Accident? Injury? — We Can Help!
An Interview with Lawyer Egor Evsikov
Nasha Ottawa Correspondent: Hello, dear readers! Today our guest is Egor Evsikov, a personal injury lawyer who helps people obtain compensation if they have been injured in a car accident, suffered an injury in a slip-and-fall, or been harmed as a result of someone else’s negligence.
This is an important topic. Life is unpredictable, and after an accident or injury, people are often in shock and do not know where to turn or what to do. Mistakes made in the first few days can cost money and may even affect a person’s ability to receive compensation.
Egor Evsikov: I completely agree. When someone is injured, their first thoughts are naturally about pain, fear, and medical treatment. But at the same time, it is important to properly document what happened and take the necessary steps promptly in order to protect your rights.
Correspondent: Many people know you as a chess coach for children. But your main profession is personal injury law. How does “chess thinking” help you win complex cases?
Egor: I would put it this way: in chess, you need to see several moves ahead, keep a cool head, and avoid rushing. Legal practice is very similar. You need to approach the process strategically: gather documents, evidence, and medical records, and anticipate how the opposing side — whether an insurance company or another party — may act. Most importantly, you need to remain calm and move consistently toward the client’s goal.
Correspondent: Please tell us about yourself and your firm. How did you get into law?
Egor: I served in the Canadian Armed Forces for quite a long time and worked as an analyst, including in military intelligence and at headquarters. Eventually, I decided to change my professional focus and went to law school at the University of Ottawa.
Today, I practise law and specialize in personal injury cases, including motor vehicle accidents, slips and falls, and injuries resulting from various incidents.
Our firm, MG Law, has been operating in Ottawa since 2009. It was founded by Miriam Gorelashvili. MG Law has approximately 20 employees and several lawyers who specialize specifically in personal injury cases, including motor vehicle accidents, slip-and-fall cases, medical malpractice, and related matters.
We are a legal practice focused specifically on personal injury. Our goal is to support the client from the first consultation through to the final outcome. We help manage the legal side of the process: communicating with insurance companies, collecting and preparing documents, obtaining medical records, preparing evidence, negotiating, and, when necessary, going to court.
We try to take the difficult legal work off the client’s shoulders so that they can focus on their recovery.
Correspondent: Would it be fair to say that your military analytical experience helped you better understand injuries? After all, people in the military sometimes suffer injuries during training or service. Does that influence your approach?
Egor: Yes, absolutely. Military service and analytical work taught me how to work with facts, identify cause-and-effect relationships, and approach complex situations systematically.
Just as importantly, I have seen how injuries — both physical and psychological — can change people’s lives. That is why, for me, our work is not simply about “handling a case.” It is about supporting the client, helping them through the rehabilitation process, and working to obtain fair compensation.
Correspondent: Let’s imagine a situation: someone is involved in a car accident, slips in a parking lot, falls in a store, or suffers an impact injury. They do not yet know whether it is “just a bruise” or an injury with lasting consequences. What should they do immediately to avoid losing the opportunity to receive compensation?
Egor: The first priority is medical attention. If the condition is serious, call an ambulance.
Even if you feel that you are “probably fine,” you should see a doctor as soon as possible and describe your symptoms in detail. One important point is that the effects of concussions and neck and back injuries often do not appear immediately. A person may initially be in shock, and only several days later begin experiencing headaches, dizziness, sleep problems, or other symptoms.
Second, document the circumstances. If possible, take photographs of the location, the cause of the fall — such as ice, a wet floor, or an obstacle — as well as any damage, footwear, clothing, or relevant marks. If it is a motor vehicle accident, photograph the vehicles, licence plates, the overall scene, and road conditions. If you fall inside a business or other premises, notify the staff and ask them to formally document the incident.
Third, pay attention to notification requirements and deadlines. In Ontario, you generally have two years to commence a civil claim. However, if the injury occurred on municipal property, written notice must be provided to the municipality within 10 days. In motor vehicle accident cases, it is important to contact your insurance company as soon as possible.
And fourth, contact a lawyer so that you do not miss important steps or say something unnecessarily that could later be used against you.
Correspondent: Many people believe that lawyers are extremely expensive, so they hesitate to seek legal help even when they feel they may be entitled to compensation. What would you say to readers who are worried about the cost?
Egor: In personal injury law, a contingency fee arrangement is common. Simply put, the client does not pay us upfront for our work. Instead, the legal fee is paid as a percentage of the compensation if compensation is obtained, whether through a court proceeding or a settlement. If no compensation is recovered, the client generally does not pay legal fees.
In addition, our initial consultation is free. A person can come in, explain what happened, and receive an honest assessment of the situation — what steps to take next, what documents are needed, and what the prospects may be.
Correspondent: Another important advantage, particularly for Russian-speaking readers, is language. Even if someone speaks English, legal and medical terminology can feel like a world of its own. What languages can you use when communicating with clients?
Egor: Our firm happens to have staff members who speak many languages. We have professionals who speak Russian, Ukrainian, French, and other languages. This can make things much easier for clients. It is often easier for people to accurately describe their symptoms, the circumstances of an incident, and what they are going through in their native language — especially in a stressful situation.
Correspondent: Many people in Canada have insurance, particularly auto insurance. It seems logical: if you are in an accident, you contact your insurance company and everything gets resolved. When should someone contact you, and when is dealing with the insurance company enough?
Egor: If only the vehicle is damaged and there are no injuries, the insurance company is usually sufficient. They can handle the repair or payment.
But if there is an injury, especially a serious one, I would recommend consulting a lawyer. Personal injury cases involve many factors: medical consequences, long-term limitations, rehabilitation, lost income, and expenses incurred by the family.
There is another important point: the interests of the insurance company and the injured person do not always align. An insurance company is a business that seeks to minimize payouts. Our job is to work toward ensuring that the client receives the maximum fair compensation available and access to appropriate rehabilitation.
Correspondent: One final practical question. After an accident, a person may be in shock. They may not remember phone numbers or names and may not even be able to clearly explain what happened. How can people make it easier to access your help in advance?
Egor: The simplest advice is to save my number, 613-730-8460, in your phone now. You can also cut out my business card from the back cover of the magazine and keep it with your insurance papers or other documents in your car.
When you need it, this can really help: you open your insurance documents and immediately know whom to call.
And I will repeat: our initial consultation is free. You can ask questions and receive advice about what steps to take next.
Correspondent: Egor, thank you for the conversation and for the practical advice. Dear readers, stay safe on the roads and on slippery streets. Most importantly, do not face the problem alone. If you have been injured and do not know what to do next, it is better to consult a professional promptly.
Egor: Thank you very much! I was glad to answer your questions, and I hope this information will help people know what to do in a difficult situation.
The video recording of the interview is available on the Nasha Ottawa website: nashaottawa.ca/mglaw