The Benefits of Hiring a Cross-Border Injury Lawyer for Your Injury Claim
If you are injured while travelling across the border, you may be eligible for financial compensation through a cross-border personal injury claim. This money can go towards recovering the costs of medical and rehabilitative treatments, wages you may have lost as a result of your injuries, and more.
At Border Solutions Law Group, we are licensed to practise in both British Columbia and Washington State. Contact our team today to discuss your particular circumstances, and learn more on the benefits of hiring a cross-border injury lawyer for your injury claim.
One Lawyer, Start to Finish
Whether you are an American injured in an accident while travelling in BC, or a Canadian injured in Washington State, a cross-border injury claim involves filing in both jurisdictions. As opposed to hiring a separate lawyer for each country, with Border Solutions Law Group you can be sure that one team is handling your case from beginning to end.
A BC resident who is injured in Washington State typically first files a tort claim known as a Summons and Complaint, in Washington. Then, when this claim is resolved, the injured accident survivor may file a second claim in BC, to pursue the balance of their damages through a Notice of Arbitration served on ICBC.
One of the benefits of working with our cross-border injury lawyers at Border Solutions Law Group is that we understand the process in both jurisdictions, and may be able to handle your case from the initial claim to the final settlement. Book a consultation with us today to learn more.
We Understand the Law in Both Jurisdictions
While the law is fairly similar regarding personal injury claims in Canada and the United States, several key differences can become significant in a cross-border case. Legal costs and insurance may be handled differently, and there are considerations to keep in mind regarding the way damages are calculated.
One major point of difference between BC and Washington State, regarding personal injury claims, is that Washington State has no cap on pain and suffering damages. If a judge awards you $1 million in pain and suffering in Washington State, that is the amount to which you are entitled. In Canada, there is a cap of around $400,000. This means that even if your pain and suffering damages might be calculated at $1 million, the $400,000 cap is the maximum you may receive. However, you would still be entitled to the full sum of your economic losses: medical bills, loss of housekeeping capacity, wage loss, and other tangible losses.
While there is no cap on pain and suffering damages in Washington State, an injured accident survivor may not in reality access the full amount awarded to them because of insurance limits. Our team at Border Solutions Law Group may be able to help you navigate this, and more.
Our Cross-Border Injury Lawyers Understand Insurance
Car accidents are a leading cause of injury in cross-border claims. This means that auto insurance often plays a factor in the amount of compensation an injured accident survivor may be able to receive. In Washington State, most drivers carry the minimum amount of coverage available, which caps at $25,000. If you are injured in the US by a Washington State driver carrying basic insurance, the maximum amount that you will be able to receive is $25,000 – even if your injuries incur a higher amount in damages.
If this is the case for you, our cross-border injury lawyers may be able to help you navigate the Washington State claim, and then pursue a second claim in BC for the remainder of your damages. Under ICBC’s Basic Autoplan insurance, drivers are covered for up to $1 million in case the at-fault driver in your accident is unable to cover the costs.
Whether you would like to learn more about British Columbia Uninsured Motorist Protection Claims, or discuss how our cross-border injury lawyers may be able to help in your particular case, schedule an appointment with us today.
Contact Border Solutions Law Group for a Free Initial Consultation
Personal injury claims can be challenging enough within one jurisdiction. When a case involves two different sets of laws, the benefits of hiring a cross-border injury lawyer for your injury claim become even more clear. Contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation with our cross-border injury lawyers, and learn the difference Border Solutions Law Group might make for you.