Catastrophic Injuries
Ottawa catastrophic injury lawyers who care
Have you suffered a catastrophic injury in Ottawa?
Accidents can happen to anyone, resulting in catastrophic injuries that can change you and your family’s life forever. If you’ve been the victim of a serious accident, it’s important to know how your personal injury classifies, as it will affect the benefits you’re eligible for and the compensation you can receive.
Backed by over 10 years of industry experience, MG Law’s catastrophic injury lawyers are here to support those impacted by catastrophic personal injury. We promise to give each and every one of our clients our undivided attention. This way, our professionals can establish everything necessary to make a claim, so you can move forward.
Our firm specializes in the following:
Over 10 years of experience
Over $80 million obtained for our clients
Fluent in 10 languages
We will come to your home or hospital
We take your case very personally
Free initial consultation
You don’t pay until your case is won or settled
What is considered a catastrophic injury?
A catastrophic injury is normally the result of a serious car accident, motorcycle accident, brain injury or spinal cord injury. However, they can be caused by various accidents or injuries. They are life-changing injuries that result in a significant decline in your quality of life, having an extreme impact on your functions or abilities. They can also have a profound psychological and financial impact on not only the victim, but their families as well.
There are a number of conditions that are considered catastrophic in the legal sense in Ontario. Individuals who have suffered a catastrophic injury are entitled to more sizeable accident benefits and damages if they pursue catastrophic injury claims. One of these conditions needs to be met to fit the criteria. These conditions are:
Paralysis
Either paraplegia or quadriplegia that leaves a person unable to use some or all limbs or torso which could result from a catastrophic spinal cord injury.
Amputation
The amputation must result in complete loss of function of an arm or leg.
Loss of vision in both eyes
The accident must result in total loss of vision (blindness) in both eyes.
Severe brain impairment
In order to meet a Catastrophic Designation on the basis of traumatic brain injury, the following assessment needs to be conducted using the Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS-E):
- Vegetative state as of one month or more after the accident has occurred
- Experiencing Lower Severe Disability or Upper Severe Disability for six months or more following the accident
- Lower Moderate Disability for a year or more following the accident
If unconsciousness lasts from a few seconds to a few minutes, it is often categorized as a concussion or mild TBI. However, if unconsciousness lasts for several minutes or more, the TBI is often categorized as moderate or severe.
Mental or behavioural impairment
In order to meet a Catastrophic Designation under the mental or behavioural impairment criteria, a person must have a combined, physical and psychological impairment that results in 55% or more of the person.
The laws that determine whether a person has suffered a catastrophic injury are complex and varied. Therefore, it’s critical to consult with an experienced catastrophic injury lawyer to determine whether your injuries qualify for catastrophic injury compensation. Let MG Law help you get the catastrophic injury compensation that you deserve.
Didn’t consult with a catastrophic injury lawyer at the time of your accident? We can still help.
If you didn’t meet with a catastrophic injury lawyer when your accident happened, that’s okay. We can still work with you to get you the compensation you deserve. You have up to two years from the time of your accident to pursue legal action and financial compensation.
The two-year limitation period does not begin for a child until they reach the age of 18, but that doesn’t mean you should wait until your child turns 18 to reach out to a catastrophic injury lawyer. It’s still a good idea to contact a lawyer while all of the details are still fresh, but even if you waited, you may still have a case.
Call us today at 613-730-8460 and get started with your free consultation. This meeting will allow us to get to know you and learn more about your accident, while at the same time giving you a chance to ask any questions you may have for us. You don’t have to face these unknown hurdles alone with MG Law at your side.
Our team fights for the compensation you deserve
We have access to a comprehensive team of community rehabilitation specialists
We provide a smooth transition from the hospital to your home
MG Law takes care of all the complex legal, medical and insurance related questions on your behalf
What clients are saying
Don't suffer in silence. We are here to help.
We have the experience and knowledge to help get you the compensation you deserve. Our team communicates in English, French, Greek, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian, Punjabi, Hindi, and all Arabic dialects, so you can feel more comfortable with our representation.
Frequently asked questions
Catastrophic impairment compensation
In Ontario, no matter where the fault lies, all victims of auto accidents are eligible for Statutory Accident Benefits (SABS) to help cover rehabilitative expenses , lost wages, attendant care, housekeeping and other benefits. However, if your injuries classify as a “catastrophic impairment,” the amount you are entitled to is much higher (up to $1 million).
What are the recent changes to the Ontario catastrophic impairment law?
- In 2016, there were four changes made to the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS) as part of the Ontario Catastrophic Impairment Law, which affects catastrophic injury settlements:
- The maximum medical and rehabilitation benefits were reduced from $2 million to $1 million. They did however add a provision that allows motorists to increase their benefits to $2 million by paying an additional premium.
- New definitions for Amputation, Loss of Vision, Traumatic Brain Injury, Mental Impairment, and Behavioural Impairment were added to the accident benefits schedule.
- Before these changes, non-earners (students, stay-at-home Moms and Dads, and retired individuals) benefits were payable for life. Now, non-earners are entitled to benefits for only two years with weekly payments of $185.
- Claimants will also no longer have to wait for 26 weeks to begin receiving their payment. The new waiting period has been capped at four weeks.
If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury, you may feel overwhelmed by emotional trauma and medical bills, and not know where to start when it comes to dealing with insurance, submitting claims, and attaining benefits. This is why having a dedicated catastrophic injury lawyer is so important.
Why is it important to consult a catastrophic injury lawyer?
Catastrophic injuries are not something that should be taken lightly. They have profound and lasting impacts on a person’s quality of life and often result in much higher catastrophic injury settlements. Therefore, insurance companies are very hesitant to hand them out and will make the cases as difficult as they can. It’s important to meet with a catastrophic injury lawyer who is experienced at dealing with these claims. Our team at MG Law will fight tirelessly to get you the results that you deserve.
We will be there for you every step of the way, to get you the catastrophic injury compensation you need.
Accident Benefits Administrators at MG Law
MG Law is different from other personal injury firms. We heard what our clients had to say and compiled a team of multi-lingual accident benefits administrators to assist our clients with their day to day management of their claims.
In addition to having a lawyer by your side, you will be assigned an Accident Benefits Administrator at MG Law to answer all your questions and concerns. Your Accident Benefits Administrator will advise you of all your upcoming insurance examinations, will guide you through the process to make sure you are not alone. They will communicate with your insurance representative on your behalf and answer all your questions. Your Accident Benefits Administrator and your lawyer will assess whether your claim will meet the Catastrophic Designation. If there is a chance to succeed, we will work tirelessly to make it happen.
If you or someone you know has suffered from a catastrophic injury, it’s important to consult with a catastrophic injury lawyer as soon as possible, when all of the details are still fresh. We will retian all the necessary experts to pursue your catastrophic designation.
Our team of catastrophic injury lawyers won’t just help get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries, we’ll also connect you with a community rehabilitation team to provide you with assistance and support transitioning from your hospital stay to life back at home.
Your community rehabilitation team will be by your side every step of the way as you’re discharged from the hospital. This ensures you have a safe, accessible place to go home to, you have the proper appointments set up to help you recover, and much more.
Important steps to take when injured
It’s important to remember that injuries can take some time to present themselves. If you’ve been in a bad accident, it’s important to take these steps regardless of how you feel, as it may take a few days or weeks for the full extent of your injuries to become apparent.
Police reports are a valuable part of any court proceeding, so ensuring that the police have all the information you have available will reflect positively on your case.
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