How to Choose a Personal Injury Lawyer in Toronto
Kanevsky Law vs Big-Firm Volume Mills
Those TV-advertising mega-firms sign thousands of cases a year and hand yours to a rotating junior. Here's an honest, side-by-side look at what changes when a senior lawyer handles your file personally.
The "Settlement Mill" Problem
You've seen the billboards on the 401 and the late-night TV spots. The biggest personal-injury advertisers in Ontario operate on volume: sign as many cases as possible, settle them quickly and cheaply, and move on. Your file may pass through five different associates and paralegals, and you might never speak to the lawyer whose name is on the building.
That model works for the firm's margins. It rarely works for the seriously injured client whose case needs senior attention, medical-evidence strategy, and a credible willingness to go to trial. The data is clear: insurers settle highest against lawyers they know will actually litigate.
Side-by-Side Comparison
How a focused practice differs from a high-volume advertising firm.
| What Matters to You | Big-Firm Volume Mill | Kanevsky Law |
|---|---|---|
| Who handles your file | Rotating junior associates & paralegals | Olga Kanevsky personally — every file |
| Caseload per lawyer | Hundreds at once | Deliberately limited for senior attention |
| Experience on your matter | Often 1–3 years' call | 20+ years; LL.M Osgoode; LSO #51731A |
| Willingness to go to trial | Reputation for settling fast | Prepares every case as if it will be tried |
| Access to your lawyer | Call centre / case manager | Direct line to Olga |
| Languages | Usually English only | English, Russian & Ukrainian |
| Fee structure | Contingency (25–33%) | Contingency (25–33%) — no win, no fee |
| Referral-out risk | Some advertisers refer your case to another firm for a cut | Your case stays in-house, start to finish |
Why the "Who Handles It" Question Matters Most
Personal-injury outcomes are driven by medical evidence and negotiation leverage. Both require a lawyer who knows your file in detail — what your specialists said, how your injury affects your work, where the defence is weak. When a file is passed between juniors, that institutional knowledge erodes and the case drifts toward a quick, low settlement.
At Kanevsky Law, Olga is on every call, every mediation and every court date. She earned an LL.M at Osgoode Hall Law School, has practised in Ontario since 2001 (LSO #51731A), and has recovered over $50 million for accident victims. That continuity is the difference clients feel — and that insurers respect.
Questions to Ask Before You Sign With Any Firm
- "Will the lawyer I'm speaking to today be the one handling my file?"
- "How many active cases do you personally carry right now?"
- "When did you last take a case like mine to trial?"
- "Will my case be referred out to another firm?"
- "Can I reach you directly, or only through a case manager?"
Read our companion guide on how to choose the best personal injury lawyer in Toronto.
$50M+
Recovered
20+
Years Experience
LL.M
Osgoode Hall
EN · RU · UA
Languages
Olga Kanevsky, LL.B, LL.M · Licensed in Ontario since 2001 · Law Society of Ontario #51731A
Are bigger personal injury firms always better?+
Do volume firms really refer cases out?+
Does Kanevsky Law charge more than a big firm?+
Will I actually speak to Olga directly?+
Can I switch firms if I'm unhappy with my current lawyer?+
Related Resources
Helpful Links & Practice Areas
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Meet Olga Kanevsky
LL.M Osgoode · LSO #51731A · 20+ years
Learn more →How to Choose a PI Lawyer
Companion decision guide
Learn more →Case Results
$50M+ recovered, documented
Learn more →All Practice Areas
Everything we handle in-house
Learn more →How No Win, No Fee Works
Contingency explained
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Talk directly to Olga
Learn more →Want Senior Counsel on Your Case — Not a Junior?
Free, no-obligation consultation directly with Olga. English, Russian or Ukrainian.
Free 24/7 consultation · No win, no fee · English, Russian & Ukrainian