Areas of Practice

More than 30% of City of Toronto residents commute to work primarily by walking or taking public transit.* Many more walk or take public transit casually or occasionally. In each instance, there are many potential risks that may result in an injury to the pedestrian and public transit user, and potentially give rise to a claim for compensation.

Pedestrians are vulnerable to serious injuries in accidents with motor vehicles – no matter the speed of impact. Public transit accidents are no less serious where, rather than pedestrians, they involve the passengers riding on-board transit vehicles – buses, street cars, subways, trains, etc.

In the Toronto region, public transit includes the services provided by any of TTC, Go Transit, York Region Transit, VIVA and VIA organisations.

In any circumstance, the injury resulting from a pedestrian and public transit accident can have a very serious impact on the health and financial standing of the injured party. Financial concerns may arise from an inability to work and earn income, as well as from direct out-of-pocket medical expenses.

In Ontario, there is a reverse onus on motor vehicle drivers causing injury to pedestrians, to prove that they were not in the wrong. The pedestrian may also be entitled to accident benefit compensation even if they were 100% at fault in the accident.

A potential claim in an incident involving either a private motor vehicle or public transit authority requires extensive investigation and documentation of the factors involved in the incident. An experienced personal injury lawyer is instrumental in building a case and advocating on behalf of the injured party so they can claim the full amount of compensation they are entitled to.

Time Limits

There is a two (2) year time limit from the date of your accident, or injury, to file a claim in Court. If no claim is filed in Court, after the two year mark the right to make a claim will likely be lost. It is very important that you contact us as soon as possible after your accident, or injury, to make sure that the time limit is not missed.

There are a few possible exceptions to the two year time limit that are best explained by us. For example, if the injured person was under the age of majority at the time of the accident, or injury, you have two years from their 18th birthday. In some other cases the date the time limit starts is not on the day of the accident, but the day a person of sound mind should have known they have a claim.

Hiring Tony Lafazanis is risk free. There is no legal bill to pay, if there is no settlement.

* http://www.toronto.ca/health/hphe/pdf/roadtohealth.pdf