How long do I have to sue?

Every lawsuit must be commenced within the prescribed limitation period. A limitation period is simply the time period within which a legal proceeding must be commenced.

Majority of the limitation periods in Ontario are defined in the Limitations Act, 2002, and in British Columbia, under the Limitation Act, SBC 2012. With some exceptions, the basic limitation period in both provinces is two years – a person must commence a lawsuit within two years of when he or she first discovered that the claim could be made.

A claim commenced after the expiry of the limitation period will be barred by statute. For this reason, it is important to consult a lawyer as soon as possible after suffering a loss in order to protect your legal right to start an action.

How much money is my personal injury claim worth?

Unfortunately, the answer to this question is that it depends. The compensation you may be entitled to will depend on a number of factors, including the severity of your injuries, whether you sustained an income loss, your ongoing care needs, as well as the amounts awarded by the court in previous cases similar to yours. In fact, the true value of your claim may not be clear immediately after your accident. An injury that may appear minor may very well become very serious in the future.

As your lawyers, it is our job to analyze the available evidence and similar court decisions to ensure you get the most favourable settlement or judgment. 

How much do I have to pay in legal fees?

For personal injury matters, legal fees are based on a contingency fee. The legal fees will be based on a percentage of the award we help you recover. If you do not recover an award, you do not pay legal fees.

For non-personal injury matters, our legal fees are calculated on an hourly basis. We will provide you detailed accounts showing the work we have done on your case so you know exactly what you are paying for. Depending on the arrangement we agree upon, payments will be made either periodically throughout the course of the matter or at its conclusion.

What are disbursements?

Disbursements are expenses we incur on your behalf in order to advance your case and are paid on top of legal fees. These expenses include court filing fees, costs of obtaining medical records and costs associated with hiring experts.

 For personal injury matters, disbursements are deducted from the settlement or judgment award prior to the deduction of the contingency fee.

 For all other matters, depending on the arrangement we agree upon, disbursements may be paid by you periodically throughout the course of the matter or at its conclusion.