Your loved one's future is our why
Trial-tested experience in medical malpractice and personal injury
Call us today: 1-800-771-8508 ( 8:30-5:00, Monday-Friday )
Personal Injury Lawyers
Compensation for you and your loved one's future is our why
Why did this happen to us?
Why does the future look so bleak
Why isn’t there more support?
When your mind is racing with unanswered questions, when your future has changed in an instant, when you need both compensation and protection, Legate Injury Lawyers is here. We’ve helped hundreds of people see beyond their unplanned reality and secure brighter futures.
- 40+ years of focused experience
- 100s of speeches and publications
- $24M recovered in 2021
- 10+ awards and listings in peer – reviewed publications
We can help protect your future, too.
Best Lawyers
Lawyer of the year 2021
Children's Health Foundation
Board of Directors
Experienced in Civil Litigation
LSO since 1996. 9th woman in the province to receive designation.
Ontario Trial Lawyer Association
Past President (first woman to hold this position)
Practice Areas
Injuries
- Birth Injuries
- Child Injuries
- Car Accidents
- Brain Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Slips & Falls
- Fatal Accidents
- Recreational Injuries
Malpractice
- Medical Malpractice
- Birth Trauma
- Misdiagnosis
- Untreated Jaundice
- Midwife Negligence
- Ob Gyn Malpractice
- Surgical Negligence
- Postpartum Negligence
What kind of accident?
An unplanned reality. A hopeful future. We're here to listen. We're here to help.
What can I expect?
You are not alone. Legate Injury Lawyers understand the emotional weight of personal injuries, the intimidating nature of the medical system, and the complexities of the insurance industry. Begin by simply sharing your story with us.
Free consultation
We will listen to your unique situation. We will explain the basics of lawsuits, including how they are paid for, what time limits there are, and what your time investment will be. From there, we will develop a plan to investigate your case further—or be honest and let you know if we don’t think there is one
Investigation
We will gather information about what happened, and how you and your loved ones have been impacted. If notice letters are required to protect your interests, they will be sent out. Your case will be opened, and a Retainer Agreement will be signed that sets out exactly what you can expect from us, and how you will be charged.
Evaluation
We will decide together who to sue. Sometimes that is obvious, sometimes it is not. We will make decisions about when to start a lawsuit (called an action), and what should be claimed as compensation for you. In complicated cases, we may have to hire experts in engineering, medicine, or accounting to help us make decisions about the case.
Starting the Action
A court document is prepared by us to deliver to the people we have sued. It sets out our claims. They will then hire a lawyer and defend the action. Sometimes cases are settled at this point through discussions between the lawyers or with “adjusters” at insurance companies.
Discovery
In this step, we find out about the case the other side is putting forward and ensure they learn about ours. It is designed to make sure that each side knows what they are facing, and thereby encourages settlement. Most cases settle sometime following the discovery process.
Preparing to Settle or Proceed to Trial
We believe that preparing to go to trial is the best way to settle a case. If our opponent understands that failing to settle means going to trial, they will evaluate your case objectively and that usually leads to settlement. Before your case settles, you will know what compensation you will have in hand, and what fees will be charged.
Contact Legate
You’ve likely got lots of questions, but little time. Trust Legate Injury Lawyers for the answers. We’ve got time to listen—whenever you do. For a better tomorrow, we’re here for you today.
Frequently Asked Questions
How will I pay for this?
Legate works on a contingency fee basis. That means that we are not paid unless your case is successful. Success means being paid compensation for your losses. In rare cases, we will ask for a retainer to assist with investigation (e.g., in a medical negligence case that is very unclear at the start).
How long will it take?
Lawsuits involving injury take time. First, we need the doctors to give us a prognosis or prediction about your future course. Then, we can assess income losses, future care needs, and other damages. That may take weeks, months, or even years to do properly and carefully. We won’t waste your time and will get you to court or settlement as soon as it is in your best interest to do so.
How much is my case worth?
When we meet, we will ask questions about your work, hobbies, home life, and future goals. The extent that these things are impacted will be the measure of your loss. You can claim for pain and suffering (which is capped in Canada), lost income, loss of future ability to earn income, care needs beyond OHIP, care from family and friends, and assistance at home should you need it. It is important to remember that your circumstances are unique. There is no cookie cutter approach.
When can I get back to my old life?
We hope that you can. Barbara Legate’s philosophy has always been this: if an injury happened to her, she would want her life back, too. Lawyers should not stand in your way but rather support that effort in any way they can. That is a good strategy because insurance companies and defence lawyers will be looking for anything they can to criticize your motivation. Hard work at rehabilitation is a blockade to that strategy.
How do contingency fees work?
If we agree to proceed beyond an initial investigation in your case, we usually enter into a contingency fee agreement that governs how we are paid. Most individuals cannot afford to pay upfront for a lawsuit. Contingency fee agreements facilitate access to justice by allowing you to compensate us for our time by paying a percentage of the amount you recover at the end of the case. The percentage fee is decided upon based on the risks in your particular case, the amount of resources we will spend to properly prepare your case, and other factors that we will discuss together.nnThe Law Society of Ontario requires firms to publish the maximum contingency fee they charge to ensure the public can make informed decisions. Unless a court orders otherwise, our fee will not be more than 35% of your damages and costs. Your fee may be lower. Fees will always be discussed and agreed upon in advance to ensure there are no surprises.
We have time for your call.
Call us Today: 1-800-771-8508 ( 8:30-5:00, Monday-Friday )
