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18 www.canadianlawyermag.com BUSINESS STRATEGY TOP PERSONAL INJURY BOUTIQUES SPECIAL REPORT NEW TECHNOLOGIES, different ways of dealing with the courts and clients, and coping with what is and will continue to be an overburdened legal system. These are just some of the trends Canadian Lawyer's top personal injury firms for 2021 see in a future that has been drastically affected by the COVID-19, sometimes for worse, but sometimes pointing to a way of doing things better in the future. David Levy, the managing partner at Toronto-based Howie Sacks and Henry will develop regarding when virtual proced- ures ought to still be preferred," Levy says. However, trial scheduling court and motions court have been "quite effective," so the expectation is that using virtual platforms for these proceedings will become permanent. Levy's colleague Renée Vinett notes that bench and bar alike, despite the steep learning curve, "have adapted well to the technological demands of this new reality" as a means to eliminate delays and reduce costs. "There is little doubt that many of these technological advancements are here to stay even once we are finished with the pandemic." Working from home post-pandemic At Rodin Law Firm in Calgary, Greg Rodin says technology adoption was not only a LLP, says that the firm has seen "a dramatic change" in how personal injury litigation is being advanced because of the pandemic. Discoveries, motions, mediations and pre-trials done over Zoom are becoming the norm, and motions to strike jury notices have become commonplace. While some are speculating virtual medi- ations are here to stay, others are less than enthusiastic when it comes to the ability to assess the credibility of a witness virtually. "At some point post-pandemic, a body of law Lack of jury trials adding to personal injury case backlog "There is little doubt that many of these technological advancements are here to stay even once we are finished with the pandemic." Renée Vinett, Howie, Sachs and Henry LLP BREAKDOWN OF CANADIAN PERSONAL INJURY CASES, 2004-2018, BASED ON COURTROOM DATA Source: Painworth.com Harassment 0.6% Libel 0.6% Misfeassance in Public Office 0.6% Product Liability 0.6% Railed Vehicle 0.6% Watercraft/Boating 0.6% 37.7% Motor Vehicle Accident 10.1% Slip/Trip & Fall Accident 10.1% Misc. Accident/Injury 9.4% Assault/Battery 9.4% Medical Malpractice 7.5% Misc. Negligence 2.5% InfectionDisease Animal 1.3% Aircraft 1.3% Police/Municapal Liability 1.9% Sports and Recreational 2.5% Sexual Abuse/Assault/Harrasment 2.5%