way". 

Yes - in most cases, a Canadian (Ontario) resident injured in a car accident while in the United States will still be able to claim benefits from their own Ontario car insurance policy. This includes benefits for lost wages if your injury prevents you from returning to work.  In addition, Ontario residents will be able to claim for other expenses, including healthcare costs from their Ontario auto policy.  CAUTION - in order to claim Ontario benefits an election must be made.  That is, you will have the choice between electing Ontario benefits or the first-party insurance benefits for the State where the accident occurred.  In many cases, it is wise to choose Ontario, but this is not always the case.  There are some US states that provide more coverage for first-party or no-fault insurance claims.  A lawyer experienced in cross-border accidents will need to review the available benefits and provide you with an opinion.  The election of benefits is usually final and cannot be changed, so be careful in making your choice.  

Our firm has expertise in helping Canadians injured in the United States - we are leaders in this area of law and are the firm that many US and Canadian lawyers turn to for advice in this area of law.  If you were injured in a car accident in the United States, call us for a free consultation.  If we are unable to assist, we may be able to direct you to a firm or lawyer that can.  Call us anytime 24/7 at 1-866-234-6093 or request a Free Consultation online and we can answer your questions and explain your rights and options.  

Andrew Iacobelli is an experienced personal injury lawyer who established Iacobelli Law Firm with offices located in Ontario, Canada and Florida, U.S.A. Andrew restricts his practice to the representation of personal injury victims in claims involving serious injuries and wrongful death in Canada and the United States.  Andrew is the author of "Are You a Canadian Injured in the United States? Claim the Damages and Insurance Coverage the Right Way". 

The short answer is Yes.  In most instances surviving family members can claim for their losses when a loved one is killed in a car accident.  In addition to death benefits that can be claimed against the auto insurance policy, the family members and the Estate can advance claims against the at-fault party.  This lawsuit against the at-fault driver or responsible party are almost always covered by insurance.  

If a family member is killed in a car accident, or pedestrian accident in Ontario, Canada, there are certain family members that have the right to claim for compensation.  This generally includes the spouse, children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters of the person that died in the crash.  

The compensation (money) recoverable in a Ontario wrongful death claim will depend on the particular facts and circumstances of the situation.  In general, the family members can claim for the financial losses and expenses, as well as money to  compensate for the loss of guidance, care and companionship of their loved one. 

Our lawyers are experienced in Wrongful Death and serious injury claims.  We take on major claims throughout Ontario.  If you think that you may have a claim for the wrongful death of a loved one, call us any time for a Free, no obligation consultation, or request a Free Consultation online.  All consultations are  confidential and private.  

Andrew Iacobelli is an experienced personal injury lawyer who established Iacobelli Law Firm with offices located in Ontario, Canada and Florida, U.S.A. Andrew restricts his practice to the representation of personal injury victims in claims involving serious injuries and wrongful death in Canada and the United States.  Andrew is the author of "Are You a Canadian Injured in the United States? Claim the Damages and Insurance Coverage the Right Way". 

We are so pleased to welcome Corey R. LeBlanc to our growing team of professionals at Iacobelli Law Firm. Corey joins as a lawyer-candidate articling with the firm.  

Corey was raised in the Village of Norwood, Ontario, and  holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Economics (B.A. Honours) from Trent University, where he graduated with distinction on the President's List, and made the Dean’s Honour Roll every year of his degree. Corey earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Osgoode Hall Law School - one of the top-ranked law schools in the world. During his law studies, Corey distinguished himself from his peers with his significant extracurricular involvement and leadership. Notably, Corey served as the Managing Editor of Osgoode Hall Law School’s student newspaper - the longest running law school newspaper in North America - Obiter Dicta. Likewise, Corey was elected to serve as the Vice President (Finance) of Osgoode Hall Law School’s chapter of the Runnymede Society, and Corey was also selected by Osgoode Hall’s student association to serve on behalf of his peers on Osgoode Hall’s faculty hiring committee. 

Additionally, during his time in law school, Corey graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School’s taxation law program, with a specialized focus on international taxation. This provides Corey a uniquely intimate understanding and knowledge of inter-jurisdictional legal matters. During his time in the taxation law program, Corey co-founded Osgoode Hall Law School’s taxation law website and blog, with Professor’s J. Scott Wilkie, and Jinyan Li.

In his spare time, Corey enjoys reading history, following politics, cheering for the Toronto Maple Leafs or the Toronto Blue Jays, playing competitive e-sports, and spending time with his family, and his wonderfully active and loving Siamese cat, Persia.

Our clients will benefit from Corey's efforts as he assists injury victims in matters involving serious motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, wrongful death claims, municipal liability, insurance disputes, nursing home negligence, and other complex accident claims.

After nearly two years with little travel, many Canadians have resumed travel to the south this winter and holiday season.  Many Ontario residents will travel to Florida, particularly to the areas of Orlando, or along the east or west coast of Florida.   Every season many Canadians find themselves the victim of car, motorcycle or pedestrian accidents while visiting Florida.  The experience of any accident is difficult, but a crash far away from home can bring added stress.  

