When are Cyclists Negligent?

If you are a victim of a cycling accident, you should know that you are entitled to compensation. However, how much compensation you are entitled to will depend on a lot of factors. One of them is determining who is at fault with the accident. If you have been proven negligent, your insurance company might not want to compensate you with the amount you are asking.

There are times when a cyclist can be negligent on the road. Here are some of them:

1. When the cyclist is not in the right lane

There are bicycle lanes intended for cyclists. However, there are some cases when cyclists use the sidewalk, especially when they think it is unsafe to cycle on the road with the other vehicles. However, if you have been in an accident on a sidewalk, you can be considered at fault.

2. Failing to follow proper traffic rules

Even if you are riding a bicycle, you still need to follow traffic rules when you are on the road. That includes using hand signals to indicate when you want to turn.

3. Cycling while under the influence or when distracted

If you use a lot of devices that can cause you to be distracted, your insurance company might argue that you contributed to your injuries. 

If you are a cycling accident victim, find out what compensation you are entitled to. Consult Prince George law firms such as DB Law to learn more about your rights as a cyclist. You can also get the help of law firms in Prince George when it comes to negotiating with your insurance company.

To Know more details about Personal Injury Service in Prince George please visit our website: dbylaw.com

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How to Collect Evidence for Your Motor Vehicle Accident Claim

After a motor vehicle accident, the best way for you to build your personal injury claim against your insurance company is to cull and submit pertinent evidence. Your insurance company will review the submitted evidence and determine how much to compensate you based on the validity of your injury claims.

Accident Scene Evidence

The evidence you can gather from the scene of the accident is vital as this can help establish fault. It’s important to establish fault to get the benefits you deserve. For instance, if you are considered at fault, you might not be entitled to some of the benefits provided by your insurance company. 

Get the reports made by the first responders. A police report detailing the accident is vital. Also, get photographic evidence. If there are surveillance cameras in the area, you can also ask for a copy.

Damage to Your Vehicle Evidence

This can be helpful not just in establishing fault, but also in assessing damage for compensation. If there have been recent improvements or upgrades done to the vehicle, it can also increase the value for compensation. For instance, if the tires have been replaced prior to the accident and the vehicle is totaled, your costs of compensation will increase. Provide your vehicle’s maintenance report.

When it comes to collecting the right evidence, it helps to retain the services of a lawyer in Prince George BC. Choose a lawyer in Prince George experienced in personal injury cases such as DB Law. A lawyer can help you determine which evidence can be used to strengthen your claim.

To Know more details about Personal Injury Service in Prince George please visit our website: dbylaw.com

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3 Things a Will Can Do – Why You Need to Make a Will

A will isn’t considered a priority by most people. But if you love your family and you care about their future, having a will is essential. Here are the things that a will can do:  

1. It can significantly prevent family disputes. 

Without a will, family members can argue about who gets what. This can be an issue, especially for people who will leave a considerable wealth or those who have complicated family dynamics such as in the case of those with blended families. Having a will directing where your assets and wealth will go can prevent disputes and ensure that the people you want to get a portion of your wealth will get what they deserve.

2. It can be used to plan for business succession.

Business succession is often a messy affair. When not done correctly or without proper business succession planning, businesses can fail. You can plan for the future turnover of your company with the help of a will. You can also use a will to appoint someone to make business decisions on your behalf if you are not there to do so or if you are physically and mentally incapacitated.

3. It is used to secure the future of underage children. 

You can use a will to appoint someone to become the guardian of your children. You can appoint someone you trust, it doesn’t always have to be a family member. You know your children best and you know your family members and friends best, so you are more capable of choosing who should take care of your kids if you are no longer there.

When it comes to making a will, you can get the help of law firms in Prince George such as DB Law. 

For more details about Personal Injury Service in Prince George please visit our website: dbylaw.com

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Not Wearing a Seatbelt During an Accident – How It Can Affect Your ICBC Claim

Seatbelts are there for a reason. They are restraining devices that can keep you inside the vehicle and prevent you from being thrown out in the event of an accident. However, many people forget to wear seatbelts when driving. And this isn’t just the case for drivers. Passengers are even more notorious for forgetting or not bothering to wear a seatbelt. 

But did you know that not wearing your seatbelt can affect your ICBC claim? If your injuries could have been avoided or minimized had you worn a seatbelt, ICBC can use this as a chance to reduce the value of your claim. You could end up getting a low offer from your insurance company. 

