Your main priority after getting into a car accident should be seeking out medical care.  Your well-being should always be your first thought.  However, second to that, you must report the accident to your insurance.  Dealing with insurance companies can be frustrating as they are often closed to negotiations, but hiring an Ottawa lawyer can help you get the compensation you are entitled to.

You will want to do research on area lawyers before hiring one.  Make sure that the Ottawa lawyer you hire is experienced in accident and personal injury cases.  Interview potential candidates to be sure that you have found a match for you and your specific claim.  Also, pay attention to the way they treat you in the interview, this is often a reflection of how they will treat you later as a client.

Once you have found a suitable Ottawa lawyer, they can begin to help you with your case and explain the laws and insurance policy rules governing auto accidents.  Particularly confusing is the “no-fault” system that has been implemented in Ontario.  An Ottawa lawyer can help clear up all of the details of this system and help you sift through the paperwork required.  The term “no-fault” does not necessarily mean that no one is at fault for the accident.  What it does mean is that the fault doesn’t matter in assessing your accident benefits.  You will file a claim with your own insurance company and they will supply the accident benefits.  This is beneficial in cutting down the amount of claims overall, but also because dealing with your own insurance company ensures that you will get the money when you need it the most.

The accident benefits provided by your insurance company under the “no-fault” system only apply to certain damages, however.  Medical and rehabilitation benefits are paid out, as well as benefits to cover lost wages from your job. Unfortunately, being paid income replacement benefits can get incredibly complicated.  It can sometimes be difficult to provide proof of employment and quantitative proof of salary, but an Ottawa lawyer can help you get the best benefits.  If you are the primary caregiver of a child or elderly person, you are entitled to a caregiver supplement which will be added to your benefits to assist with your dependent.  If your accident has left you unable to maintain your household, you can also claim a household maintenance benefit to give assistance with cleaning or other household chores.

It is important you find an Ottawa lawyer who specializes in personal injury and with whom you are comfotable with. It could be a long road ahead and your Ottawa lawyer will be there for you and your family.

Don’t judge a book by its cover.  Some Ontario lawyers and Ottawa lawyers may try to lure you in by presenting themselves as successful.  They may have expensive cars and their office may be exquisitely decorated, but make no mistake, this does not reflect on their skills and experience as a lawyer.  Likewise, a minimal office and conservative car does not mean anything either.  Be sure that you are not judging your lawyer by appearances instead of expertise.

Don’t hire a lawyer based only on referrals from friends.  Of course, when your friends refer you to their Ontario lawyers and Ottawa lawyers they have nothing but your best interest in mind.  However, your friends may have varied reasons for making this referral.  Perhaps this lawyer did well for their case, but the case and details were very different than yours.  Another possibility is that your friend got along really well with this lawyer and is recommending them based on their good rapport.  While a good rapport with your lawyer is essential, it is no substitute for experience.  Taking your friend’s recommendation could leave you with a lawyer that is not right for you, and your frustration as a result of this fact could put undue strain on your friendship.  So consider each candidate carefully, referred or not, before you make your decision.

Don’t forget to check his track record and trial experience.  Track records do not lie.  Find out how many of his cases he wins, and if there are more wins than losses, you can be confident that they will win your case for you.  Also, make sure that they are willing to take your case to court.  Ontario lawyers and Ottawa lawyers without trial experience, and who would rather settle than go to court, are not a good choice.  You want to know that your lawyer will stand by you if the insurance company refuses to pay what you deserve and that if all else fails, they will take them to court.

Don’t be drawn in by advertising.  Novel ads and spirited commercials might be a good way to discover Ontario lawyers and Ottawa lawyers, but they do not really tell you much about the lawyers themselves.  If you decide to use a lawyer based on their advertisements, be sure to investigate them fully before hiring them.  Ensure that all of their advertised claims are true, and find out their experience with cases like yours.

Don’t forget to have backups.  Depending on one person or Ottawa or Ontario law firm to work on your behalf can be nerve-racking, so when you research potential Ontario lawyers and Ottawa lawyers, be sure to keep a few backups on hand.  In the case that you and your lawyer are not seeing eye to eye, or your lawyer refuses to take the insurance company to court, you need a list of vetted options to fall back on.