We can help if you are a Canadian injured in Florida.  Lawyer Andrew Iacobelli has offices both in Ontario and Florida and is licensed to practice law in both jurisdictions.  We are regularly consulted by Canadian and US lawyers for assistance with cross-border accident cases.  We can help you and your family navigate the issues and claims on both sides of the border.  Many Ontario residents do not realize that they will probably have claims both in Canada and in the United States.  If you have questions about a cross-border accident case, do not delay - call us immediately for a Free Consultation.  There is no obligation and no costs to speak with an experienced cross-border accident lawyer.  Call us 24/7 at 1866-234-6093 or request a free consultation online.  

Andrew Iacobelli is an experienced personal injury lawyer who established Iacobelli Law Firm with offices located in Ontario, Canada and Florida, U.S.A. Andrew restricts his practice to the representation of personal injury victims in claims involving serious injuries and wrongful death in Canada and the United States.  Andrew is the author of "Are You a Canadian Injured in the United States? Claim the Damages and Insurance Coverage the Right Way". 

As I reflect upon this past year, I am so very grateful for the opportunity to lead such a great team of compassionate, dedicated and highly-skilled individuals, and I am once again, truly proud of our accomplishments. I am equally appreciative that our work and mission will continue into the New Year and I want to take this opportunity to thank all of my staff who make this possible every day.  We have had some new additions to our staff this year, including paralegal, Alyssa Smith, law clerk, Celeste Hui, and lawyer candidate, Corey LeBlanc.  We were also pleased to welcome back to our team, associate lawyer, Lauren Blanchet.  These additions to our team, make us a much more capable and efficient law firm for our clients.  

Our Personal Injury Lawyers continued to fight hard for our clients by attending multiple video conferences every week including Examinations for Discovery, Mediations as well as Court Hearings, and we are so grateful that we were able to advance claims on behalf of our clients with no interruptions to our service. Our top priority is you and we are honored to serve our community.

Travelling this Holiday Season
We understand how difficult it is for our clients to recover from an unexpected accident and I am always truly amazed how adaptable, resilient and courageous our clients are.  We are so thankful to our clients for putting their trust in our Personal Injury Law Firm and as we think of each of our clients this holiday season, we are extending our best wishes to you and your loved ones for a safe and enjoyable holiday season.

Now that many people have resumed travelling south of the border, I would like to take this opportunity to remind you how important it is to be aware of your rights and coverage in case you are involved in an unexpected crash while visiting the USA. My book, “Are you a Canadian Injured in the United States?” which was published last year and available for purchase on amazon, continues to be a highly informative read that provides guidance and assistance if you or your loved one has been involved in an automobile collision while travelling across the USA-Canada Border. Please feel free to reach out to our office to obtain your free copy.

Are you on Instagram?
So are we! We encourage you to follow Iacobelli Law Firm (@iacobelli_law) to keep up to date with Iacobelli Law Firm and to follow our Sunday Safety Tips. We also encourage you to follow us on facebook at Iacobelli Law Firm | Facebook.

Our Personal Injury Lawyers Are Available Throughout the Holiday Season
We understand that accidents can happen at any given time even over the holidays. Don’t wait until after the holidays to call our Team. Our Personal Injury Lawyers are available 24/7 throughout the holidays to support you because we know how important it is to be available to our community.

On behalf of Iacobelli Law Firm, we wish you a safe holiday season filled with joy and we look forward to supporting our community in 2022.

Iacobelli Law Firm realizes how difficult and life-changing it can be for your family when you are involved in an unexpected accident.  We are a dedicated Ontario Personal Injury Law Firm that provides compassionate and competent legal counsel for the injured throughout Ontario and we offer a FREE Consultation so please feel free to call us at 1-866- 234-6093. We are available to take your call 24/7 and are honored to serve our clients and our community.
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Andrew Iacobelli is an experienced personal injury lawyer who established Iacobelli Law Firm with offices located in Ontario, Canada as well as offices in Florida, U.S.A. Andrew restricts his practice to the representation of personal injury victims in claims involving serious injuries and wrongful death.

Iacobelli Law Firm is pleased to announce that personal injury lawyer, Lauren Blanchet, is returning to our team.  Lauren is an experienced litigator and she assists our clients that have been injured in motor vehicle accidents, premises accidents, and other injury accidents.  Lauren also represents families with wrongful death claims.  Lauren always strives to obtain adequate and just compensation for the clients that she represents.   

For a free consultation with Lauren Blanchet or with another member of our injury law team, please call us 24/7 at 1-866-234-6093 or complete our online contact form here to schedule your consultation.   

As the province lifts capacity limits on October 25th in a majority of settings including restaurants, indoor sports facilities and gyms, casinos, bingo halls and indoor meeting and event spaces, our Team at Iacobelli Law Firm so pleased to be able to move forward.

As our Personal Injury Lawyers continue to connect with our clients and welcome new clients, we are pleased to announce that we have returned to scheduling client’s meetings both in our office and outside of the office. At Iacobelli Law Firm, we are well adjusted with our technology to be able to work virtually and our Firm continues to value the health and safety of both its employees and our community.

