Hanson Duby Personal Injury Law (http://www.HansonDuby.com),
a personal injury law firm serving the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), is
warning pedestrians to be careful of motor vehicles after a number of
recent accidents, including a woman who was fatally struck while walking
her dog and a pedestrian who was killed helping another person cross
the street.
On Monday, June 10, a 28-year-old woman and her dog were killed after
being struck from behind by a car while walking on a sidewalk in
Vaughan. The vehicle's driver and occupant were taken to hospital with
minor injuries. In a separate incident, a pedestrian was struck and
killed by a truck while crossing Steeles Avenue at Weston Road. The
driver of the truck was unhurt, but taken to hospital and treated for
shock. (Sources: “Woman, 28, and her dog fatally struck by car in
Vaughan, north of Toronto,” CTV News, June 11, 2013, http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/woman-28-and-her-dog-fatally-struck-by-car-in-vaughan-north-of-toronto-1.1320549; “Female pedestrian fatally struck at Steeles and Weston,” CityNews Toronto, May 15, 2013, http://www.citynews.ca/2012/05/15/female-pedestrian-fatally-struck-at-steeles-and-weston/.)
According to Hanson Duby Personal Injury Law, accidents involving
pedestrians can happen because of many reasons: sometimes drivers are
distracted, negligent, or even reckless. In some cases, motorists
negligently or recklessly drive onto sidewalks and strike pedestrians.
“There has been a disturbing spike in pedestrian deaths in the GTA
since early May,” says Spyros Bekiaris, a lawyer at Hanson Duby Personal
Injury Law. “Pedestrian accidents can be extremely devastating and lead
to serious physical and emotional trauma. Pedestrians injured by motor
vehicles can face lost wages, costly medical bills, pain, and emotional
distress. Injuries can also lead to death.”
Bekiaris joined Hanson Duby Personal Injury Law as an associate in
September 2010. He graduated from York University with an Honours BA in
political science in 2006 and from the Queen’s University, Faculty of
Law with a JD in 2009. He formerly worked at a boutique insurance
defence firm in Toronto, representing insurance companies.
Bekiaris has appeared before the Financial Services Commission of
Ontario, the Small Claims Court, the Superior Court of Justice, and the
Divisional Court. Bekiaris represents clients in a variety of disputes
including motor vehicle accidents, accident benefits, slips and falls,
property damage claims and victims of assault, representing the victims.
Bekiaris is a member of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association and the
Hellenic Canadian Lawyers’ Association.
“Every pedestrian has rights, which include getting compensation for
injuries sustained by motor vehicles," Bekiaris adds. "Pedestrians
injured in motor vehicle accidents and family members of those killed
need to consult with a personal injury lawyer in Toronto immediately
after the accident occurs. In most cases, fault can be established
against the driver of a vehicle if a pedestrian is hit while crossing
the street in accordance with traffic laws. Even a pedestrian is partly
at fault, they may still be entitled to compensation.”
The personal injury lawyers at Hanson Duby Personal Injury Law remind
pedestrians that if they have been injured in an accident, they are
entitled to compensation. Unlike other provinces, in Ontario, you can
both file an accident benefits claim and sue the driver at fault for
damages. That is why pedestrian accident victims should seek the legal
advice of an experienced personal injury lawyer in the GTA to discuss
their legal options.
Hanson Duby Personal Injury Law is a personal injury law firm located
in the Annex district of Toronto. The firm specializes in helping
injured victims obtain compensation due to car accidents, long-term
disability claims, life insurance claims, and product liability claims.
The firm serves clients from across the Greater Toronto Area and
provides service in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Tamil, Greek, and
French. The site will soon evolve again and be updated to include pages
in Mandarin, Cantonese, Tamil, and Greek to better serve those
communities.
