Personal Injury Lawyers

Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers

Catastrophic Impairment

If you sustained a Spinal cord injury from a motor vehicle car accident or other accident, you need to contact our experienced Personal Injury Lawyers immediately to discuss your case and the next steps that must be taken. At Scardicchio Law Office Professional Corporation, our Personal Injury Lawyers represent people who have received a brain injury in motor vehicle accidents in Mississauga, Brampton, Milton, Toronto, Newmarket, Vaughan, Orangeville, Oakville, Burlington, Bradford, Hamilton, Barrie, Collingwood, Oshawa, Kitchener-Waterloo and Guelph, and across Southwestern Ontario.

Call us today for a free case evaluation.

Serious Motor vehicle Accident Injuries

If you were involved in a car accident, it can be one of the most traumatic experiences of your life.  Spinal cord Injuries sustained from a serious motor vehicle accident may lead to life changing consequences. Spinal cord injuries are the most concerning types of injuries that can be diagnoses by a medical team.  There are many benefits relating to spinal cord injuries and you may be diagnosed with a catastrophic injury and be entitled to catastrophic impairment claim under the Accident Benefits regime.

Permanent Suffering

Suffering from a car accident injury can involve head injuries, brain injuries, neck injuries, fatal injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, paraplegia, quadriplegia, vision loss, hearing loss, headaches, whiplash associated disorder, dismemberment, torn ligaments, fractures, internal bleeding, permanent disfigurement, and more.

Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule

If you have been seriously injured due to a motor vehicle accident, you may be considered ‘catastrophic’ under the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule, even if you were at-fault. Being deemed “catastrophic” in relation to Accident Benefits entitles an injured person to comprehensive access to many more benefits compared to an individual who is not considered catastrophic.  

Serious Injuries

In Ontario law, people who were catastrophically injured as the legal definition states, will be entitled to additional and substantial accident benefits and damages, compared to cases where someone experiences minor injuries in an accident.  A catastrophic injury may include a severe injury to the brain, spine or spinal cord, or even fractures of the skull. A person may be deemed catastrophically impaired because of the initial trauma in an accident, or may be indirectly diagnosed as a result of complications that arose with the original injury.

Individuals who sustain a catastrophic injury in a motorcycle accident, car accident, fall or another serious incident, typically experience a considerable decline in their ability to function in daily activities and in many other capacities. 

Denied Catastrophic Injury Claim?

While the new legislation has made it progressively difficult for an individual to successfully claim catastrophic entitlement to benefits, individuals who have been deemed catastrophic by their regular medical practitioners and are denied access to catastrophic accident benefits should consult with an experienced accident benefits litigation lawyer to discuss their case and determine if they should litigate their entitlement to catastrophic accident benefits. Some injuries that may be considered a catastrophic impairment under the current Accident Benefits law include, but are not limited to, quadriplegia, paraplegia, amputation or other impairment causing the total and permanent loss of use of an arm or leg, total loss of vision in both eyes, as well as certain marked or extreme impairments due to mental or behavioural disorders.

Glasgow Coma Scale

In addition, a score of 9 or less on the Glasgow Coma Scale, according to a test administered within a reasonable period of time after the accident, or a score of 2 or 3 on the Glasgow Outcome Scale, according to a test administered more than 6 months after an accident, could be considered a catastrophic impairment. Catastrophic impairment cases are complex in nature and only a skilled personal injury lawyer with strong knowledge in accident benefits law as well as litigation experience, will be able to help gain access to the benefits available in a catastrophic impairment case.

CAT

“Catastrophic impairment” was introduced under Bill 59 and Bill 198, and is often referred to as CAT (short form for catastrophic).  The Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule defines those injuries or impairments which qualify as catastrophic. Examples of catastrophic impairments include: paraplegia; quadriplegia; amputation or one or more limbs, or a total loss of vision in both eyes. Sometimes, where these types of serious injuries exist, the Accident Benefits carrier may qualify you as catastrophically impaired even without the submission of an OCF-19.  

At Scardicchio Law Office Professional Corporation, we offer a free, no-obligation case evaluation consultation. You will speak to a qualified personal injury lawyer the same day. We take pride in assisting our clients with their injury cases and we will protect your rights from the very beginning.