Category: Expert evidence

Assessment of Damages after Default Judgment: What’s the Burden of Proof?

by John McKiggan

Reasons for judgment were issued recently in an interesting case: MacKean v. Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Company of Canada

The plaintiffs were injured in a car accident with an uninsured driver. The plaintiffs settled their claim against their own insurer under the uninsured driver provisions of their own automobile policy. When the claim was settled, the plaintiffs assigned their claim to their insurer RSA.

The uninsured driver was sued but failed to file a defence and had a default judgment entered against him.

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Posted in: Car Accidents, Expert evidence, Personal Injury, Uncategorized

Expert Evidence and Defence Medical Exams – The Challenges of Scientific Evidence

by John McKiggan

Expert evidence forms the core of any personal injury claim. In almost every personal injury case the plaintiff must provide scientific evidence, usually if the form of testimony from teatingg doctors and other health care providers about issues surrounding causation of the plaintiff’s injuries.

Personal injury claims often boil don to a so-called “battle of the experts” and the judge or jury is forced to decide which evidence they feel is more reliable or reasonable.

Interpreting Scientific Evidence Challenging

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Posted in: Brain Injury, Car Accidents, Causation, Expert evidence, Experts, Personal Injury, Uncategorized

When is an Expert not an Expert?

by John McKiggan

A recent decision from the Ontario Superior Court had to ask (and answer) this questions.

In Babakar v. Brown the Babakars were injured in a motor vehicle accident. They were insured by State Farm Insurance. They applied for accident benefits under their own automobile policy. Their insurance company sent the Babakars to see a psychologist, an orthopedic surgeon and a physiotherapist for so called “independent” medical examinations.

Plaintiffs Cut Off

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Posted in: Car Accidents, Expert evidence, Experts, Insurance Claims, Personal Injury, Uncategorized