Pleased to Continue to Offer Virtual Meetings
Our Personal Injury Lawyers have also witnessed the benefits of scheduling virtual meetings as well as phone calls with our clients over the last year and a half. Virtual meetings allow our clients to remain in a comfortable atmosphere as they recover and at the same time, attend to important deadlines with their claim. We are thrilled to announce that virtual phone calls and meetings will continue to be offered in the future.

If you would like to visit our office for a meeting, we encourage you to call us first at 416- 900-1070 to arrange for a convenient time to meet.
Upon arrival at Iacobelli Law Firm, we would kindly ask:

• That you provide us with your vaccination status to verify that you are in compliance before you enter our office; and
• That you continue to wear a mask at all times.

We look forward to seeing you whether in person or virtually, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to continue to lead such a great team of compassionate, dedicated and highly-skilled individuals and although it may have been challenging at times, our Team always persevered and continued to run a successful law firm.

Our Personal Injury Lawyers understand how important it is to be available to our community at all times and Iacobelli Law Firm realizes how difficult and life-changing it can be for your family when you are involved in an unexpected accident.  We are a dedicated Ontario Personal Injury Law Firm that provides compassionate and competent legal counsel for the injured throughout Ontario and we offer a FREE Consultation so please feel free to call us at 1-866-234-6093. We are available to take your call 24/7 and are honored to serve our clients and our community.

Andrew Iacobelli is an experienced personal injury lawyer who established Iacobelli Law Firm with offices located in Ontario, Canada and Florida, U.S.A. Andrew restricts his practice to the representation of personal injury victims in claims involving serious injuries and wrongful death in Canada and the United States.  Andrew is the author of "Are You a Canadian Injured in the United States? Claim the Damages and Insurance Coverage the Right Way".

A recent court decision in Ontario reinforces the complexity in cross-border accident cases involving Ontario residents injured in the United States.  In the case of Orum v. Maksuta, 2021 ONSC 2974, an Ontario resident was seriously injured while in Michigan attending a charitable International Dragon Boat Race.  While in Michigan, the Ontario resident was walking in a crosswalk, on a green light, and was struck by a motor vehicle, owned and operated by a resident of Michigan.  Allegedly, the Ontario resident sustained a traumatic brain injury as a result of the accident.  

The Michigan vehicle and driver that caused the accident had $100,000 of insurance coverage, which was considered insufficient insurance to fully compensate for the injuries.  The Ontario resident retained a lawyer in Ontario.  A lawsuit was commenced in Ontario court for both the underinsured motorist claim and the claim against the at-fault Michigan resident.  While it is completely appropriate to sue the resident of Michigan in Ontario court.  There are well established rules of conflict of laws and jurisdiction that must be carefully considered whenever a claim involves parties or events that span across state, provincial or national borders.   In this particular case, the injured Ontario resident sought to obtain jurisdiction in Ontario against a Michigan resident with absolutely no connection to Ontario, and for a tort that did not occur in Ontario.   Of course, there are occasions where lawyers try to obtain jurisdiction if there are distinguishing factors upon which to make an argument, or where a defendant consents.  In this case, however, the Ontario resident should have also initiated a claim in Michigan to preserve his rights in the event that the jurisdictional argument failed in Ontario.    

Unfortunately for the injured Ontario resident in this case, the court correctly sided with Michigan resident and found that jurisdiction was lacking.  Because the Michigan Statute of limitations (time limit to commence a lawsuit) had also expired, the injured Ontario resident had no recourse against the at-fault Michigan driver.  As such, the Ontario driver could not sue for or collect the $100,000 insurance limits available on behalf of the at-fault Michigan driver.  Even if successful on the underinsured motorist claim, the Ontario resident lost out on $100,000 USD value of his case, as this would be deductible by the Ontario insurance policy.  All in all, this was a very poor result for the injured Ontario resident, albeit a predictable outcome and a correct decision by the Ontario court.

In addition to the jurisdiction issues raised by this case, there are many other issues including first-party no fault benefits that must be considered and addressed in cross-border accident cases.  

As this case illustrates, cross-border accident cases involving Ontario residents injured in the USA are complex.  We handle many cross border accident cases every year, both with Ontario residents injured in the United States and with Americans injured while visiting Ontario.  We are experienced and knowledgeable in this area of law, probably handling more of these cases than any other firm in Ontario.  We have offices and active practices on both sides of the border, and over the years we have built a strong network of colleagues in the United States.  Our firm is regularly consulted by lawyers in Canada and the United States for assistance when they have a cross-border accident case.    If you or a loved one was injured in a cross-border accident case, call us to see if we can assist.  Consultations are always free, and if we cannot help we may be able to direct you to an appropriate lawyer in the jurisdiction where your accident occurred.  

Andrew Iacobelli is an experienced personal injury lawyer who established Iacobelli Law Firm with offices located in Ontario, Canada and Florida, U.S.A. Andrew restricts his practice to the representation of personal injury victims in claims involving serious injuries and wrongful death in Canada and the United States.  Andrew is the author of "Are You a Canadian Injured in the United States? Claim the Damages and Insurance Coverage the Right Way". ​