It is estimated that thousands of Canadians suffer traumatic brain injuries each year, the majority being young adults. Statistics indicate that the incidence of brain injury is two times greater in men.

Brain injury has become a significant medical and societal concern within the last 30 years. With advances in medical technology, many people who would have died are now surviving severe brain injuries. We’ve also learned that brain injuries should never be taken lightly.

We participate in activities every day that put us at risk of sustaining a brain injury, car accidents, slips and falls, bike accidents, boating accidents and so on. At times, the costs incurred by these injuries can be astronomical: financially, socially and emotionally.

Accidents happen, that is a fact of life. However, we need to take precautions to avoid brain injury. The majority of bicyclists who die each year die of brain injuries. Many of these deaths could have been prevented by helmets. In fact, there is a 52% reduction in bicycle-related deaths per year for children under 15 since the introduction of Ontario’s bike helmet law.

Although brain injuries cannot be seen, their effects can be extensive to the recipient and their family. We strive to improve the quality of life for those affected by a traumatic brain injury and to help promote brain injury prevention.

If you or a loved one has experienced a traumatic brain injury, contact us for a free consultation.

These days, social community forums have clearly changed the way that people communicate and work with the world. Most of people have social media account, whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Myspace; which is a powerful network to communicate and engage with hundreds of thousands of people with a single click. It’s amazing to think that the things you post on social media can have negative impacts on your case and compensation to which you may be entitled. Unfortunately, almost anything can be used by the opposing party to make you look bad.

What we share on social media websites can impact us in many ways that we don’t consider. It can affect your school prospects, job opportunities, credit and loan applications and even court cases you may be involved with. Using information gathered about a person online termed as Social Media Discovery, has become more prevalent in recent years. Once you share something online, not only can friends and family see what you share; often strangers can as well. And some of these strangers could be employers, police officers, insurance agents or lawyers.

The two most crucial aspects of social media for purposes of gathering evidence to use in a personal injury case are what and when. Social networking websites record what activities you do, what words you say about how you feel, your plans–almost a daily log of your life for some people. Photos, status updates and messages on social community forum can be used against you in court proceedings and can adversely affect the chances of succeeding in your personal injury claim.

Lawyers know that social media can offer up a wealth of information that can help the cases of both. Your own pictures and posts can be used against you by defense teams to either draw conclusions or to try and poke holes in your case.

In general, we encourage you to be safe and responsible in your online usage, as it could be used unfairly against you to draw conclusions. Social media is a great way to talk to your friends, build a brand, help a cause, and have a lot of fun. Sadly, it is also a way for people to take advantage of you in the court room.

We have some advice for you if you have filed a case or your case is pending:

1. Don’t talk to strangers. Do not accept friend requests from people you don’t know; they could be an insurance adjuster or a defense attorney.
2. Check your privacy settings.
3. Remind your friends not to post messages, photos, or videos about you.
4. Do not discuss your medication or injuries with anyone online.

If you are in need of a personal injury lawyer to help you through an accident in Ontario, contact Mazin & Associates, PC, Personal Injury Lawyers on (416) 625-2122.

Hundreds of thousands of people are injured, and thousands killed, by distracted drivers each year. Distracted driving is driving while doing another activity that takes your attention away from driving. Distracted driving can increase the chance of a motor vehicle crash.

There are three main types of distractions:

• Visual: taking your eyes off the road
• Manual: taking your hands off the wheel
• Cognitive: taking your mind off of driving

Texting while driving is frequently a cause of distracted driving car accidents. Smartphones have made it easy for us to stay connected at all times. But that can pose serious safety risks if someone decides to check his or her text messages, emails, phone calls, or any other mobile applications while driving.

While technology like smartphones, GPS systems and entertainment devices account for most of the distractions drivers face while operating their vehicles today, technology in the form of apps can be useful. In response to distracted driving dangers, cellphone applications have been developed to prevent texting while driving. Smartphone apps that disable texting have been around for a few years, but have gained popularity and sophistication in recent years.

Apps that disable talking or texting when in motion can give parents of teens peace of mind and help those who manage commercial fleets ensure drivers comply with texting laws. These apps have their limitations, however, and do not work on all phones or in all scenarios. While this technology may help parents and commercial truck companies prevent texting while driving, it is not a foolproof solution.

As cell phone use and driving becomes a national problem, the chances of being involved in a car accident with a distracted driver increase. If you or a loved one are injured by the carelessness of another driver, contact Mazin & Associates, PC, Personal Injury Lawyer at (416) 625-2122 for a free consultation.

