Common Types of Cross-Border Injuries, and Possible Compensation
There are many different types of injuries that can happen across the border, ranging from mild to severe. If you suspect that the cause of your injury was not your own doing, you may be entitled to some degree of compensation.
At Border Solutions Law Group, we are here to help. If you or a loved one gets hurt across the border and wants to seek compensation for your injuries, contact our law firm to see if you may be eligible for a potential claim.
Injuries from Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motor vehicle and motorcycle accidents are some of the most common causes of cross-border injuries. Common injuries include shoulder and knee injuries, whiplash, loss of limbs, internal bleeding, burns, lacerations, and broken bones.
There are many factors to take into consideration when you are involved in a motor vehicle accident across the border. First off, you will have to file a claim in your home country with your insurance to cover some of the costs caused by your injuries and also potential vehicle damage. Then, you may also want to file a lawsuit against the at-fault parties, if applicable.
However, because this is a cross-border matter, there are additional legal complexities that may require the assistance of a cross-border personal injury lawyer who has handled cross-border accident legal claims.
Injuries from Slip and Fall Accidents
Injuries from cross-border slip and fall accidents can range in severity. These injuries may include things like scrapes, bruises, broken bones, sprained muscles, as well as major injuries like concussions or back and neck problems.
A slip and fall accident may not be your fault. If it happens across the border (or at a location you do not own), it is possible that the property owner was negligent in maintaining a proper standard of safety. This could include uneven or wet/slippery flooring, cramped or icy walkways, broken steps, and more. If you suspect that your slip and fall was caused by the property owner’s negligence, then you may be entitled to compensation that could help cover injury-related costs. Contact our cross-border injury legal team at Border Solutions Law Group today to discuss your case.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Sometimes, a cross-border accident can cause a spinal cord injury, like paralysis or a back injury. If this accident happens while you are travelling, you may be faced with the burden of filing two claims – so it may be useful to connect with a dual-licensed cross-border personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. They can help analyze your cross-border spinal injury claim, balance the costs versus the gains, and make an informed plan to proceed.
Depending on your insurance policy, you may want to seek different types of damages or open a lawsuit against at-fault parties. The goal is to cover the costs of sustaining a spinal cord injury, which may include pain and suffering, future costs of care, psychological trauma, medical care, rehabilitation, and more.
Chronic Pain Injuries
Chronic pain is a long-standing pain that lingers beyond the usual recovery time of an injury. It could be continuous or intermittent. In some cases, chronic pain impacts a person’s ability to eat properly, work, or enjoy life.
Cross-border injuries can cause chronic pain like soft tissue injuries, myofascial pain, whiplash, and more. On top of the physical and emotional toll of dealing with chronic pain, being dismissed by an insurer for it can be frustrating. Unfortunately, this sometimes does happen. And if the accident is sustained across the border, you may be facing another level of complexity.
A cross-border personal injury lawyer may be able to help you gather the correct evidence to build a comprehensive claim that adheres to varying regulations in both Washington and British Columbia and best suits your situation.
Brain Injuries
A brain injury is incredibly serious. Sometimes, people sustain a brain injury without initially realizing it. It can impact every element of your life, from your ability to work to completing daily tasks.
You may want to hold insurers accountable to provide accident benefits to which you are entitled. At the same time, you may want to fight the at-fault parties across the border for compensation. Because brain injuries may be difficult to diagnose, sometimes insurers are initially skeptical of claims involving brain injuries.
But at Border Solutions Law Group, we have compiled a network of professionals who can help bolster your cross-border brain injury claims. By obtaining supporting evidence like an evaluation on the impact of a person’s income earning capacity, a full medical diagnosis and treatment recommendations, and an evaluation of additional needs such as the future cost of care, our cross-border injury lawyers may build you a strong and supported claim and also protect your right to recover.
Compensation Options
When you hurt yourself across the border, you may have to file two claims at once – one in the country you were hurt in, and one in your home country. Depending on the accident type, you may be entitled to a variety of compensation options. Typically, you will seek damages through your tort claim, which is filed in the country in which the accident occurred. Your other claim will be filed in your home country to collect insurance in order to cover the rest of your costs.
The amount and types of compensation you may be entitled to differs from country to country. Some types of compensation may include:
- Medical and rehabilitative treatment and care
- Family member claims
- Benefits for homemakers
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of wages and income-earning capacity
- Costs of future care
- And more
It is important to note that in Canada, there is a cap on damages that can be awarded for injuries sustained in a car accident, which sits around $400,000 – even for severe injuries, this is the maximum allotment for pain and suffering. However, you are still entitled to recover all your economic losses and injury-caused expenses like medical bills, caregiver and rehabilitation costs, loss of income due to time off work, and more.
The opposite is true in Washington State. They have no limit on damages that can be awarded for injuries sustained in a car accident. They also do not allow claimants to recover legal expenses, but you can do so in British Columbia. It is also important to take legal expenses into account, as that may determine whether it is worth filing the claim.
Because you are facing two different sets of legal processes as well as differing insurance policies, it is highly recommended that you speak to a professional who is well versed in cross-border claims.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Cross-Border Personal Injury Lawyers
Cross-border claims can be complicated for Canadians who get injured in Washington State, and also for Americans who get hurt while visiting British Columbia. That being said, if you have been injured, you have a legal right to pursue various compensation and benefit options.
Our cross-border injury lawyers are knowledgeable in this area of law in both Washington State and British Columbia. By working with our dual-licensed lawyers, our clients avoid the complexities of having to hire two sets of lawyers to deal with a cross-border claim.
To schedule a free consultation, contact us today to see how we might be able to help you.
Disclaimer: For specific legal advice on your cross-border personal injury matter, please consult with a personal injury lawyer. The content in this article is not intended to act as legal advice and is instead intended to act as a general overview of a legal topic.