Month: August 2014

2 injured in serious Highway 401 accident

On behalf of Rooz Law posted in Truck Accidents on Tuesday, August 26, 2014.

Ontario Provincial Police say that two people were hospitalised after a serious crash on Highway 401 in Scarborough. The accident happened at the same scene of a previous crash that was still being cleaned up.

Shortly before 2 a.m. on Aug. 15, a tractor-trailer erupted into flames after it hit a Ministry of Transportation blocker truck. Then, the transport truck crashed into a tow truck and a service truck that was cleaning diesel from the scene of a 9 p.m. collision. Only the left lane of the eastbound express lanes was open at the time of the early morning crash.

Police say that a worker on the scene suffered serious injuries, while the driver of the tractor-trailer truck suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Both were hospitalised for treatment. Meanwhile, the eastbound express lanes were closed, and OPP updated travellers via Twitter that the closure could last until noon because of the cleanup. For the time being, traffic was diverted at Neilson Road to the collector lanes.

When people are injured in motor vehicle accidents, they could be eligible to recover damages such as lost benefits and income, the loss of opportunity and lost earning capacity. Car accident victims might also be compensated for pain and suffering and the loss of being able to enjoy life.

In addition to the damages that the victims might recover, family members that their injuries affect may be entitled to compensation under the Family Law Act. The damages that might be recoverable include travel expenses to visit their loved ones while they recover, loss of companionship and guidance, and the loss of income or value of services if they had to provide care for their injured loved ones.

Source: e-Laws.gov Ontario, “Family Law Act.”

Source: Global News, “Highway 401 reopens near Morningside after serious crash overnight”, David Shum , August 15, 2014

Source: Global News, “Highway 401 reopens near Morningside after serious crash overnight”, David Shum , August 15, 2014

Traffic lights planned for unsafe Toronto intersection

On behalf of Rooz Law posted in Auto-Pedestrian Accidents on Wednesday, August 20, 2014.

Pedestrians who use the crosswalk at Scunthorpe Road and Milner Avenue in Scarborough may be relieved to hear that traffic lights are planned to replace the crosswalk. The plans come after residents complained about safety at the intersection for a long time and after a senior died in the crosswalk.

On Sept. 5, 2013, an 88-year-old man was in the crosswalk on a motorized scooter when a truck hit and killed him. The accident horrified the 200 residents at Sts. Peter and Paul Senior’s Residence, where the man had lived. The residents are afraid to use the crosswalk, which one woman said that they have to use to go shopping, catch a bus or attend church.

Residents have complained about rising speeds on Milner Avenue, but a traffic study in October 2013 that tested traffic volume and speed did not find lights at the intersection warranted, even after the senior fatality. However, a March 2014 traffic study concluded otherwise. The report said that 139 pedestrians and 5,590 vehicles crossed through the intersection during an eight-hour period, in which 16 drivers did not stop for pedestrians even though they could have done so safely.

Despite plans to install traffic lights at the intersection, the deputy mayor advises seniors to take care while crossing. He says that too many pedestrians die at intersections with traffic lights.

In Ontario, family members who lose a loved one in a pedestrian accident could recover some of the damages and be entitled to other benefits. They might be able to recover the loss of household earnings and the cost of a funeral and the disposal of the body. Many pedestrian accidents are caused by driver inattention, such as not noticing a crosswalk, but benefits may still be available even if a pedestrian was partially at fault.

Source: InsideToronto.com, “Traffic lights to replace a crosswalk where senior fatally struck on Milner Avenue”, August 14, 2014

Source: InsideToronto.com, “Traffic lights to replace a crosswalk where senior fatally struck on Milner Avenue”, August 14, 2014