A serious accident commonly takes a toll on the body and mind. Seek help so you can begin to feel better sooner. Here are some common issues our clients face:

Depression. If your life circumstances have changed significantly, you may feel deep despair and hopelessness. If this lasts a long time and you find yourself losing interest in things you used to enjoy, ask your doctor.

1. Sleeping too much or too little. The right amount of sleep is critical to your recovery. If you find yourself consistently sleeping too much or struggling to sleep enough, consult a doctor.
2. Changes in eating habits. Similar to sleep, eating enough healthy foods is important to your health, but sometimes can shift after an accident throws your life out of balance. If your eating habits have changed, talk to a doctor to identify the underlying issue.
3. Loneliness. Feeling lonely is very common right now during a pandemic, but when you’re recovering from an injury, you can feel even more isolated from social connections. You may feel that others do not understand your situation or abilities. Talk to your health professionals to see how you can find connection in a safe, fulfilling way.
4. Forgetting things. Feeling distracted and forgetting things is understandable after an accident, when suddenly you may have more appointments and changes in your lifestyle. Our legal team is here to help keep your recovery process organized. But if you feel that you are experiencing more significant memory loss or brain fog, it can be a sign of something else. Talk with your doctor.
5. Mood swings. After an accident you may find that sometimes you lash out and get angry suddenly, while other times you may feel suddenly sad, and still other times you feel emotionally fine. Talk with a doctor to see what can be causing these mood swings and how you can manage them.

Now that spring is finally here, many of us are enjoying more time outdoors. Enjoy the fresh air, but be safe when walking, especially when near roads or paths! Between 2004 and 2008, thirty-two individuals were killed in vehicle-­pedestrian accidents in just Ottawa.

If you are ever injured in a pedestrian accident (involving a car, truck, or another type of motor vehicle), protect your rights by making smart choices at the scene of the accident.

DO:

Insist that the police come to attend the scene

Obtain the driver’s name, license plate number, and insurance information

Get the medical attention you need

Call YOUR OWN insurance company to report the accident (it won’t affect your rates.)

Get advice from a personal injury lawyer.

DON’T:

Tell everyone at the scene that you’ll be fine. The adrenaline is pumping. You don’t know for sure.

Leave without witness information and the driver’s info.

Wait to contact a lawyer. Witnesses vanish. Memories fade.

Personal injury lawyers at Auger Hollingsworth are here to help ensure that you are afforded fair and just compensation as a result of a potentially life-changing incident. Call us with any questions, anytime.

The long winter is finally over! But before you go out for road trips or even driving around town, make sure your car is in tip-top shape. From facing clumps of snow to slippery, icy roads, your car likely is in need of some post-winter care. Here are five things to help keep things running smoothly and safely:

1. Clean up your tires or change out the winter tires. Wipe down and scrub off any accumulated rust—even a little rust can make the wheel difficult to remove if you ever get a flat tire later on. While you’re at it, consider getting the air pressure and balance checked for all tires.
2. Get your brakes inspected. Braking hard and repeatedly on slippery roads can put a lot of wear and tear on your brakes. Road salt can also corrode parts that affect brake function. Given how critical brakes are to your safety and the safety of others, this inspection is highly recommended and should be done by experts.
3. Wash away salts. Not only can road salt impact your brake function, it can also wear down other parts of your car too. Use a hose to rinse down the undercarriage of your car, or go to a car wash that washes the bottom of your car.
4. Get new wipers. With all the ice and snow on the windshields, your wipers are likely in need of a change. Make sure you measure accurately before purchasing a new set of wipers. And don’t forget about the back wiper, if your car has one!
5. Swap out air filters. If you haven’t replaced your engine air filter or cabin air filter (if your car has one), consider getting them replaced this spring. You’ll get better mileage out of your car with a fresh engine air filter, and things will smell better if you have a new cabin air filter.

And if you haven’t gotten one yet, be sure to ask us for our Crash Kit, a free booklet to keep in your glovebox that will come in handy if you ever get involved in a car accident.

Applying for long-term disability (LTD) benefits? Boost the chances you’ll get approved on your first application!

