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.
If you were injured in the Greater Toronto Area because of someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical care, lost income and pain and suffering. Kanevsky Law is a GTA personal injury firm that handles the Greater Toronto Area claims on a no-win, no-fee basis — you pay nothing unless we recover for you. The first consultation is free, in English, Russian or Ukrainian.
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
What to do after an accident in the Greater Toronto Area
The steps you take in the hours and days after an accident in the Greater Toronto Area have a real effect on both your recovery and your claim. Where you are able: call 911 and get prompt medical attention, even if the pain seems minor at first, because many injuries surface over the following days and the medical record is what connects the injury to the incident. Photograph the scene and any injuries, collect the names and contact details of everyone involved and any witnesses, and keep every document and receipt. Be cautious about giving any insurer a recorded statement or signing anything before you understand your rights. Most importantly, do not accept blame at the scene or tell an adjuster you feel “fine” before you know the full extent of your injuries. A short, free call with a lawyer first can protect thousands of dollars in claim value — and we are happy to have that conversation in English, Russian or Ukrainian.
Serving injured the Greater Toronto Area families
Insurers settle unrepresented claims for less because they can: the claimant usually doesn’t know what the claim is truly worth or which benefits exist. We change that. On a the Greater Toronto Area matter we identify every source of compensation, challenge wrongful denials and the $3,500 ‘minor injury’ cap where it has been misapplied, and refuse to let a first offer stand. Everything is handled on a no-win, no-fee basis, so there is never a financial barrier to proper representation.
If you or a loved one was injured in the Greater Toronto Area, you do not have to navigate the insurance system alone. We serve clients across the Greater Toronto Area and the wider Greater Toronto Area, and we offer a free, confidential consultation — in English, Russian or Ukrainian — in which we will tell you honestly whether you have a claim, what it may be worth, and what the next steps are.
Olga Kanevsky
LL.B, LL.M · Founder
About Your Lawyer
Two decades fighting for injured Ontarians
Olga Kanevsky is the founder of Kanevsky Law Office and has focused exclusively on Ontario personal injury law for more than 20 years. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) and a Master of Laws (LL.M) from Osgoode Hall Law School, and is a member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario (licence #51731A). Over her career she has recovered more than $50 million for injured clients and their families.
- ✓ Licensed by the Law Society of Ontario (2001)
- ✓ LL.M, Osgoode Hall Law School
- ✓ $50M+ recovered for injured clients
- ✓ Fluent in English, Russian & Ukrainian
- ✓ Contingency fees — no win, no fee
- ✓ Free, confidential consultations
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
Explore our related practice areas and resources:
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
Learn more →Free Consultation
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