Ontario legal authorities determine compensation for an injury based on the severity of damages incurred. That is why clients of personal injury lawyers in Richmond Hill need to understand what a minor injury is and in which cases it becomes a serious injury. This article will explain the difference.
WHAT IS A “LESS SERIOUS INJURY”?
A less serious injury is damage to a person’s physical integrity that requires more than 10 but less than 30 days of recovery or medical treatment. For instance, if a man is physically assaulted and the wounds prevent him from going to work for 15 days, it is considered a minor personal injury.
In general, minor personal injuries do not involve a major legal process, but in the event of a repeat offense, the aggressor could face a prison sentence.
IS IT VALID TO SUE FOR A MINOR PERSONAL INJURY?
Yes, it is valid. Accidents that cause minor personal injuries are crimes that can be prosecuted by private action. This means that the legal investigation will only proceed if the victim decides to report the aggressor.
LIKELIHOOD OF OBTAINING COMPENSATION AFTER A MINOR ACCIDENT
The likelihood of obtaining compensation depends on the reasons and circumstances surrounding the accident.
In law, there are two types of motivations for criminal actions: wilful misconduct and gross negligence. Intentional crimes are those that are carried out consciously, where the aggressor is determined to cause harm to another person. Injuries produced from this type of crime usually receive higher compensation.
Actions of gross negligence are those that are done unintentionally. Generally, they reduce the possibility of compensation, and the amount of money that must be paid in DAMAGES.
Furthermore, if a person was harmed, it is necessary to analyze the extent to which the victim was guilty of the accident. The likelihood of receiving compensation after an accident varies depending on how effectively the victims prove their innocence. Victims often do not know how to handle the matter and seek the advice of personal injury lawyers in Richmond Hill.
The frequency of the injury increases the likelihood of compensation. For instance, a husband who hits his wife every day for several months is more likely to pay DAMAGES than a husband who did it for the first time.
WHEN DOES A MINOR PERSONAL INJURY BECOME A SERIOUS INJURY?
All personal injuries that were determined to be minor but have taken more than 30 days of recovery should be reclassified as serious injuries.
If an injury causes mutilation, disability, or face disfigurement it is immediately considered as serious. In this case, the number of days in recovery and medical treatment does not matter.
Another factor that turns a minor injury into a serious injury is the number of people involved in the accident. According to law, there is a difference between hurting one person and hurting many. In fact, if the injury was caused by drunk-driving, this factor can significantly increase the prison sentence.
Regardless of the injuries’ severity, the personal injury lawyers in Richmond Hill only defend people who have been unfairly hurt.