As our Personal Injury Lawyers welcome a New Year, our Team would like to acknowledge those that may have suffered tremendous losses this past Holiday Season by having the unfortunate experience of being involved in a motor vehicle accident. Our thoughts are with everyone that continue to recover from such a life-changing event. 

Although there were several incidents across Ontario, we would like to take this opportunity to remind you how important it is when you find yourself a witness to an accident on our roadways. One incident that comes to mind is when Hamilton Police reported that a 68 -year-old man was killed in a collision while walking with an 89-year-old woman when they were stuck by a motorcycle this past Saturday.

First and foremost, the wrongful death lawyers at Iacobelli Law Firm offer sincere condolences to the family and friends of the victims of this terrible tragedy. Hamilton Police reported that people who walked right by the accident scene not only did not help the victims but also reportedly took items belonging to the victims and other motorists just drove right by or through the accident scene itself without stopping.  These days, especially around the holidays when traffic increases and the more time you spend on the road, the greater chance of being a witness to a motor vehicle accident. Whether you were driving behind a fender-bender or walking by a crash that may have taken place, here’s how you can be a good citizen and help.

Safety First
Whether you are walking or driving and a motor vehicle accident takes place in front of you, make sure you walk or pull over to a safe area. If you are driving and witness a pedestrian being hit by a vehicle, stop when it is safe to do so. Don’t assume that someone else has called 911. Report the collision yourself and explain that you were a witness. Give your name, contact information, location and any other important facts over the phone. While it’s important to help others, you should not endanger your own life in the process. Only pull over and exit your vehicle when it is safe to do so. Do not stop your vehicle in the middle of the road or you could risk causing another accident. Put on your hazard lights immediately.

Use Caution
If you feel it’s safe to get closer to the scene of the accident to see how you may be able to help, keep in mind that if you see someone hurt you should not attempt to move them as you could make their injuries worse and you may also be held liable if you cause further injury to someone at the scene. When you make it to the scene, if someone is hurt or scared, you can act as a source of comfort until an emergency response team arrives or set up road flares to block off the accident scene. Never touch any personal belongings at the scene of an accident.  Every item at the scene is of high importance in a police investigation as they re-construct the accident scene.  Every bit of information and evidence is crucial to their investigation and you could be criminally charged with theft.  If you are a witness to a Hit-And-Run-Driver, never try to stop or pursue them. He or she could be dangerous. Write down or take a photo of the license plate number if you can and call 911 immediately.

Your Self- Care
You can help the authorities and those involved by giving an account of what you witnessed. Or, in more tense situations, especially if someone was driving inappropriately or recklessly and caused the accident, the victim(s) will benefit from you giving a statement to the police as a witness. Always be mindful of your own safety and try to stay calm.  Being a good citizen and helping victims even if you weren’t involved in the collision itself, can be distressing. If you saw a serious or fatal collision, you may still be thinking about the scene days or weeks later and it’s normal to remember your role in the incident. However, if you feel guilt or suffer anxiety to the point where it is affecting your sleeping patterns, you could be suffering from trauma and will need to speak with your family doctor.

In the event of a serious accident, it is understandable that as a witness, you may not know how to help those involved. By remaining calm and providing whatever assistance you can while keeping yourself safe, you may be able to make a difference and potentially save someone’s life.  How you act in those pivotal first few minutes after a car accident can have a meaningful impact on both the victims and the emergency response team. 

Iacobelli Law Firm realizes how difficult it is to recover from a serious injury and you do not have to face the consequences alone. Our Team at Iacobelli Law Firm strives to make sure that you are set up with the appropriate care that you need while you recover from your injuries. We provide compassionate and competent legal counsel for the injured throughout Ontario and offer a FREE Consultation so please feel free to call us at 1-866-234-6093. We 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 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.

There are reports that a 47 year-old woman has died after being struck by a pickup truck in Cayuga, Ontario on October 16, 2017.  According to early reports, the OPP are investigating this fatal Cayuga pedestrian accident, which happened early Monday morning. 

First and foremost, Iacobelli Law Firm offers sincere condolences to the family and friends of the woman who tragically died as a result of this accident.  

Although the accident remains under investigation with the OPP, early reports indicate that the driver of the pickup truck lost control of the pickup truck.   The truck was reportedly being driven by a 20 year old woman. 

In Ontario civil claims, there is a presumption of fault against the driver of a vehicle that strikes a pedestrian or cyclist.  This presumption may be overcome; however, the onus is on the driver of the vehicle to prove that they were not negligent.   In light of the reverse-onus, auto insurers, which have exposure to the claim, will often vigorously investigate claims involving pedestrians and cyclists in an effort to build a defense.  The insurers fir the at-fault driver will often attempt to defend the claim by asserting that the pedestrian is at fault and that there was nothing the driver could do to prevent the accident.   In situations involving fatalities, the insurance company will attempt to exploit the fact that the victim is unable to provide any evidence.  With careful investigation, insurance companies will attempt to create liability issues in an effort to defeat the prospective claims of the family members and estate.   

In fatal pedestrian accidents, family members may be able to claim for their losses.  These claims are usually paid by the at-fault driver's insurance.  While it is difficult to consider a claim while grieving the loss of a loved one, it is important to become informed about your rights.  Sadly, while the family is grieving the insurance company may be working to defeat any prospective claims.   As such, it may be important to have a lawyer working for you and your family to secure the necessary evidence in the event that a claim is made later.

If you have lost a loved one due to the negligence of another driver or company, it is important to lean about your rights.  For a Free, no obligation, consultation with a Ontario wrongful death lawyer call us at 1-866-234-6093 or complete our contact form here.  

