Tips for Filling Out the OCF-19 – Determination of Catastrophic Impairment
If your motor vehicle collision resulted in serious injuries, you should be able to recover accident benefits to help you offset the costs of injury-related expenses. Depending on the severity of the injuries you have sustained and the overall impact they have had on your quality of life, you may be entitled to a higher amount of compensation.
The value of medical and rehabilitation benefits is based on the degree of injury, as follows:
- Catastrophic injury – may qualify for as much as $1 million in benefit payments.
- Non-minor injury – may qualify for as much as $50,000 in Medical and Rehabilitation Benefits.
- Minor injury – may qualify for as much as $3,500 in Medical and Rehabilitation Benefits.
A car accident survivor whose injuries are classified as catastrophic may have access to additional benefits, including:
- Caregiver benefits
- Travel expenses
- Housekeeping and home maintenance benefits
- Attendant care benefits
In order to recover the benefits to which you should be entitled after sustaining catastrophic injuries in a motor vehicle collision, you must submit an OCF-19 – Determination of Catastrophic Impairment along with your application for accident benefits. An accurate form may increase your likelihood of a fair and timely benefits package. Below are four tips to assist you in this step of the claims process.
Tip 1 – Determine if the injuries qualify as catastrophic
The most common criteria that are submitted under an OCF-19 are as follows:
- Spinal cord injury resulting in paraplegia or quadriplegia
- Amputation of arm or leg or injury causing complete impairment of a limb
- Loss of vision
- Traumatic brain injury with GCS of less than 9
- Injuries that together comprise a significant disability (whole person impairment)
Tip 2 – Ensure the correct parties complete the form
You are required to provide patient information for yourself or on behalf of a severely injured loved one. This includes details about the accident date, policy number and the applicant’s current medical status.
A physician is required to complete the majority of the OCF-19. Ideally, this should be a physician who has direct and recent knowledge of the applicant’s health, injuries and prognosis. A neuropsychologist or neurologist may complete the form in the event of a traumatic brain injury.
Tip 3 – Complete and submit the forms in a timely manner
Ask your insurance provider to provide you with deadlines for filing all applicable benefits forms. Note that the initial application for accident benefits is due to the insurer within 30 days of initial receipt.
Tip 4 – Seek help from a lawyer
Completing all necessary insurance forms in a timely manner can be challenging, especially for people who are coping with the new realities of living with catastrophic injuries. To learn how our Ontario accident benefits lawyers may be able to assist you, schedule a free initial consultation with Preszler Injury Lawyers by calling 1-800-JUSTICE.
