Rockland Catastrophic injury Lawyers
One of catastrophically impaired accident survivors’ most pressing concerns is the financial burden that comes with serious and permanent injuries. The expensive costs of medical treatment, physical rehabilitation, attendant care, mileage to medical appointments, home renovations to accommodate mobility issues, lost wages, reduced future earning capabilities, and other financial losses often substantially alter the overall lifestyles of catastrophically impaired accident survivors, many of whom are unprepared for the financial strain that can follow a serious collision.
Thankfully, all Ontario auto insurance plans have provisions for no-fault accident benefits, which are designed to provide support to those who have been injured in motor vehicle accidents. These benefits can help survivors cover injury-related costs and alleviate some of the financial stress.
However, accessing accident benefits can be complex and overwhelming in practice. Submitting an insurance claim can be a daunting and complicated task, especially when insurers find ways to complicate the process or withhold proper funding. The unfair tactics insurers occasionally employ can add further stress to an already challenging situation. Without legal support, catastrophically impaired accident survivors may feel pressured to accept settlement amounts that are far lower than what they truly deserve.
Basic auto insurance plans in Ontario can provide catastrophically impaired accident survivors with up to $1 million in combined medical, rehabilitation, and attendant care benefits for life. These benefits are meant to provide ongoing support to help survivors manage their injuries and the associated costs throughout their lifetime. However, insurers may still try to complicate the claims process or offer low settlement amounts, which can be overwhelming for survivors who are already grappling with the physical and emotional challenges of their injuries.
In Ontario, the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS) has specific criteria to determine which injuries qualify for the designation of “catastrophic impairment.” They are as follows:
- Paraplegia or Tetraplegia
- Severe impairment of ambulatory mobility or use of an arm; or Amputation
- Loss of Vision of Both Eyes
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) meeting the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOS-E) criteria
- Physical Impairment or Combination of Physical Impairments (which results in 55% or more of whole person)
- Mental or Behavioural Impairment (excluding Traumatic Brain Injury) Combined with a Physical Impairment (which results in 55% or more impairment of the whole person)
- Marked impairment in three or more areas of function that precludes useful functioning; or an Extreme impairment in one or more areas of functioning due to mental or behavioural disorder
Survivors who meet the threshold of catastrophic impairment should be entitled to higher amounts of benefits to help them cope with the long-term effects of their injuries. Unfortunately, insurers do not always play fair and may look for reasons to offer low settlement amounts, withhold funds, and deny the accident benefits claims of catastrophically impaired survivors of motor vehicle collisions.
The emotional toll of coping with a catastrophic impairment can be immense. Survivors may have to adjust to a new way of life, with drastic alterations to their physical abilities, mobility, and independence. The emotional distress of dealing with these changes, along with the pain and discomfort caused by the injuries, can be overwhelming. No one facing these challenges should be forced to fight large insurance companies for fair coverage.
Our Rockland catastrophic injury lawyers understand the unique and overwhelming challenges faced by the victims of serious car accidents. If you need help dealing with your insurance provider and recovering the compensation you are fairly owed, contact us today.
Call for a Free Initial Consultation
Our catastrophic injury lawyers serving Rockland provide personalized, case-specific legal support to injured members of the local community. We are committed to helping survivors of motor vehicle accidents in the region receive fair treatment and payment.
To take advantage of a cost-free, no-obligation initial consultation with our Rockland catastrophic injury lawyers, call us today and learn about options that may be available to you.
