A recent catastrophic accident in Vaughan resulted in the death of three young children and their grandfather when their minivan was T-boned by a Range Rover driven by a person who was driving under the influence of alcohol. The crash also seriously injured two women who were also in the minivan and they have been hospitalized in a critical condition. There was also another vehicle involved in the crash, but fortunately no one was injured from that vehicle. The impaired driver was alone in his car.

Drunk driving or impaired driving is operating a vehicle (includes snowmobiles, trucks, boats, off-road vehicles etc besides cars), after consuming an intoxicating substance like alcohol or drugs. The effect of these substances can seriously impair a person’s ability to drive safely and this poses a hazard not just for the impaired driver but also for all other road users. It is considered a crime under Canadian Law and invokes a range of penalties. If you or a loved one falls victim to a crash caused by an impaired driver, you are entitled to seek compensation under civil law as well. In case someone is killed, the close relatives can do so. Find a personal injury attorney immediately who can assist you with filing a claim.

Impaired Driving and Car Crashes

Though people feel confident that they’ve just had one small drink, or a couple of glasses of wine, even the slightest amount of alcohol can alter the brain chemistry. Additionally, how fast one drinks, whether you’re a man or woman, age, body-weight, whether you’ve eaten or not and the person’s own bodily reactions.

Ontario laws mandate that as of 2009, if a person’s blood alcohol level (BAC) between 0.05-0.08, this is known as the ‘warn range.’ Penalties include short/long term license suspension, fines, interlock devices, remedial programs, etc. if convicted for impaired driving.

Apart from alcohol, drugs can also impair driving. These would include certain types of prescription drugs too, which may cause drowsiness or mood alteration. The term DUI (driving under influence) is not used in Canadian law, instead, it is known as “impaired driving” “impaired operation” or “impaired care or control.” 

How We Can Assist

Ontario has some of the toughest federal criminal laws in the world when it comes to impaired driving. When serious injuries or death occurs, the criminal laws are applicable, but tort laws can be simultaneously invoked by victims’ relatives to ensure that the family is compensated for its loss.

If a loved one is killed in a car crash that was caused by someone’s impaired driving, it’s important that a medical professional is notified immediately, to declare the cause of death. The police would also have to be informed and they must conduct investigations and file a police report. It’s crucial that the relatives of a person killed in a fatal car crash call an accident injury lawyer available 24×7 and set the legal process in motion immediately.

When such catastrophic accidents happen, people are devastated, many others may be critically injured and they may be in a state of confusion. In this vulnerable situation, they may make admissions, provide written statements or authorizations to access confidential data of the victim etc all of which would compromise the personal injury case at a later stage.

Our experienced personal injury lawyers can ensure that victims’ rights are protected and their interests are safe-guarded. In case of death, criminal charges will be filed, but the family of the deceased have no recourse or financial assistance to cope with the huge financial burden that falls on them following the death of a loved one. Pain and suffering also lasts for the entire life-time of survivors. Funeral expenses, loss of income/wages, companionship and household assistance that the deceased provided can be compensated in monetary terms to make life slightly more comfortable.

Find a personal injury attorney who has specific experience in dealing with cases exactly like yours so that they can bring this expertise to bear while filing your claims. Most of them accept cases on a contingency basis which means that no fees need to be paid up-front. They also offer free consultation, legal advice and assistance.

Personal injury claims must be filed within a specified time limit beyond which they will not be entertained. Our serious injury lawyers are well-versed with the statutes of limitations across different locations and other personal injury laws which are subject to change from time to time. Ensure that all paperwork is completed in time with the help of a Toronto personal injury lawyer.

If you, your family or a friend has been injured in an accident, please feel free to speak to one of our injury lawyers for a free consultation about how we are able to assist in making a personal injury claim. We consult in all cities across Ontario with a no win no fee guarantee. Our personal injury lawyers have helped victims secure millions of dollars in personal injury cases. Call us Toll Free On our 24/7 Injury Hotline: 1 – 844 495 7333 or Text a Personal Injury ‎Lawyer 24/7 and get instant help.TM (416 931 5015)