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King City, Ontario - Two people died as a result of a serious head-on car crash that occurred on November 16, 2014. This fatal car accident occurred on King Road near Bathurst Street in King City.  According to reports, this fatal head on accident occurred at approximately 2:30 a.m.  York Regional Police have indicated that a gold-coloured Toyota was travelling east on King Road and crossed the center-line and collided with a black Lexus that was travelling west on King Road.

Sadly, both drivers died.  The driver of the black Lexus was a 63-year-old man from the Town of Richmond Hill.  The driver of the gold-coloured Toyota, was a 62-year-old man from the Town of Richmond Hill.  First and foremost, Iacobelli Law Firm personal injury law offers its sincere condolences to the families and friends of the men that tragically died as a result of this head-on crash near Richmond Hill. 

The accident was being invested by York Regional Police, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Collision Investigation Unit at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7704, or to call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS.

Richmond Hill Head-On Car Accident Lawyer
Head-On car accidents are among the most devastating accidents in Ontario.  Although there are countless causes for Ontario head-on accidents, among the leading cause is distracted driving.  When distracted drivers cross the centre line, head-on collisions can result in catastrophic injuries and sometimes death as in this particular King City crash.

Lawyer for Fatality Accidents and Wrongful Death Claims
The loss of a loved one is never easy, and wrongful death cases are heartbreaking.  Losing a loved one is even more difficult to accept when the loss, while both tragic and unexpected, occurs because of the negligence of another driver.  An Ontario fatality accident lawyer that focuses on personal injury and wrongful death claims can help the family get justice.   

In Ontario, when someone dies as a result of the actions or negligence of another person, the surviving members of the deceased’s family can pursue a claim for wrongful death. Representing the most egregious form of personal injury, wrongful death claims are civil cases — they do not assign criminal responsibility for the death. Among other damages, the family of a person killed in an accident may be able to obtain compensation for the loss of guidance, care and companionship of their loved one.  

Many wrongful death claims arise out of fatal motor vehicle accidents, such as fatal car accidents, fatality motorcycle accidents, and fatality pedestrian accidents. 

Get The Answers To Your Questions From a Wrongful Death Lawyer:

We recognize that you probably have a lot of questions about your rights following the wrongful death of a loved one. Our law firm offers all prospective clients a free case review.  We understand that you want answers as soon as possible, without the obligation of having to retain a lawyer and pay hourly fees.   If you have tragically lost a loved one as a result of the negligence of another person or company, contact a dedicated Ontario wrongful death and fatality claims lawyer to learn about your rights.  


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There are reports that a young woman was struck and killed by a car on Sunday January 26, 2014 in Elmira, Ontario.  This fatal pedestrian accident occurred in the area of Arthur Street and Reid Woods Drive.  The driver of the involved vehicle, was reportedly charged by police.  

First and foremost, we offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the young woman that so tragically lost her life as a result of this fatal pedestrian accident.  

If you have lost a family member as a result of another driver's negligence, speak to an Ontario wrongful death lawyer about your rights.  Our law firm represents family members in wrongful death claims throughout Ontario.  To learn more about you rights, contact us for a free consultation: toll free at 1-866-234-6093.

Learn more about Ontario wrongful death and fatality accident claims here. 

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There was a fatal pedestrian accident in Richmond Hill, Ontario at Jefferson Side Road and Alpaca Drive on the morning of December 17, 2012.  The victim of this Richmond Hill fatal pedestrian accident was a 64 year-old woman from the Town of Richmond Hill.  Sadly, the woman succumbed to her injuries at hospital.  
 
First and foremost, we offer our sincere condolences and support to the family and friends of the woman who was tragically killed in this Richmond Hill pedestrian accident.  

This has been a particularly tragic month in York Region, as there have been a number of fatal pedestrian accidents in York Region over the past few weeks.  The late fall and winter months in Ontario often bring increases in the number of pedestrian motor vehicle collisions.  This may be in part due to the fewer daylight hours and reduced visibility for motorists.  More information would be needed before assigning any fault for this recent Richmond Hill pedestrian accident, and officers with the York Regional Police were investigating the circumstances.  According to early reports, a white Kia Sorento was travelling north on Alpaca Drive before turning right on to Jefferson Side Road, where it struck the female pedestrian.
           
York Regional Police are requesting that witnesses to the collision and anyone with information to contact the Collision Investigation Unit at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7704, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com, or text your tip by sending TIPYORK and your message to CRIMES (274637) starting with the word YORK.

When a loved one is killed as a result of a car accident in Ontario, the family of the deceased may be able to advance a wrongful death claim, if the death was caused by the actions or negligence of another person.  In Ontario fatal car accident claims, the members of the deceased’s  family may be able to obtain compensation for their losses.  This includes loss of guidance, care and  companionship of their loved one, as well as loss of services.  There are also  benefits payable by the no-fault automobile insurer.  

It is also significant that, when pedestrian is struck and injured or killed, there there may be a presumption of negligence against the driver of the motor vehicle.  This reverse onus for pedestrian accidents is created by the Highway Traffic Act.

For grieving families, it is extremely difficult to turn their attention to advancing a claim for the loss of a loved one.  Iacobelli Law Firm represents the families of those that have tragically lost a loved one due to negligence.  We understand that this is a difficult time, and we provide respectful and compassionate service throughout the insurance claim process.  If you have lost a loved one as a result of a fatal accident in Ontario, call our Ontario personal injury law firm for a free consultation.  We will take the time to meet with you and answer your questions.  The consultation is complimentary and confidential, and there is no obligation to retain our firm.  

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