If you have been injured and have a personal injury case to resolve with the insurance company, your physician has lot to do with the outcome of your case.

Insurance companies frequently portray someone as not truly injured because they never saw their family doctor. So visit your family physician as soon as possible as afterwards this will help secure valuable early evidence. Family physicians are trained in all areas of medicine and can diagnose, provide treatment, write prescriptions and refer you to specialists for further investigation or treatment if necessary. They work with a health team that includes nurses, nurse practitioners, dieticians and pharmacists, ensuring you benefit from the skill sets and perspectives of diverse practitioners who collaborate to give you the best care.

The family physician will undoubtedly play an important role as you work through your treatment and rehabilitation, regularly monitoring your progress and keeping your legal representative up to date with valuable medical reports. The physician will document the type and severity of injury-related symptoms, so regular visits will help compile a more detailed and potentially favorable claim.

Do not let there be a large gaps in treatment. You treatment records are evidence. Any indication that you were not interested in recovering properly, could negatively impact a claim. This means that people should not hold in their injury related problems but rather be open and truthful about them to their doctors.

Your family physician may also serve as a reliable witness on any psychological or emotional effects an injury has had, particularly in cases of longer relationships.

The voted best accident lawyers at Mazin & Associates, PC, Personal Injury Lawyers have helped thousands of clients and have worked with family physicians and medical specialists to compile the most comprehensive and persuasive cases possible.

Young drivers know but ignore the risks of driving and drinking or texting. Oftentimes, because they do not have experience handling or recognizing dangerous situations on the road, young people will fall victim to preventable accidents.

Parents play a key role in guiding our teen drivers by setting our own best example for improving safety while driving. Parents should talk to their teens and make sure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to safe driving.

Young drivers are more likely to speed, disregard traffic regulations, drive under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances, and partake in other risky driving behaviors. Young drivers may cause accidents because of their inexperience, or may be the victims by others because they lack the defensive driving skills.

Driving facts every teen should know:

1. Don’t Speed
2. Don’t Drink and Drive
3. Always wear a seatbelt in the car
4. Don’t Drive at night
5. Don’t Drive Distracted
6. Never Drive under the Influence

If you are in need of a personal injury lawyer to help you through an accident in Ontario, contact Mazin & Associates, PC, personal injury lawyers at (416) 625-2122.

No matter how bold or fearless you might naturally be, nothing has the potential to “shake you up” quite like a car accident can; especially, if it was one where you incurred injuries.

After a car accident, the body needs time to recover through rest and relaxation. There are many common misconceptions related to exercise and work after a car accident. For example, “Can I go to work?” or “Should I start going to the gym?” These types of questions are more suited for doctors rather than lawyers. Make sure that you consult your physician before you begin any exercise regimen outside of the treatment that was already prescribed. S/he will be able to give you a professional opinion on whether your body is ready and how much you need to be starting off with.

The time and extent of the recovery will be determined based on your injuries, both internal and external. If the injuries sustained include bleeding, a doctor will probably tell you not to resume any major exercise or lifting. With non-bleeding injuries a doctor will need to gauge the level of inflammation in the body. Soft tissue injuries and whiplash can get worse after the first 48 hours of a car accident.

Simple tips that can help you to heal following a car crash (but make sure to get your doctor’s advice on all of these points first):

1. Go home and rest
2. Drink at least 6 cups of fluid every day for at least a week after your accident
3. Make an appointment to see your physician immediately
4. Don’t exercise right after a car accident
5. You should start slow walks as soon as you are able to do
6. Don’t stress yourself out

Although the accident may not have been your fault, your recovery is your responsibility. You must take the initiative and follow your doctor’s orders but you should also listen to your body. If you experience any pain, stop the exercise and inform your doctor of what is happening.

At Mazin & Associates, PC, Personal Injury Lawyers can help you find the best medical practitioners for your type of injuries. This will enable you to determine when you can go back to work. Call us at (416) 625-2122 today for a free consultation.

During the winter season, the days are shorter and the nights are longer. This means that many people commuting home from work do so only after the sun has set. Driving at night can be a challenge for all drivers.

