Catastrophic Injury
Lawyers in Toronto
If you have suffered a catastrophic injury, your life may be
very stressful. These types of injuries bring many changes, and these can have
a big impact on you and your whole family. You may be unable to work, or to
work as much as you did previously. You may be unable to care for yourself in
the way you’d like to, or to do the things that you’re used to doing. You may
need to spend a great deal of time undergoing physical or occupational therapy.
All of these things can take a toll on your mental health and your family life.
When a catastrophic injury occurs, it’s good to have someone on your side, who
can help you and your family to adjust to the "new normal” and who will work to
help you receive the compensation you deserve. A catastrophic injury lawyer in
Toronto can assess your situation and provide you with advice regarding your
options.
What is a
Catastrophic Injury?
In June of 2016, the definition of
catastrophic impairment in Ontario’s standard accident benefits schedule
was updated. The updates include definitions and criteria for traumatic brain
injuries, amputations, ambulatory mobility, loss of vision, and mental and
behavioral impairments. This schedule now has in place a process for defining
catastrophic injury that combines physical with mental or behavioral
impairments.
Basically, a catastrophic injury is a life-changing one. It
might be a traumatic brain injury that affects your ability to move, your
memory, your personality, or your language abilities. It might be a spinal cord
injury that results in paralysis or loss of independence. It could be an
amputation that means you must learn to use a prosthesis. It could be a loss of
vision, or a change in your mental health status. It might even be a
combination of lesser injuries that combine to make your life difficult. If
your injury fits into any of these categories, you should consult with a
personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
Insurance for
Catastrophic Injuries
In Ontario, there are guidelines with regard to compensation
for catastrophic injuries. Of course, insurance companies work to ensure that
they pay out the smallest amount of money possible, so you may find that your
own insurance company is refusing to compensate you fairly. A good personal
injury lawyer will be well-versed in the kinds of documentation and paperwork
necessary to prove your catastrophic injury claim, and in the methods that
insurance companies may use to try to deny it.
Sometimes people are reluctant to call a personal injury law
firm because they are worried about paying the lawyer’s fees. However, personal
injury cases are different: many times clients are unable to work and under
financial stress. So personal injury lawyers usually work on a
contingency basis, which means that they receive a percentage of any
settlement you receive, rather than hourly fees. Most personal injury lawyers
will meet with you to discuss your situation, and provide you with options to
pursue. It may be that you will be able to take legal action; a personal injury
lawyer can advise you regarding bringing a lawsuit.
If you or a loved one has experienced any of the above
described catastrophic injuries, call a personal injury law firm in Toronto
today and find out more about the options available to your family.