Toronto Truck Accident Lawyers

Across Ontario, an average of 3,604 straight truck collisions occurred every year between 2012 and 2021. With dense highways like the 401 and 400 corridors throughout Toronto and North York expanding, the threat of truck accidents has never been higher. Considering around 60% of annual truck accidents involve multiple vehicles, it’s important to know what your legal rights are when you’re involved in a truck accident in the GTA or across Ontario.

Truck collisions can result in serious consequences for drivers. Due to their size and weight, individuals involved in accidents with trucks tend to be left with more severe injuries. As a result, truck accident victims may face longer recovery times, complications with their insurance, and denied claims.

At Fox Vanounou LLP, our Toronto truck accident lawyers are dedicated to helping collision victims understand their rights within Ontario’s legal framework and pursue the compensation they deserve. Whether you’re having trouble negotiating with your insurance company or you want restitution for damages you’ve incurred, we can assist. For legal advice tailored to your situation, schedule a free consultation with our personal injury team now.

How Truck Accidents Differ from Car Accidents

In Toronto, large commercial vehicles are involved in a disproportionate number of fatal and serious injury collisions, according to the City’s Vision Zero dashboard. A ‘truck accident’ can involve a wide range of vehicles. For example:

• Straight trucks
• Tractor trailers
• Buses (under certain circumstances)
• Commercial vehicles, such as vans, tow trucks, and delivery trucks
• And other large vehicles

There are several important differences between regular car accidents and truck accidents. Understanding these distinctions is critical for navigating your legal rights and obligations when you’re involved in collision with a truck.

Some notable differences between car accidents and truck crashes include:

• Physical Differences: Trucks tend to be heavier, they have larger blind spots, and it takes them longer to brake or come to a complete stop. For this reason, they can pose a significantly higher danger to road users.
• Legal & Procedural Differences: Some types of trucks and large commercial vehicles are subject to different, or additional, federal and provincial regulations. For example, Ontario’s Commercial vehicle operator’s registration (CVOR) and other commercial vehicle safety requirements. In addition, insurance policies for commercial motor vehicles tend to be more complex and may have higher limits, which may affect victim’s access to compensation.
• Differences in Injuries: While individuals involved in car and trucking accidents may sustain the same types of injuries, the effects of a truck crash tend to be more catastrophic. This can result in higher medical bills and longer recovery times for accident victims. Some common injuries victims of truck collisions may experience include:
  • Traumatic brain injuries (TBIS)
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Catastrophic injuries
  • Broken bones and internal injuries
  • Permanent disability
  • Fatal injuries
  • And more

Many commercial vehicle drivers are involved with trucking companies. These entities may have a legal team or insurer ready to respond quickly to accidents when they happen. For this reason, crash victims should also seek legal support for their situation as soon as possible.

Who is Liable in a Toronto Truck Accident?

Liability in commercial vehicle accidents is often more complex than in standard motor vehicle accidents. This is mainly because many different parties can be found to be at fault for the incident, not just the driver.

At-fault parties in truck collisions may include:

• The Truck Driver: A truck driver may be found liable for an incident if they acted negligently while on the road, were impaired while driving, or committed another reckless act.
• The Trucking Company: If an accident victim can demonstrate that a trucking company acted negligently, they may be found liable for an accident. Negligence might look like improper hiring or scheduling procedures that resulted in the accident.
• Third-Party Maintenance Providers: If a maintenance provider was contracted by a trucking company to carry out repairs or other adjustments to the vehicle, but they failed to do so properly, they may be held liable.
• Truck Manufacturers: If the manufacturer of the truck in question supplied defective parts or committed another dangerous oversight, they may be deemed an at fault party.

Because liability can vary so much when it comes to truck collisions, the legal process can be more complicated. For this reason, it’s important that accident victims gather comprehensive evidence before they make insurance claims or pursue additional financial compensation.

An experienced truck accident lawyer can help you compile:

• Dashcam footage
• Black box data
• Inspection logs
• Witness testimony
• And more

This evidence will help you demonstrate that another party was responsible for your accident. To pursue fair compensation for your injuries, you should consult with a personal injury lawyer as soon as you are able to after an accident. At Fox Vanounou LLP, we offer free consultations to truck crash victims. Contact us today to learn more about your legal options.

What Compensation Can You Claim After a Truck Crash?