ICBC can say that you could have prevented the injuries you have or you could have sustained less significant injuries had you worn your seatbelt.

Of course, there are also instances when seatbelts fail. Manufacturing defects can cause seatbelts to not function as they are supposed to do during an accident. This can be used as an argument in court. However, the onus of proving that this was the case falls on your hands.

If you are not sure how you can get maximum compensation from ICBC, get the help of lawyers in Prince George BC. Many people make the mistake of negotiating with ICBC all by themselves. But lawyers in Prince George BC such as DB Law will be able to represent you better and provide you with the help you need to get a fairer compensation from your insurance company. 

For more details about Motor Vehicle Accidents in Prince George please visit our website: dbylaw.com

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What Documents Do You Need for Your ICBC Claim?

Filing an ICBC claim is what you need to do in order to get compensation. ICBC will assess the extent of your injuries and determine how much to award you to recover your losses.

Don’t expect the compensation to be anywhere near the amount you are expecting. Often times, ICBC’s first offer is low. But the more documents you submit to support your claim, the higher your chances are of getting a fairer compensation.

Provide the initial documents needed by ICBC such as medical records and police records. You can also include additional evidence to support your claims such as photos and videos. 

 If there are further medical records that you have obtained such as results of diagnostic tests or diagnosis of specialists such as physical therapists, psychologists and chiropractors, you can submit those.

Prince George law firms will help you accomplish the forms and compile the documents that you need to make sure that you will be compensated fairly. Law firms in Prince George such as DB Law can also use these documents to negotiate on your behalf.

If the insurance company tries to low-ball you, your lawyer can use the assessments in the documents you have presented as an argument to get the insurance company to make a better offer.

While not an official document, it is also helpful to write a journal. That can help you keep track of your pain and recovery, to make it easier for your lawyer to know how to negotiate with the insurance company.

For more details about Wills & Estates Lawyer Prince George please visit our website: dbylaw.com

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Choosing the Right Executor for Your Will – What to Consider

When making a will, one of the first things you will have to consider is who you will appoint as your will’s executor. The executor has a vital role. This person will make sure the will is carried out and that the beneficiaries get their inheritance. 

Because the role is often riddled with challenges, it is important that you choose a good executor. Don’t immediately think a family member should fill in this role. Here are the things you need to keep in mind first: 

1. Choose someone who has the time to execute the will. 

If you choose someone who is busy all the time, that person won’t be able to squeeze in time to execute the will, contact the beneficiaries and make sure all debts are paid for.

2. Look for a person with good people skills.

Families can fight over inheritance. There may also be family members who are difficult to deal with. If so, you need a person with good people skills to make sure your beneficiaries don’t fight each other or don’t contest the will. 

3. Pick someone who has a lot of patience. 

As mentioned above, it is a tough job. And because it is a difficult job that can sometimes take years to finalize, you need someone who has the patience for it.

Law firms in Prince George can also help you in deciding which person to appoint as your will’s executor. Also consult Prince George law firms such as DB Law to make sure you cover all the bases when creating a will.

For more details about Wills & Estates lawyers Prince George BC please visit our website: dbylaw.com

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Witnessed an Accident? Here’s What You Can Do to Help

Are you familiar with the bystander effect? According to studies, the more people who witnessed the accident, the less likely they are to want to help. Many assume that others have already called for help. But not acting right away after the accident and not helping out may have certain emotional implications on witnesses. They may feel bad that they weren’t able to help out.

So, what can you do if you are a witness to an accident?

First, ensure that it is safe to go to the accident area. Make sure there are no vehicles passing by at high speed. They might not spot the accident scene yet. Call 911 or if you don’t have your phone with you, ask someone else in the crowd to call for help. If you can, provide first-aid care until medics arrive. BC has a Good Samaritan Act that protects people coming to the aid of those in need from liabilities, unless there are injuries inflicted due to gross negligence.

Provide a witness statement to the police. If you have photos or videos of the accident, you can provide these evidences to the police, which will be very useful to the claims of the accident victims in the future.

For accident victims, be sure to get as many witnesses to the accident as you can. Lawyers in Prince George BC can help you collect evidences and witness testimonies. Choose lawyers in Prince George BC who will be able to help you in filing for a claim. DB Law has extensive experience when it comes to motor vehicle accident claims. 

 

For more details about Wit and Wisdom in Prince George BC please visit our website: dbylaw.com

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