1. Meet all deadlines in your LTD policy. If you don’t know the deadlines, ask your HR department or check with the insurance company.
2. Don’t assume your doctors know the details of your disability test. Share the exact wording of your test with anyone completing forms on your behalf.
3. Don’t complain to healthcare providers about paying for them to fill out forms or letters. It’s a professional service that takes their time and focus, so they deserve payment.
4. Return the insurance company’s calls and requests. If they say they need something, take action right away. Don’t wait for your employer or healthcare team to do it. Take initiative and respond yourself.
5. Meet all deadlines in other legislation if your initial application is denied. There are limitation periods that apply. Don’t miss the
   time frame during which you can take action.
6. Apply for Canada Pension Plan-Disability (CPP-D). If you have contributed to CPP-D while working, you may be eligible for a federally funded disability pension even if you are not retirement age. Getting CPP-D can help support your LTD claim.
7. You may be able to apply for Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). This is a provincial disability pension that is available to disable people of limited financial means.

If you are confused or experience any obstacles, call an experienced LTD lawyer. At Auger Hollingsworth, we’ve had great success getting early approval for denied or ignored LTD claims. We offer free initial consultations. There’s no benefit in putting off something as important as applying for LTD benefits!

As the winter driving accidents start to pile up, Auger Hollingsworth personal injury lawyers founder, Brenda Hollingsworth, spoke to Annette Goerner about safe driving in winter conditions.

Did you know?

The number one reason our personal injury lawyers hear from at fault drivers who caused a collision is that they did not see the other vehicle, pedestrian or cyclist.

• Clearing all the snow and ice off all your windows is required for safe winter driving.
• Using windshield washer fluid is required for safe winter driving too.

When our personal injury lawyers ask at fault drivers why they hit our client’s vehicles, they typically tell us they “just could not stop in time.”

• Having snow tires increases your ability to stop in winter conditions.
• Anticipating long stop runways in winter conditions decreases the likelihood of a collision.

See Brenda Hollingsworth speak to Annette Goerner on Ottawa CTV Morning Live about avoiding winter driving accidents.

Winter Driving with Auger Hollingsworth Injury Lawyers

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 613 233-4529!

If you’ve been in an accident and begun your injury case, there is a good chance that you will be the subject of some surveillance by a private investigator.

When you make a personal injury claim, it is the insurance company’s job to make sure that your story is accurate. One aspect of the investigation will be looking at medical records and history, but another option will be surveillance.

During surveillance, an investigator will record video footage of you doing your daily activities, but you will probably never know when it’s happening. The investigator is looking for discrepancies between what you say you can do and what they see you doing.

Avoid surveillance issues by keeping your lawyer and insurance company in the loop about the state of your injuries. If your condition changes, always provide updates.

Remember, surveillance cannot hurt your case if you are honest about what you can or cannot do as a result of your accident. Accuracy is key!

Q: What do you call an alligator in a bullet-proof vest?
A: An investigator.

When we think of dangerous driving music, you might imagine rock-and-roll (rather than, say, classical opera), but a study out of Memorial University in Newfoundland suggests that the volume, rather than the kind of music, is more important for safety.

In the study, any kind of music became distracting right when the volume was turned up. This makes sense; the more things demanding your attention, the longer it takes your brain to process to interpret them all.

Sometimes music can help keep us alert and sometimes it can help us relax—but beware getting so relaxed you begin to lose your sharpness.

When driving, stay focused on the road, not on the tunes.

When testifying in an personal injury case, it is important to know how to be a good witness. This may seem as simple as answering questions when asked, and while this is certainly the basics of testifying, being on the witness stand can involve much more than you may think.

At the scene of the injury

People who have just been injured tend to be overwhelmed and in shock. Help them out by putting your contact information directly into their phone and saying that you are a witness to the injury.

Stay around the scene to make sure your statement is heard. If police ask you what you saw or heard, be specific. Instead of using adjectives like “negligent driving,” describe exactly what made their driving negligent.

Write down what you saw immediately. It could be a few months to a year before you’ll need to describe the events. This exercise will help refresh your memory.

At the witness stand

The most important aspect of testifying in a personal injury case is to tell the truth. When asked a question, answer directly. Make sure that you speak confidently and loudly enough that you can be properly understood. It is easy to become nervous and stumble over your words. Remain calm and take your time to think about your answer if you feel having a few extra seconds will help you respond correctly.

