For a relatively minor car accident, Gloria Lee Clark from West Vancouver was awarded a hefty sum after the court’s ruling to compensate her “diminished ability to earn income” and “loss of enjoyment of life.” Although the defending party appealed, the court upheld the decision. Jane Seyd reports for The Province:
“The B.C. Court of Appeal has upheld a B.C. Supreme Court decision that awarded a West Vancouver woman more than $238,000 for injuries suffered when her minivan was rearended – even though she continued to run marathons after the accident.
Prior to the accident, Clark was an athletic person who ran, skied, hiked, bicycled and kayaked in addition to caring for her children and working parttime for Transport Canada. Clark continued several athletic pursuits after the accident, including hiking the Grouse Grind and running marathons.
Despite that, the judge accepted that “this accident has had a real impact on her life” including neck, upper back and shoulder pain that has resulted in difficulty sleeping and performing household chores.”
There are potentially major losses in car accidents that should be compensated by the legally responsible party. The costs of medical care and rehabilitation for sustained injuries may just be a small fraction of the total compensation the injured may seek in court. In these types of cases, it is best to have a personal injury lawyer in Vancouver on your side.
Injuries from car accidents may result in temporary or permanent loss of income. Necessary medical treatments and recovery may hinder previous levels of job performance. In graver cases, the injured person may be forced to resign from work. A personal injury lawyer thoroughly studies these implications to arrive at a proper compensation that would cover the immediate or long-term loss of wages.
Apart from work compensation, claims can also be made for loss of opportunities for recreational enjoyment. For instance, a person who paints and draws may lose optimal hand functions. The lawyer substantiates this “loss of enjoyment of life” aspect as one of the person’s rightful claims. Other compensations include emotional distress and damages to properties.
Settlement of damages in court and with the insurance companies should be supervised by professionals. In consulting experienced personal injury lawyers in Vancouver like Atty. Jamie Butler, you can identify all rightful claims and prepare for the process that would allow you to collect from the liable entities. An experienced and knowledgeable lawyer will competently help you deal with the appropriate documentation and filing of the claims.
(Source: West Vancouver woman can keep her yoga for life settlement for car crash, judge rules, The Province, March 12, 2014)
