Motor Vehicle Accidents
Nowadays there seem to be more careless drivers on our roads than any other time in the history of automobiles. Our worlds are filled with distractions and dangers that can lead to serious car or truck accidents occurring.
If you were in an accident involving a car, truck, motorcycle or bicycle or hit by any type of vehicle, we have experience in dealing with these claims. If your accident occurred in Nova Scotia, the government has limited the amount you can recover if your injury is considered a “minor injury”. Do not assume that your injury is “minor” even if that is what you are being told by the insurance company.
Making a Claim After an Accident
When you are in a motor vehicle or pedestrian accident, there are a number of different types of insurance that you may have access to in order to help you out with expenses, etc. If you have your own insurance, Section B insurance coverage could help you with medical and wage loss. If the other driver does not have insurance, your Section D insurance coverage will respond to a claim. In some cases, clients have difficulty with their own insurance company, and we help them get benefits and compensation they deserve.
Common Accident Cases we Handle
- ATV Accidents
- Boating Accidents
- Car Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Truck Accidents
Our lawyers handle many types of motor vehicle related accidents. Whether you were in a vehicle or a pedestrian in an accident we can help.
Overview of Coverage: The Nova Scotia Insurance Act
Nova Scotia has an Insurance Act. This statute passed by the provincial legislature mandates the various coverages and types of the insurance that applies to Nova Scotians. One area of the statute deals with Motor Vehicle Insurance policies. So if you have been injured in an accident, it’s this coverage, mandatory for all owners of Motor Vehicles in the province that provides coverage and benefits for Motor Vehicle Accidents.
In a typical policy, for anyone who owns or operates a motor vehicle, there are 4 types of coverage. They’re noted as Section A, B, C and D in the standard form policy that applies to Nova Scotia residents.
Section A – 3rd Party Liability Damage
This is also known as PLPD (Public Liability and Property Damage) and is the part of the policy that provides every motorist against insurance coverage against claims by persons who have been injured. So if you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, this is the coverage that you will be able to access when you begin an action against the person responsible for the accident.
The minimum coverage any motor vehicle insurance policy issued in Nova Scotia is $500,000. These coverages move from time to time by the legislature when amendments come into play. Most people should have more than the minimum and typically a policy will carry protection for damages up to $2,000,000.
Section B – “No Fault” Accident Benefits
These are mandatory coverages that apply to every policy in the same fashion across the province of Nova Scotia. These coverages will apply to you if you have been injured, whether you were at fault for the accident or not. It also applies to you if you were the passenger in a vehicle that has been in an accident or collision, regardless if it was the driver’s fault or not.
To the extent that you access these benefits, they are deductible against the claim you make against the negligent motorist who caused the accident and caused your injuries.
These minimum benefits are:
– Up to $250 per week in income loss
– Up to $50,000 for medical coverages, treatments and rehabilitation that you have had to access because of the injuries occasioned by the motor vehicle accident
Section C – Compensation for Property Damage
This coverage under your motor vehicle insurance policy is completely optional, meaning that a owner or driver of a motor vehicle does not need to have this coverage in order to meet the legal minimum insurance coverage. Section C benefits cover damages done to your vehicle, regardless of who is at fault for the accident.
Section D – Coverage in case of an Uninsured Driver
Section D of the Insurance Act covers the situations where you are involved in an accident and the at fault party doesn’t have insurance or can’t be identified. This situation doesn’t arrive very often, but in these situations, it means you can access Section D of your own vehicle’s policy, as if your policy was there to cover and represented the individual who was at fault for the accident.
Don’t Settle for Less
Contact a Lawyer After an Accident
If you suffered injuries as a result of a motor vehicle accident, contact us to set up a free, no obligation consultation at any of our three locations.No matter where you are in NS, close to one of our office like in Halifax or Kentville; or communites further away like Digby or Sydney, don’t settle for the closest lawyer when you deserve better. If your injuries prevent you from coming to us, then don’t worry. We will come to you!