Edmonton Car Accident Lawyers

Yes. Alberta law protects vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians through traditional tort principles and insurance coverage.

Your rights:

• You can claim Section B benefits (medical and disability) from the driver’s insurer, even if you weren’t driving.

• You can sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering, lost wages, and future care.

The law: Drivers owe a heightened duty of care to pedestrians and cyclists under the Traffic Safety Act and common law. Failing to yield at crosswalks, distracted driving, or excessive speed are clear negligence grounds.

Practical steps:

1. Report the accident to police immediately.

2. Obtain the driver’s insurance and license details.

3. Get medical attention and document all injuries.

4. Contact us immediately — limitation periods still apply (two years under the Limitations Act).

If the driver fled the scene: The Motor Vehicle Accident Claims (MVAC) can compensate victims of uninsured or hit-and-run drivers. You must notify police quickly and apply within statutory deadlines.

Bottom line: Even without a vehicle, you’re protected under Alberta’s insurance framework. Legal counsel ensures you access every available benefit and pursue full damages against negligent motorists.

If you’re hurt while using a rideshare service such as Uber or Lyft in Alberta, you’re protected by a special layer of commercial automobile insurance approved by the Alberta Superintendent of Insurance. Every rideshare vehicle must carry this coverage under the Automobile Insurance Regulation (Alta Reg 117/2014).

How coverage works:

• During an active trip (from accepting a ride to drop-off): $2 million in third-party liability plus accident benefits (Section B) apply to all passengers, drivers, and third parties.

• While logged in but waiting for a fare: the commercial policy still covers liability, though at reduced limits.

• When logged out: the driver’s personal auto policy governs.

What to do after a rideshare crash:

1. Report the accident through the app and obtain the trip receipt.

2. Get the police file number and all driver details.

3. Seek medical attention immediately.

4. Contact an Edmonton personal-injury lawyer familiar with rideshare insurance; these files involve coordination between the rideshare insurer (often Intact Insurance) and your own Section B provider.

Multiple policies can overlap, and insurers often dispute which one pays first. Your lawyer ensures the correct insurer is notified and that limitation periods under the Limitations Act are preserved.

Accidents that occur “in the course of employment” can trigger Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) coverage under the Workers’ Compensation Act (RSA 2000, c W-15).

When WCB applies:

• You were driving between job sites or delivering goods.

• You were performing duties for your employer at the time.

Consequences:

• WCB benefits (medical, wage-loss, rehab) replace tort claims against other workers or employers also covered by WCB.

• If the at-fault driver was not WCB-insured (e.g., a member of the public), you may still sue them.

Disputes about coverage: Insurers sometimes claim an accident is WCB-barred to avoid liability. In truth, only the WCB Board decides jurisdiction. File a WCB Form C060 to request a determination, then provide the decision letter to your lawyer.

Example: You finish your delivery shift, drive home, and get rear-ended. Because you were off the clock, it’s not a WCB case, you keep full tort rights. Tip: Ask an Alberta injury lawyer to review employment status before accepting any “barred by WCB” claim.

No. The key test under s. 24(1) of the Workers’ Compensation Act is whether you were in the course of employment. Personal detours, commuting, or errands outside work duties are usually not covered.

Examples:

• Driving to lunch off-site → not WCB.

• Driving a company vehicle to a customer → likely WCB.

• Picking up a co-worker as a favour → depends on employer direction.

Why it matters: If the crash is deemed WCB, you generally can’t sue another WCB-insured worker or employer (“WCB bar”). If it’s not WCB, you retain full tort rights under the Traffic Safety Act and common law.

Process: Request written confirmation from WCB. Your Edmonton lawyer can appeal WCB decisions to the Appeals Commission if the ruling is wrong.

Out-of-province visitors have the same rights as Alberta residents when injured here. The governing law for accidents in Alberta is Alberta tort and insurance law, regardless of residence.

How it works:

• You access Section B benefits from the Alberta insurer of the vehicle you were in.

• You can sue the at-fault driver in Alberta’s Court of King’s Bench.

• Your home insurer may offer additional benefits, but Alberta’s legislation governs liability.

Hire an Alberta personal-injury lawyer—they’ll handle the local filing, medical-legal assessments, and compliance with Alberta’s Limitations Act (two years). You can attend remotely or by affidavit for many steps.

When multiple collisions occur close together, Alberta courts apply the “divisible vs. indivisible injury” test from Athey v. Leonati ([1996] 3 S.C.R. 458). If the injuries are distinct (for example, a leg fracture in one crash and whiplash in another), each defendant pays only for their own damage. If symptoms overlap—such as chronic neck pain from both collisions—the court may treat the harm as indivisible and apportion liability by percentage.

Practical tips

• Open separate Section B files with each insurer.

• Tell every treating doctor about both accidents so medical charts clearly separate the timelines.

• Keep treatment receipts organized by date.

Accidents occurring inside Alberta fall under Alberta law, even if the at-fault driver’s vehicle is registered elsewhere. The claim proceeds in Alberta courts, and insurers coordinate coverage through the Canadian Inter-Provincial Motor Vehicle Liability Agreement or, for U.S. drivers, by reciprocal filing of defence counsel.

Procedure:

• Serve the out-of-province driver through Alberta’s Administrator of Motor Vehicle Claims under s. 187 of the Traffic Safety Act.

• The foreign insurer must respond as if licensed in Alberta.

Why legal help matters: cross-border service and limitation calculations can be complex. Your Edmonton accident lawyer ensures compliance with Rule 11.25 of the Rules of Court governing extra-provincial service.

Multi-vehicle or “chain-reaction” collisions are governed by Alberta’s Traffic Safety Act and Contributory Negligence Act. Fault is assessed individually — each driver’s conduct is analyzed to determine whether they maintained proper lookout, speed, and distance.