In Ontario, there are two main ways in which you can access compensation for injuries or damages you sustain in a commercial vehicle accident. You may claim coverage through the province’s Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS) or file a tort claim against an at-fault party.

Statutory Accident Benefits

In Ontario, Statutory Accident Benefits are a form of no-fault insurance mandatory for all drivers in the province. This means that every driver can access benefits through SABS, regardless of whether they were at fault for their accident. Generally, SABS claimants may receive:

• Medical rehabilitation benefits
• Income replacement benefits, up to a maximum amount
• Non-earner benefits
• Attendant care benefits
• Out-of-pocket cost coverage (under certain circumstances)
• Death and funeral payment benefits

Guidelines stipulated in SABS will determine the amount of compensation you’re eligible for and the duration for which you may receive benefits. It’s important to inspect your specific auto-insurance policy before claiming SABS to evaluate any policy limitations that may exist.

Truck Accident Lawsuit (Tort Claim)

When another party’s negligent actions resulted in your accident, you may pursue additional compensation from them by filing a personal injury claim (also called a tort claim or lawsuit).

Personal injury claims allow individuals injured in trucking accidents to pursue compensation on top of what they receive from SABS. This compensation is intended to cover further losses or damages that you have incurred as a result of your incident. In Ontario, you may pursue:

• Economic Damages: Economic damages are intended to cover any financial losses you have suffered due to your accident or injuries. For example, you may be compensated for your medical expenses (past and future), lost wages, loss of earning capacity, extra out-of-pocket expenses, and more. Your exact economic damages can be calculated with the help of legal and financial professionals, who will be able to determine the maximum compensation you’re eligible for.
• Non-Economic Damages: Non-economic damages are intended to compensate injured individuals for the intangible losses they have incurred. Some damages covered include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and more. This amount is harder to calculate numerically and will likely depend on the severity of your losses and the effect they have had on your life. They might also include the potential effects that your accident will have in the future.

To successfully pursue a personal injury lawsuit, you must be able to prove that another party’s negligence resulted in your accident and/or injuries. A personal injury law firm will help you gather evidence, build a strong case, and negotiate with defendants throughout the legal process. In some cases, you and your lawyer may be able to reach a fair settlement with an at-fault party before going to court. If not, your lawyer will represent you during trial and advocate for your right to maximum compensation.

How Our Toronto Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help You

Our experienced lawyers in North York and Toronto have years of combined experience advocating for injured trucking accident victims.

When you work with our truck accident attorneys, you gain the advantage of:

• Thorough Investigation: We will investigate liability and determine all at-fault parties involved in your accident. Whether the operator is guilty of distracted driving, or poor truck maintenance resulted in your commercial truck crash, we will assemble the evidence you need to prove their fault.
• Helpful Expert Network: Our lawyers have an extensive network of medical experts, accident reconstruction experts, rehab consultants, and other professionals who can help you build a strong claim. We’ll leverage our connections to your advantage.
• Negotiation & Litigation Experience: If you need help negotiating with an insurance provider while pursuing SABS or other benefits, our lawyers can advocate for your rights while handling communications on your behalf. If you wish to pursue a personal injury lawsuit, we can help you work out a settlement or, if necessary, use our litigation skills to represent you in court.
• Free Initial Consultations: At Fox Vanounou LLP, our Toronto truck accident lawyers operate on a contingency fee basis. This means that our clients receive their initial consultation at no cost. In addition, you won’t pay any money unless we win your case for you.

With a proven track record of successful serious and catastrophic injury cases, our personal injury firm is dedicated to helping you receive the medical care and compensation you need to move forward. We will make sure that all responsible parties for your truck crash are held accountable while guiding you through the legal process.

Contact our Toronto Truck Accident Lawyers Now

At Fox Vanounou LLP, our Toronto truck crash lawyers believe that accident victims should not have to deal with their physical, emotional, and financial hardships alone. Our legal team is committed to helping you obtain the medical care you need while holding negligent drivers, manufacturers, companies, or other parties accountable for your injuries.

To discuss your accident and legal options, schedule a free consultation with our truck accident attorneys today. Let us help you on your road to recovery.

If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, call us at (416) 222-8400 (ext. 223 or ext. 224) or fill out our online form here. We serve clients throughout Toronto and nearby regions of Ontario.