Personal

Personal Injury

With decades of combined experience, Boughton Law’s Personal Injury Practice Group takes the headache out of your personal injury claim. From working with medical professionals to representation in court, we have you covered throughout the whole process.

After a serious accident, the last thing you want to do is deal with complicated and confusing legal proceedings. When you or a loved one is injured, your focus should be on rest and recovery. Boughton Law takes care of the details so you don’t have to. Collectively, we have decades of experience in personal injury law, and we see your case from all angles to achieve the best possible outcome. We also have a knack for finding outside of the box solutions using arbitration, mediation, and negotiation that can result in desired outcomes without the cost or publicity of litigation.

We act on behalf of individuals who have been injured in automobile accidents, slips and falls, marine or aviation occurrences, and doctors’ negligence. In particular, our team has focused on catastrophic injuries like spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and chronic pain. For these scenarios, we take on the burden of dealing with medical professionals and insurance companies. We’ll complete required documents, arrange for appointments with specialists, obtain reports, find rehabilitation specialists, and prepare you for legal proceedings. We even enlist the help of qualified experts in fields such as accident reconstruction, medicine, and rehabilitation to build your case.

When unfortunate circumstances occur, our lawyers take our duties very seriously. You can count on our team for comprehensive service and skilled advice.

Boughton Law is unique because we are part of Meritas®, a global alliance of independent, full service law firms. With access to firms operating in over 230 markets worldwide, we can draw upon the expertise of trusted foreign legal advisors and even provide referrals if needed.

  • What to Do After an Accident

    The following are steps you can take after you or someone you know has been injured in an accident:

    1. Obtain appropriate medical care and treatment: Tell a doctor about any and all injuries you sustained in the accident.
    2. Contact a lawyer: Learn what your rights are and ensure that they are protected.
    3. Start a lawsuit: You have 2 years from the date of the accident to commence a lawsuit. If your injury claim is not resolved within 2 years of your accident, we will commence a lawsuit on your behalf against all responsible parties. Starting a lawsuit does not necessarily mean you will go to trial because most claims are often resolved outside of court.
    4. Discovery: Each party to the claim will examine the circumstances of the accident and the extent of your injuries.
    5. Mediation: At any point in your claim, either party can suggest mediation before a neutral mediator selected by all parties. Your claim will be discussed and all parties will have an opportunity to present their case. The mediator will try to facilitate a settlement. No party is bound to come to an agreement, and if the claim is not resolved, the lawsuit will continue.
    6. Trial: If the settlement offered for your injury claim is not acceptable, you may need to go to trial to assert your claim and get a judgment against the defendants.
  • Rehabilitation Resources

    Physiotherapy Association of British Columbia

    The Physiotherapy Association of British Columbia provides leadership and direction to the physiotherapy profession. It fosters excellence in practice, education, and research, as well as promotes high standards of health in British Columbia.

    British Columbia Brain Injury Association

    The British Columbia Brain Injury Association is a registered Provincial organization serving the interests of those affected by acquired brain injury.

    Fraser Health

    Fraser Health provides a wide range of integrated health care services to more than 1.5 million people living in communities stretching from Burnaby to White Rock to Hope. Their quality health care services range from acute care hospitals to community-based residential, home health, mental health, and public health services.

    Vancouver Coastal Health

    Vancouver Coastal Health delivers healthcare services to over one million BC residents living in Vancouver, Vancouver’s North Shore, Richmond, the Sea-to-Sky Highway, Sunshine Coast, Bella Bella, Bella Coola the Central Coast, and the surrounding areas.

    Spinal Cord Injury BC

    SCI BC has a range of programs and resources to help people with spinal cord injury (or related physical disability), and their families, adjust, adapt and thrive after injury.

    Massage Therapists’ Association of British Columbia

    The Massage Therapists’ Association (MTABC) is a non-profit Association for Registered Massage Therapists in British Columbia. RMTs in BC are trained in the assessment and diagnosis of soft tissue and joints of the body as well as the treatment and prevention of injury, pain and physical disorders.

  • Frequently Asked Questions
    What information about my case should I have at hand when first contacting your firm?
    It is important that you gather as much information as possible about your case prior to your first meeting with us. By providing details of your insurance policy, the claim number you received from your insurer, an accident report, and a summary of your injuries, you will help us determine how best to proceed with the case.
    How will my initial meeting with your firm proceed?
    We offer expertise across a broad spectrum of personal injury matters. Based on the information you gave us when you first contacted the firm, we will have assigned your case to the lawyer on the team whose experience best matches your particular claim. The lawyer will discuss with you the details of your case and give you a preliminary estimate of your prospects of success. We do not charge for this initial consultation.
    How does your fee system work?
    Worrying about up-front costs to obtain legal representation is rarely workable for people who have recently suffered an injury. The cost of legal bills should not be the focus of pursuing your rights following an accident. Therefore, we often accept cases on a contingency basis. What this means is that we will be paid as a percentage of any settlement or judgment at trial in your favour. If your case is not successful, then you will not have to pay our legal fees.

    In sum, we do not get paid until you get paid. However, if you do not want us to represent you on a contingency basis, we can charge our hourly fees as they are incurred.

    What are my chances of winning my case?
    Unfortunately, no party can ever be 100% sure of victory – there are no guarantees. At your initial consultation, your lawyer will have given you a realistic assessment of your chances of success. We will do our utmost to ensure the best possible outcome for your case.
    Why should I engage a specialist personal injury lawyer – can I use my family lawyer?
    Personal injury is a highly specialized area of law. The opposing counsel will normally be a specialist in the area acting for an insurance company. By engaging a specialist personal injury lawyer with similar expertise, you are maximizing your chances of a successful resolution of your case.
    If my case does go to trial, how will you help me to prepare?
    We understand that the prospect of a trial can be a daunting one. In the event of your case going to trial, we will outline the steps involved in the process and keep you abreast of our strategy. We will work with you collaboratively so that you are aware of the status of your case at all times and know what to expect during the trial. Our lawyers are always available to address any queries or concerns you might have.
  • Representative Transactions

    Acted as plaintiff’s counsel in one of the largest awards in British Columbia for the wrongful death of a child.

    Acted as counsel for a quadriplegic plaintiff in an action involving the liability of an employer supplying alcohol to its employees during working hours.

    Successfully prosecuted an action on behalf of a plaintiff who sustained multiple amputations arising from negligent treatment in a provincial corrections facility.

    Acted as counsel for a quadriplegic plaintiff against a highway maintenance contractor as a result of unsafe conditions on a highway.

    Acted for the surviving spouses and families of pilots killed in aircraft accidents.

    Successfully defended a claim for traumatic brain injury and related disability.

    Represented a couple injured in a float-plane crash and established that post-traumatic stress symptoms impacted ability to work, leading to the award of damages in excess of $450,000.

    Successfully argued for the admissibility of complex medical evidence relating to client’s symptoms of multiple sclerosis, which had been aggravated by an automobile accident.

    Acted as co-counsel for a pedestrian who suffered a severe traumatic brain injury after being struck by a vehicle making a left turn at an intersection.