our faq

Just like a doctor will document your physical injuries, you should also keep track of any other damages caused by your car accident.

“Damages” can include vehicle repairs, lost wages, out-of-pocket expenses, and more. Some accident settlements can take a long time to be resolved, leading to a long list of expenses for victims. Be sure to save all receipts and keep a detailed journal, including any changes or expenses caused by the accident. Remember, no detail is too minor; the more information you have, the stronger your case will be.

The amount of your claim depends on a number of factors including the nature of your injuries and whether any resulting impairment affects your ability to earn an income. Your claim will include amounts for pain and suffering, past wage loss, future loss of earning ability, future cost of care, loss of housekeeping ability, and any out-of-pocket expenses, including cost of travel to and from medical caregivers. We retain appropriate experts such as occupational therapists, vocational experts, cost of care experts and economists to assess the value of your claim. Our goal is to ensure that our clients receive every dollar to which they are entitled to.

Most cases are eventually resolved without court action. However, if an insurance company is being unreasonable, it is sometimes necessary to proceed to the courthouse steps, or even to trial, to achieve a fair settlement. The final decision as to whether to proceed to trial always remains with the client (you). We provide you with expert legal advice but you always retain the final decision as to whether to go to court.

If the accident occurred outside of Alberta you should immediately consult one of our experienced accident injury lawyers. Jurisdictions outside of Alberta have different accident reporting and claim filing dates which could result in you losing the right to make a claim if certain timelines are missed. We act for clients throughout Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories.

We strongly advise you not to accept any offer of settlement without first consulting with an experienced personal accident injury lawyer at James H. Brown & Associates. The interests of the insurance company are directly opposite to your interests. They want to settle your claim for as little as possible, while you want to make sure you get a fair settlement. One of our experienced accident injury lawyers can advise you with respect to whether the offer of settlement is fair.

If the accident occurred in Alberta, you may be able to recover damages for your injuries from the Alberta Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund (MVACF). The MVACF does not cover damages to your vehicle. If you are involved in an accident involving an uninsured driver, or hit and run driver, you must give the MVACF notice of the accident within 90 days of the date of the accident. Recovery from the MVACF is limited to a maximum of $200,000.00. Every year we handle many claims involving the MVACF. Call James H. Brown & Associates for a free consultation.

Generally speaking, there is a two-year limitation on most accident injury settlements in Alberta. However, every accident is unique; these limitations may not apply in your situation The sooner you seek legal counsel, the sooner James H. Brown and Associates can start collecting information to build your case.

Some injuries’ symptoms don’t appear right away; for example, some whiplash-related injuries can take days, weeks, or even months before they become apparent!

If your injuries get worse, seek medical attention right away. Your symptoms may be a sign of a more serious injury. Be sure to describe your new symptoms in as much detail as possible. Your medical provider’s records will be used later to evaluate your injury claims; the more information you provide, the easier it will be to prove the accident caused your injuries.