Caledon Injury Lawyers


Hiring the best Caledon personal injury lawyer


Our legal team knows the catastrophic toll an injury can have on your life – impacting your finances and your mental health. You deserve the most acclaimed legal team in Caledon, to ensure you receive the settlement you deserve.

We care about you, and putting you first. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Kotak Personal Injury Law
Faithfully serving Caledon. Contact us for a free consultation.

Toll Free:  1‑888‑GO‑KOTAK
Fax: (905) 755-8901
Email: info@kotaklaw.com

How can we minimize motorist-cyclist Accidents and Injuries


A cyclist was killed in Caledon after colliding with a car, in the early hours of September 8, 2015. Accidents involving motorists and cyclists are unfortunately a fairly common occurrence in Ontario. A 2006 report by Transport Canada, determined that approximately 7,500 cyclists are injured every year due to collisions with vehicles. Musculoskeletal (i.e. muscles, tendons, joints, etc.) and soft tissue injuries (such as abrasions and lacerations) are the most common injuries for cyclists. However, head and brain injury occur in a significant number of motorist-cyclist accidents (estimates vary from 22 to 47 per cent), and these are responsible for the majority of long-term disabilities or deaths for cyclists.

Contrary to the claim by some motorists that most of these accidents are caused by cyclists’ negligence, an analysis of 2,572 Toronto police reports by the Share The Road Coalition proved this to be untrue. The majority of motorist-cyclist accidents resulted from driver error at an intersection, particularly when motorists fail to come to a complete stop at a red light or when they begin driving before checking that it is safe to do so. Cyclists are also often injured at intersections when drivers turn right just as a cyclist is coming up to the intersection.

Motorists and cyclists alike have an obligation to be careful and exercise smart and responsible behavior while on the road. Ontario’s recent Bill 31, the Making Ontario’s Roads Safer Act, addresses this very issue and has established new rules for both motorists and cyclists.

Motorists are now obliged to keep a one-metre distance between their vehicle and cyclists, whenever it is possible to do so. Failure leave a safe distance carries a $110 fine and 2 demerit points. Drivers will also be fined $365 and receive three demerit points for “dooring”, which means opening the door of a parked vehicle into the path of a cyclist or oncoming traffic.

Studies have shown that about one third of motorist-cyclist collisions occur during nighttime conditions. To reduce this number, cyclists are required to have proper lights, reflective materials and reflectors on their bicycles, at dusk, nighttime and dawn. It is hoped that this requirement will make cyclists more visible to vehicles and consequently, safer when riding late in the evening or during the early hours. Failure by cyclists to adhere to this law now carries a $110 fine, a significant increase from the previous $20 fine.

While the new laws in Bill 31 are significant and positive steps to helping reduce collisions between motorists and cyclists, there is still more that both can do to ensure the safety of all involved. The following are additional safety steps motorists can take to avoid collisions with cyclists, according to the Canadian Automobile Association.

  • Be visible to other road users (why proper lights and reflective materials are so important).
  • Always wear a helmet and safety wear.
  • Make your intentions clear well in advance to other road users.
  • Avoid cycling with headphones on, as they interfere with your ability to hear oncoming vehicles and even a car door being opened on the road ahead.
  • Be on the lookout for any vehicles that are about to turn right or left at upcoming intersections.
  • Be prepared to slow down or stop if a vehicle comes into your lane quickly or unexpectedly.
  • Be on the lookout for individuals in parked vehicles who may open their car door.
  • Drive predictably; do not weave in and out of traffic haphazardly.
  • Try to stick to bike routes and bike paths as much as possible.

Cycling is a very enjoyable and healthy experience for many Canadians. However one wrong turn or wrong step and it can turn into a tragedy. Incidents of collisions between motorists and cyclists are far too common, and inevitably it is the cyclist who experiences the most severe injuries. There are many proactive driving practices that both cyclists and drivers can adopt to realize greater safety for cyclists, and also, to reduce the likelihood that the negligence of either the driver or cyclist will result in catastrophic injuries.

At Kotak Law, we have helped many accident victims through the physically and emotionally stressful time that follows a serious collision. If you or someone you love has been the victim of a motorist-cyclist collision or any other type of motor vehicle accident, then a personal injury attorney has the necessary expertise to evaluate your claim and give you a realistic idea of what you can expect if you decide to make a claim for damages. At Kotak, our experienced personal injury staff work fervently to ensure that our clients receive the settlement and benefits they deserve and are owed. You will find that we are good listeners and can advise you on a strategy that best suits your individual circumstances. Contact our Kotak Law office today for a no-obligation consultation.

Why Choose Kotak Law?


We are the experienced, effective and compassionate path to compensation. We are result oriented and work as a team to maximize the money you receive.

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  • I want to thank Kotak Law for helping me. I am beyond grateful to Mr. Rajiv Hate and his team. Thanks once again for your legal advice, time, and efforts.

    thumb Mirza Aundleeb Fatma
    August 11, 2021

    I feel so validated after my representation by Kotak Law. The compassion shown was professional and empathetic. Kaity and her team understood the complicated medical and long term effects of my situation from the start. I am forever grateful for my case taken by Kotak Law

    thumb Teresa Morosin
    May 2, 2022

    Highly recommend Kotak, they’re very professional and help every step of the way.

    thumb Adrian Lovell
    June 17, 2022
  • Rajiv Haté and Charmaine Vaswani provided an exceptional degree of support during a very tumultuous period in my life. Insurance companies don’t take chronic skin conditions seriously (despite it being the largest organ in our bodies) so I didn’t really have any hope that my claim would be settled. Rajiv went above and beyond my expectations, ensured I would be fairly compensated, and got the job done. I highly recommend patients with chronic conditions to contact Kotak Law. They’ll have your back while also giving you space to heal (i.e. you won’t be bombarded with emails during the process). So grateful!

    thumb Meera Roy
    December 16, 2021

    Right from the moment I called this law firm I knew I was in good hands. Rajiv was absolutely amazing. He was very compassionate and understanding of my situation. I felt very at ease and he made me feel like family. Charmaine was also such a pleasure to talk to and always got back to me with any questions I had and always reassured me and helped with my anxiety. They worked hard on my case and I am very pleased with the way it was handled. I am so very grateful to have worked with this law firm and highly recommended anyone to seek counsil with them. Thank you again for all your hard work it was such a pleasure!

    thumb Pina Costa
    August 12, 2021

    Mr.Nainesh and his amazing team at Kotak Law have been so diligent and detailed in helping resolve a case for us, we could not be happier with their professionalism and compassion. I would highly recommend them to anyone needing representation in a disability claim.

    thumb Elma Dajdic
    April 12, 2021
  • Kotak Law dealt with my case with professionalism and care right from the start. Kaity was great as well as the law clerks and everyone in the office that I communicated with over the last year. Thanks for helping me believe that I had a case to begin with and to support me through to a fair settlement.

    thumb D T
    October 28, 2021

    Rajiv Hate in the Kotak Law Firm did a wonderful job in handling my long term disability case. From the initial phone conversation, I had the feeling that I was with the right lawyer since he made me feel very comfortable and confident that I can rely on him. Throughout the case, he is professional, courteous, and extremely knowledgeable in the area of long term disability. Whenever I have any concerns about my case and need a clarification, he validated my concerns and responded with explanations. Because of his expertise and astuteness, the case had a successful outcome and was resolved in a timely manner. I would highly recommend him to the families and friends if they need a lawyer in this field.

    thumb Catherine Chen
    May 9, 2022

    Rajiv and Mridula did an amazing job. Thankyou so very much.

    thumb Lorraine Fearman
    July 22, 2022

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