How fault is determined:

• Police collision reconstruction reports, dash-cam footage, and witness statements.

• Vehicle-damage sequencing and expert biomechanics showing which impact occurred first.

• Weather and road-surface conditions under Alberta winter-driving standards.

Typical outcome: The first driver who triggered the chain (for example, by tailgating or sudden braking) often bears the majority of liability, but subsequent drivers can share partial fault if following too closely.

Yes. Under Alberta’s Dog Owners’ Liability principles and tort law, owners are strictly liable for injuries caused by their pets if negligence or failure to control the animal is proven. Unlike some provinces with dedicated “Dog Owner Liability Acts,” Alberta relies on common law negligence and scienter (knowledge of dangerous propensity). If the owner knew or should have known the dog was aggressive, they’re responsible for all resulting damages.

Police and bylaw reports help establish ownership and prior complaints. Your Edmonton injury lawyer will also claim medical costs, lost income, and psychological trauma such as fear of dogs or PTSD.

• Photographs of wounds (taken over time as they heal).

• Witness statements or video evidence.

• Medical records detailing infection, stitches, or scarring.

• Animal-control or bylaw reports.

• Proof of lost income or out-of-pocket medical bills. Document everything immediately—dog-bite wounds heal quickly, making early photos crucial. Your lawyer may also request the dog’s vaccination and bite-history records from the municipality under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP).

Yes. Scarring and disfigurement are compensable as non-pecuniary damages under Alberta tort law. Psychological injuries such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleep disturbance, or anxiety around animals are also recoverable when diagnosed by a qualified psychologist or psychiatrist. These injuries often attract higher awards than the physical bite itself.

Under Alberta’s Occupiers’ Liability Act (RSA 2000 c O-4), property owners and tenants owe a duty of care to ensure premises are reasonably safe. That includes timely snow and ice removal, proper lighting, and maintenance.

Municipal sidewalks are governed by bylaws—e.g., Edmonton requires clearing within 48 hours. If you fell on a city-maintained area, written notice must be given within 21 days under the Municipal Government Act s. 531.

Your Edmonton slip-and-fall lawyer will investigate who controlled the hazard—landlord, tenant, or municipality—and send preservation letters before evidence (like video) is lost.

1. Photograph the hazard (ice, spill, uneven flooring).

2. Report it to management or the property owner.

3. Get witness names and contact info.

4. Seek medical attention immediately.

5. Contact an Alberta personal-injury lawyer before giving any written statements. Prompt reporting prevents the occupier from later claiming “no notice” and preserves your right to compensation for injuries and lost wages.

No, but they must have reasonable inspection and maintenance systems. Alberta courts look at whether the hazard was foreseeable and whether employees conducted regular floor checks. Failure to have or follow a cleaning log often proves negligence. Surveillance footage is key—your lawyer can request it under the Rules of Court disclosure provisions.

The Fatal Accidents Act (RSA 2000 c F-8) allows the spouse, adult interdependent partner, parents, children, and siblings of the deceased to recover damages for grief, loss of companionship, and loss of financial support. The claim is usually brought by the executor or personal representative in the Court of King’s Bench.

• Fixed “bereavement” amounts (set by regulation, updated for inflation).

• Funeral and headstone costs.

• Loss of guidance, care, and companionship.

• Loss of dependency or income where the deceased supported family members.

• Out-of-pocket expenses (travel, counseling). Your Edmonton wrongful-death lawyer will calculate both statutory amounts and pecuniary losses using economic experts.

Yes — generally two years from the date of death under Alberta’s Limitations Act. However, estate administration can complicate timing, so seek legal advice quickly to preserve the right to sue.

Any trauma that disrupts normal brain function, from mild concussion to severe cognitive impairment. Alberta courts treat TBI as uncapped injuries because they involve neurological damage beyond soft tissue. Symptoms may include headaches, memory loss, personality changes, and speech difficulty. Expert diagnosis from a neurologist or neuropsychologist is critical.

TBI claims often exceed $100,000–$500,000, depending on permanence and effect on employment. Damages include pain and suffering, income loss, loss of earning capacity, and long-term care costs. Courts rely heavily on neuropsychological testing and occupational assessments to prove impact.

The same Traffic Safety Act and Insurance Act rules apply, but motorcycle riders often suffer more severe injuries, leading to higher settlements.

Alberta uses comparative negligence: if you weren’t wearing approved gear or were speeding, compensation may be reduced under the Contributory Negligence Act.

Yes. Under the Motor Vehicle Accident Claims and Insurance Act, bus passengers can pursue compensation against the negligent driver, bus company, or third parties. Public carriers owe a higher duty of care because passengers rely entirely on them for safety.

• The bus company or municipality (if ETS in Alberta or public-transit).

• The at-fault motorist if another vehicle caused the collision.

• Sometimes both. Your lawyer will identify all defendants and notify the municipality under the Municipal Government Act within 21 days if city-operated.

• Section B medical and rehab expenses.

• Lost wages and future income loss.

• Pain-and-suffering damages (uncapped if serious).

• Psychological trauma from witnessing injury or death.

Buses are generally exempt from seatbelt requirements under Alberta’s Traffic Safety Act. Unless you acted recklessly, your claim is not barred. The bus operator still owes a duty to drive prudently and maintain safe conditions.

Absolutely. These cases often involve insurance adjusters and complex liability rules under Alberta law. A skilled Edmonton personal-injury lawyer ensures evidence is preserved, deadlines are met (21-day municipal notice or 2-year limitation), and full compensation for pain, suffering, wage loss, and medical expenses is pursued.