Here are some tips to help you become a safe nighttime driver:

• Look out for pedestrians everywhere, at all times. Safety is a shared responsibility.
• Use extra caution when driving in hard-to-see conditions, such as at nighttime or in bad weather.
• Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or approaching a crosswalk.
• Yield to pedestrians at crosswalks and stop far enough back from the crosswalk to give other vehicles an opportunity to stop safely as well.
• Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. There may be pedestrians crossing that you can’t see.
• Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
• Follow the speed limit, especially in areas where there are people on the street.
• Follow slower speed limits in school zones and in neighborhoods where there are children present.
• Be extra cautious when backing up your vehicle – pedestrians can suddenly move into your path.
• Check all intersections carefully, watching for pedestrians.
• Increase the distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. This allows for extra time and space if you need to suddenly react to a situation.
• Don’t drive if you are feeling drowsy.
• Focus on the road. Always leave your phone or any other hand-held electronic device alone while you’re driving.

Walking is a healthy way to get around, but unfortunately, pedestrian injuries are all too common. Poor  weather conditions, reckless driving, and unsafe road conditions can all lead to accidents that  injure pedestrians.

Mazin & Associates, PC, Personal Injury Lawyers handles personal injury claims ranging from car accidents, to slips and falls, and brain injury claims.  To arrange a free consultation with one of our car accident lawyers, call (416) 625-2122 or visit our website.

From car accident cases to slip and falls, you may have suffered an injury as a result of someone else’s negligence. Many people are reluctant to hire a lawyer for injuries that appear relatively minor in nature. In many circumstances, this could be a big mistake and you may lose valuable compensation.

Injury lawyers may assist you with your physical, psychological and financial recovery following an accident. Here are a few reasons why you might consider hiring a lawyer for seemingly minor injuries.

Your Injuries may Worsen:

What appears to at least initially be a minor injury may with time reveal a more serious or even permanent impairment. Furthermore, many injuries may not be immediately visible. You may feel additional or new symptoms, both physical and psychological, weeks or even months after the accident. As a result you may incur additional medical or rehabilitation expenses beyond what you initially anticipated. This is one of the most important reasons to talk to a personal injury lawyer as s/he will advise you to wait until you know the full extent of your injuries. This can also help you to determine the right time to accept a settlement offer for your claim.

Negotiating with Insurance Companies:

Another common reason why people do not hire a personal injury lawyer is because they believe that their insurance company is there to help them. But insurance companies are interested in minimizing payouts so that they can maximize their profit margins. It is important to understand that insurance companies, like many other corporations, respond to business incentives and in the case of a personal injury claim, these incentives are at odds with what the interest of the claimant or plaintiff. For this reason, it is critical that you retain a personal injury lawyer so that you can obtain fair compensation for your losses. It is important to have an experienced personal injury lawyer representing your best interests, who can negotiate strongly with insurance companies on your behalf.

Some people may not hire a lawyer for fear of paying large legal fees. But at Mazin & Associates, PC, Personal Injury Lawyers, we work on a contingency-fee basis. This means that you will not pay for any legal fees unless you win your case. To arrange a free consultation, call (416) 625-2122 or visit our website.

A dashboard camera is a camera that is placed on your wind shield or dashboard and is continuously recording everything that happens while you are driving your car. More advanced versions of the cameras can also record rear views; some are even equipped with infra-red sensors to enable recordings in the dark too. The main purpose of using this type of camera is to record exactly what happened in the event of a car accident.

When your car accident claim evolves into a full-blown dispute, dashboard cameras are becoming a popular way for careful drivers to verify that they were not at fault after an accident. Any video you provide must be of good enough quality to clearly show the third party. A dashboard camera can be a useful tool since it is sometimes difficult to explain or recall exactly what happened during the accident. A dashboard cam will be there to contribute to find out the truth. So, when an accident occurs, it may be easier for you to prove not only that the other person was at fault, but how he or she violated the law.

There are three organizations that would probably benefit the most from such a device being used by consumers: injured individuals, insurers and law enforcement. This is because a dash cam can greatly contribute to the resolution of traffic accidents and claims.

Some of the insurance companies have their own policies whether dashboard camera footage will even be considered, if at all. Some of the major insurance companies have yet to set an official policy regarding how they review and use dashboard camera footage. The insurance company could choose to consider it if they think it would help, but they are not always required to. However, Car Accident Lawyers, Mazin & Associates, PC would know how to evaluate such a video and determine if it can be made admissible. To find out how we can help you after your accident, call us at (416) 625-2122.

Your claim might be strengthened from the dashboard camera footage and might potentially reduce the time that is needed to settle your case. Although dashboard camera footage is not always conclusive evidence of what happened during the accident, it can be very helpful.