YOU AND THE LAW® COMPENSATION WHERE CAR ACCIDENT RESULTS IN EARLY RETIREMENT If you're hurt in a car crash, physical and related and pain, which his manager also observed, meant he psychological injuries may affect your work performancecouldn't perform his job very well after the accident. He Over time, ongoing problems may convince you to retire needed help lifting heavy objects. Reaching or looking years sooner than youd originally planned. up was painful. And his struggles with his health and hvsical condition got worse over time. If this happens, do your injuries have to be ones that force you into early retirement for you to get mone compensation for this? Heres what our B.C. appeal court decided recentl Emotionally, he was a mess too. His pain and the realization that he couldnt get back to his normal life made him anxious, stressed and short-tempered. He Peter was a passenger in a car driven by Bob. Bob madeincreasingly felt he could no longer cope with his job or a left turn in front of Janes oncoming vehicle. (Nmes do it without mistakes that put his and his co-workers changed.) Jane, going 70 to 80 kms per hour, had nosafety at risk. So Peter ultimately decided to retire at 66, on and hit the rear of Bob's car oneven though hed originally planned to work to 71 the passenger side. Both vehicles were written off. The accident was Bob's fault. The defence argued that to get compensation for his lost future earnings, his retirement had to be "necessary a result of the accident. But the appeal court tossed that argument out. Rather, the court said his decision Peter suffered various injuries in the accident-headache, sore neck, pain in his mid and lower back and a sore left shoulder and left knee. These problems continued to bother him more than five years later at the time of to retire afterwards in light of his ongoing probems trial. He was prescribed Tylenol 3 (pain medication withstemming from the accident just had to be reasonable codeine) which he continued to use regularly. He also (bearing in mind he also had to take reasonable went for physiotherapy and massage treatments after the steps to reduce his losses). accident, but they only helped temporarily The court awarded Peter $100,000 for his lost future He had difficulty especially with heavy or repetitiveearnings, concluding he likely would have kept working lifting, neck movement and activities th his neck, back, left shoulder or left knee. His doctor said Peter's condition was unlikely to improve and he was until about 69, but for the accident. This column provides information only and must not be relied on for legal advice. Please call Stephen W. Turner at 250-868-8801 for your free, no obligation, initial consultation ermanently partially disabled by his injurie Peter was 62 at the time of the accident. He worked for a school district as a millwright and machinist, a physically challenging job. After the accident, he had to take a year off work before gradually returning to it, resuming Written by Janice and George Mucalov, LL.B.s with contribution by Stepben W Turne Lauyer Janice Mucalov is an auard-winning legal uriter "You and the Law is a I-time work some months later. But his symptoms registered trademark. O Janice and George Mucalov STEPHEN TURNER LAW Personal Injury Law ICBC CLAIMS, DON'T GET HURT TWICE 50.868.8801 , Call For Free Initial 508 Doyle Ave., Kelowna law@stephenturnerlaw. Consultation