The Accident

Jean left her job at City Hall just after 5:00. She was late for her son's soccer game. She had complained to her co-workers that the clerical job was as demanding as her old position as City Planner. She had given up that job to raise her family. However, she expected to go back to planning when the kids got older.

Jean negotiated the scooter through traffic. She felt nervous on the scooter but as a planner, she had always worked to improve gridlock and pollution in the downtown core. The scooter was a good example, she felt.

As Jean approached Arrowstone Drive the light was green. The old green sedan that had been approaching was turning left in front of her! The collision was instantaneous. Jean felt a searing pain in her left leg. She felt herself thrown up over the hood of the car and then on to the road. She lay still. She noticed that her shoes were gone and then she heard voices.

The paramedics worked quickly. Jean was strapped on to a board and her neck was placed in a hard collar. At the hospital Jean was x-rayed and left in emergency for observation for several hours. The doctor told her that she had broken a small bone in her right hand. Her hand hurt horribly. So did her back. Richard, her husband, had not been told yet. Jean felt alone and very small.

As he was putting the cast on her arm the doctor chatted. "You were lucky", he told her," You should be up and about again in a few days. Other than the fracture you only have a sprained left ankle and some bruises. I hope you like this green cast; you'll be wearing it for at least 3 months."

"Three months?" said Jean. "But I work all day with a mouse, and on a keyboard. Will this thing get in the way?" The doctor looked serious. "I'll write you a prescription for Tylenol 3…" he said, "….and a note to excuse you from work for the next few days. You should see your family doctor soon in case you need to take more time from work." As he left the room he looked back. "You should go to ICBC, he said. And maybe find a lawyer too." "Oh, I won't need a lawyer", Jean said. "Thank-you doctor."

Hopefully Jean will not need a lawyer. But injuries affect all aspects of our lives. Things get complicated. At Horne Marr Zak personal injury is our only focus and we care about your future.