Frequently Asked Questions

If you’ve been involved in an accident and have suffered an injury, your legal rights may be the furthest thing from your mind. You may be confused about your next steps, and you may not realize how important your early actions are to a legal settlement later. Here’s a checklist to help protect your legal interests even before you call an injury lawyer.

1. Seek medical attention as soon as possible, be it at a hospital or walk-in clinic, or with your family physician or chiropractor.
2. Photograph the accident scene, your vehicle and any apparent physical injuries, such as bruises or burns.
3. At the scene of the accident, obtain the other party’s contact and insurance information – licence plate, driver’s licence number, insurance company and insurance policy number. If there are any witnesses, it is essential to collect their names, addresses and telephone numbers.
4. Keep track of your injuries and all expenses related to the accident. Note the dates of doctor visits, keep a “pain diary” and retain all receipts for expenses related to your injuries.
5. If you are contacted by the other party’s insurance adjuster, do not discuss your injuries with him/her or sign any documents for him/her. The adjuster will record everything you say and will try to use it against you. Remember, the adjuster’s job is not to help you, but to ensure that you receive as little compensation as possible.
6. Contact one of the injury lawyers at Zhivov Law by phone or e-mail, or by completing our online claim form.

By working with an experienced injury lawyer, you are likely to receive a much more favourable financial settlement than you would otherwise. Insurance companies typically downplay the seriousness of injuries and exploit victims’ lack of familiarity with the legal system. That’s why it’s important to speak with an injury lawyer first – before talking to the insurance company.

After determining that you have a valid claim, we will meet with you personally. If you’ve been hospitalized as a result of your injuries, we will come to the hospital to talk with you. We’ll then work directly with the insurance companies involved to advocate on your behalf and negotiate a settlement for you. In the vast majority of cases, clients aren’t required to go to court.

We work to ensure successful outcomes for all our injury cases. Whether the case is very serious, such as a brain or spinal cord injury, or it’s a minor “capped” claim, Zhivov Law will help you. 

We take a personal, down-to-earth approach with clients. We’re happy to answer all of your questions and we’re available when you need us. 

Finally, we get paid when you get paid. That means there is no fee until your claim is settled.

Vladimir is a Canadian-trained Russian lawyer in Calgary who speaks fluent Russian, and he is the only Russian-speaking injury lawyer in Calgary. He grew up in Kiev, Ukraine, coming to Canada when he was 11 years old. 

Vladimir graduated from law school at the University of Calgary in 1999. He also holds a master’s degree in Russian history from Carleton University. 

As past president of Calgary’s Russian Community Association from 2002 to 2004, Vladimir worked on behalf of the Russian-speaking community in Calgary. He communicated with various levels of government to promote the interests of Russian speakers in Calgary and organized community events to foster community spirit and cohesiveness. As a result of his involvement with the Russian Community Association, Vladimir has formed many long-lasting relationships with members of the Russian-speaking community in Calgary.

Many of Vladimir’s past and current clients are Russian speakers. A number of his clients are new immigrants from the former Soviet Union and appreciate being able to speak to Vladimir in their native tongue.

If you’ve been injured in an accident and wish to speak with a lawyer about your case, please complete the personal injury claim form below and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Your consultation is free, and you’ll have the opportunity to speak directly with an injury lawyer. Here’s the form you’ll need to submit.

A number of situations can result in an accident injury claim including, but not limited to, the following: motor vehicle accidents, motor vehicle accidents involving pedestrians, slip and fall accidents, public transportation accidents and wrongful death.

To establish an accident injury claim, the following conditions must be met:

• You’ve suffered a physical, mental or emotional injury.
• The injury was caused by the fault or negligence of someone else, be it a person, company, municipality, etc.
• The injury inflicted must have monetary value. 

You are entitled to damages for pain and suffering, lost wages or loss of housekeeping capacity, out-of-pocket expenses including medical costs, the cost of any future care, the loss of income earning ability in future, etc.

Over the years we have written over 70 blog posts varying from interesting personal injury law cases to tips on preventative measure to avoid motor vehicle accidents. Make sure you browse and search our blog to practical insights on personal injury matters.