If you did not hear a question properly, or if you do not understand a question, ask for it to be repeated. It is better to admit that you did not hear or do not understand, than to respond inappropriately. If you don’t know the answer to a question or if you can’t remember something, be honest and say so. Don’t make up an answer and say something that you know to be untrue or think could be untrue.

Dress appropriately when testifying. A good rule of thumb is to dress as though you were going to an interview. Wearing professional attire for court establishes a sense of etiquette and respect. Also, you should always be polite and respectful of the judge and other lawyers present. Always be calm and polite.

Remember that it’s not about taking sides—it’s about the truth. If you seem biased, your testimony won’t be as helpful. The most helpful witnesses are the ones who relay what they saw with honesty and detail.

While testifying can be intimidating and sometimes overwhelming, if you follow these tips, you’ll deliver a better testimony that will help to inform the court. When you are acting as a witness, you are helping to make the world a better place. You are helping victims get compensated for their injuries and helping to ensure that accidents don’t occur again.

Many people deal directly with an adjuster at the insurance company when injured in an accident to get fair compensation. In a large number of cases, you might not need a lawyer if you have a small injury or if the loss is straightforward. Here are a few things you must know about working with an adjuster.

1. Your adjuster does not work for you. They work for your insurance company. This is true whether they are an employee of the insurance company or an “independent” adjuster who looks after your injury case.
2. An adjuster may also be called a “claims representative” or a “customer service representative.” That changes nothing; they still work for the insurance company.
3. The insurance adjuster’s job is to settle your claim as cheaply as possible. Their job is not to ensure that you receive all the compensation that you may deserve.

The majority of adjusters you meet will be professional and pleasant. However, keep in mind that their job is to settle fast and settle for the least amount possible.

Every winter our personal injury lawyers are hired by families of people who have been seriously injured, or who have died, while driving a snowmobile or skidoo in Ontario. As fun as they are, snowmobiles can be dangerous and serious snowmobile accidents happen every single season in Ontario.

Auger Hollingsworth has represented families who have been impacted by snowmobile accidents caused by striking a tree, impaired driving, as well as collisions with other vehicles.

Should I hire a Personal Injury Lawyer After an Ontario Snowmobile Accident?

Many Ontarians are surprised to know that their car insurance policy will apply after an accident to pay for medical and rehabilitation expenses that are not covered by OHIP.  If you have suffered a very serious injury such as a spinal cord injury or serious brain injury, your medical and rehabilitation costs can be very high.  An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you access the maximum amount of benefits available to you.  These benefits are not paid automatically.  You have to apply for the benefits through your car insurance.  Sometimes the insurance company will dispute your entitlement to benefits and deny your claim.  Our lawyers can make the process easier for you and your family and can manage when your claims are denied.  We regularly get benefits reinstated after an insurance company has denied a claim.

The accident benefit insurance from your car or truck insurance may also provide you with an income replacement benefit if you are off work due to your injuries, among other benefits.  Again, our lawyers can help you apply for this benefit and will fight any disputes that arise about your entitlement or the amount of the benefit.

In the case of a fatal accident, the accident benefit insurance company should also provide a death benefit and funeral expenses.

Can I Sue After A Serious Snowmobile Accident?

Sometimes, someone else’s negligence caused or contributed to the accident.  A problem with a trail, over -service of alcohol by a restaurant or bar, a collision with another snowmobile or another vehicle may all lead to a potential claims for compensation.  Allowing a personal injury law firm like Auger Hollingsworth to review your case will ensure the injured driver, or their family, has access to all available compensation.  Sometimes this involves starting a lawsuit on your behalf.  We have had success helping families like yours after serious snowmobile accident injuries and fatalities.

Contact Auger Hollingsworth After a Snowmobile Accident

The best protection after a serious snowmobile accident is the advice of an experienced personal injury lawyer. Our lawyers are trained and available to handle cases by Ontario snowmobilers and skidoo drivers.  Let us help you get back on the trail to recovery by ensuring you have access to all available funding.

Contact us at 613 233-4529 in Eastern Ontario and 647 494-5371 in the GTA.  We always offer a free, no-obligation consultation with a lawyer.

Would you know what to do in a Snowmobile Accident?