Week One: Introduction

  • Introduction to course topics – review grading, assignments and objectives.
  • Personal injury as a specialized subsection of Tort Law requiring proof of negligence/liability, causation, and damages.
  • The types of personal injury claims: motor vehicle accidents, occupier’s liability, product liability, municipal liability, slip and fall, assault, professional negligence/malpractice, sports injuries, and wrongful death claims.
  • Motor vehicle claims in British Columbia – Tort and Part 7 (Rehabilitation) claims.
  • The various tort regimes applicable to motor vehicle claims: no-fault insurance (Quebec), optional no-fault (Saskatchewan and Manitoba), thresholds, deductibles and caps applied to tort claims (Ontario, Alberta, and Maritimes), full tort rights for now (British Columbia) and rehabilitation benefits (all provinces).
  • ICBC’s new “no fault” regime.
  • Tort Reform in Canada and Hot Coffee discussion.
  • Effective advocacy and bias in a personal injury claim – knowing the facts, the law, and the psychology of persuasion.

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We enclose the following information for students (current and prospective) regarding the Personal Injury Law course: