Car Accident Claim

Changes to Ontario Drivers Insurance Policies…How Does it Affect You?

admin — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 01:20:24 +0000

On September 1, 2010, the Ontario government introduced new Auto Insurance Policy laws, Ontario consumers now have more choices when it come to their vehicle insurance coverage and premiums. In fact, you may have already received a letter in the mail from your insurance company which includes a brief description of these changes made. You should be receiving at least two more pieces of information in the mail which will be more detailed. Currently your insurance policy is comprised of a set amount of basic coverage options, however after September 1st those basic coverage options changed. You now have more choices in the future which will affect how much you will be paying on premiums based on coverage needs of your particular driving profile.

To help you better understand the most important changes and your options, we’ve summarized the major coverage categories of your policy and how they will be affected when the new laws come into effect.

Medical, Rehabilitation and Attendant Care (for non-catastrophic injuries)

Previously:
This coverage includes up to $100,000 for medical and rehabilitation benefits. For attendant care, there is coverage of up to $72,000

After September 1st:
Basic coverage will include up to $50,000 with the option to purchase up to $1,100,000. Under the new set of changes for attendant care, basic coverage will include up to $36,000 with the option to purchase more.

Medical, Rehabilitation and Attendant Care (catastrophic injuries)

Previously:
Coverage includes up to $1,000,000 for medical and rehabilitation benefits.

After September 1st:
Coverage will continue to include up to $1,000,000, but you will have the option to purchase more.

Caregiver Benefit

Previously:
This benefit provides payment for some expenses incurred when you are not able to continue being the primary caregiver to any dependents in your home in need of care. This is available for all injuries.

After September 1st:
This benefit will only be available for catastrophic injuries. You will, however, have the option to purchase this coverage for non-catastrophic injuries.

Housekeeping & Home Maintenance Expenses

Previously:
This benefit covers any expenses for housekeeping or home maintenance in the event you are unable to do these tasks yourself. This is available for all injuries.

After September 1st:
Your coverage will only apply for catastrophic injuries. However, you will be able to purchase this coverage for non-catastrophic injuries.

Income Replacement Benefit

Previously:
This coverage replaces 80% of your net income up to a maximum of $400 per week.

After September 1st:
Basic coverage will replace 70% of your gross income up to $400 per week. You will have the option to purchase additional coverage for up to $600, $800 or $1000 per week.

For more details on how the changes affect you, please contact one of our experienced Personal Injury Consultants toll free 1-877-386-2113

Types of Car Accident Benefits

admin — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 14:26:33 +0000

Car (Auto) Accident Benefits

If you are injured in an automobile accident, you may be entitled to certain benefits from your own car insurance company or from the car insurance company of another vehicle involved in the accident, regardless of who is at fault. Your insurance company will provide you with application forms and will assist you in completing the forms. However, it is quite common for you and your insurance company to disagree about the benefits that should be paid to you. The accident benefits legislation is quite complicated. It is your responsibility to obtain the benefits you need. Although you do not own a car and you are not insured under any auto policy, you can apply for car accident benefits. The accident benefits legislation is designed so that you should always have access to some insurer for accident benefits. For example, if you do not own a vehicle and you are not insured under any policy, you can apply to the insurer of the car you were in at the time of the accident.

If you were a pedestrian, you can apply to the insurer of the car that hit you. Every driver is obliged to have auto insurance. Therefore, it is very rare that every car involved in an accident will be uninsured. However, even in this situation, you can apply for benefits to the Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund. The Ontario government maintains this fund.

Types of Car Accident Benefits

Income Replacement Benefits:

if you are unable to work because of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident, you may be entitled to income replacement benefits. The benefit is 80% of your net income, to a maximum of $400.00 per week unless you have optional cover
the amount of benefit payable will be generally reduced by other income benefits being received (for example, short term disability or long term disability payments)
income replacement benefits start one week after a car accident that has caused you a “substantial inability” to perform the essential tasks of your employment
to receive income replacement benefits beyond 104 weeks, you must prove that you suffer “a complete inability to engage in any employment for which you are reasonably suited by education, training or experience”
the amount of the income replacement benefit is reduced after age 65

Download Auto Insurance Claims Forms (OCF Forms) Ontario

Contact Us Today! You will be contacted by one of car accident claim specialists and you will receive free personalized car accident assistant services.

Non-Earner Benefits:

if you are not employed at the time of the car accident, you may be entitled to a non-earner benefit of $185.00 per week. You must prove that you have suffered a “complete inability to carry on a normal life”
non-earner Benefits are payable 26 weeks after your car accident
you are not entitled to receive non-earner benefits if you are under 16
if you were in school at the time of the accident, you may be entitled to $320 per week after the 104 week anniversary of the accident

Caregiver Benefits: If, at the time of the accident, you lived with a person who required care, you may be entitled to a caregiver benefit of up to $250.00 per week, plus $50.00 for each additional person requiring care and you were the primary caregiver.

Medical and rehabilitation benefits: Assuming you can prove entitlement, the accident benefits insurer is required to pay for a wide range of medical and rehabilitation expenses over and above what is paid by OHIP. If you have not sustained a “catastrophic impairment”, the insurer is obliged to pay up to $100,000 for up to 10 years after the accident. If you have sustained a catastrophic impairment, the insurance company is obliged to pay up to $1 million over your life.

Attendant Care benefits: If you need to hire someone to help you as a result of injuries from an accident, this portion of the benefits coverage could help. The standard maximum for attendant care is $72,000 and if you are catastrophically injured, the maximum is $1,000,000.

Death and Funeral benefits: If you die as a result of a car accident, the standard amount which will be paid is $25,000 to your eligible spouse, $10,000 for each dependant, and a maximum of $6,000 for funeral expenses.

Other Available Car Accident Benefits:

Expenses of family members and/or those living with the injured person who visit during treatment or recovery. These may include meals, mileage, travel expenses and accommodation expenses. Please remember to keep your receipts.
Housekeeping and home maintenance expenses, up to $100.00/week, payable for:
up to two years, if you have not sustained a catastrophic impairment, and for life, if you sustained a catastrophic impairment.
Lost education expenses for students, to a maximum of $15,000.00

Housekeeping

No-Fault and Tort Claim | Types of Car Accident Claims

admin — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 09:45:39 +0000

Two Types of Car Accident Claims: No-Fault Claim and Tort Claim

No-Fault Claim:
The first is the so-called “No-Fault” or “Accident Benefits” claim. The no-fault claim is just as it sounds. It does not matter whether or not you are at fault in the car accident, you are entitled to certain car accident benefits from your auto insurance company.

In other words, no-fault insurance claim means that if you are injured or your car is damaged in a car accident, then you deal with your own auto insurance company, regardless of who is at-fault. You don’t have to go after the at-fault driver for compensation. Similarly, if any passengers in your car is injured, then he/she has a car insurance policy of his/her own will approach his/her own insurance company for benefits. If your passengers don’t have a car insurance policy of their own, then your auto insurance company may pay benefits to them. The driver of the other car involved in the accident will claim benefits from his/her own insurance company.

Download Auto Insurance Claims Forms (OCF Forms) Ontario

Contact Us Today! You will be contacted by one of car accident claim specialists and you will receive free personalized car accident assistant services.

Tort Claim:
To pursue a tort claim against the at-fault driver for pain and suffering, your injuries must reach a certain threshold. According to the automobile legislation, you are allowed to sue if you have suffered:

permanent serious disfigurement (i.e., scarring); or
permanent serious impairment of an important physical, mental or psychological function
You can also sue if the accident results in the death of a family member.

Any damage award you receive for pain and suffering is subject to a $30,000 deductible. However,any damages received in excess of $100,000 for pain and suffering is not subject to the $30,000 deductible.

Importantly, you can also sue for lost income, future lost income, impairment of your ability to earn income, loss of competitive advantage in the work-place, some out of pocket expenses and business losses without meeting the threshold. These claims are not subject to the $30,000 deductible.

Car Accident Claim, Car Accident Injury Claim, Auto Insurance Claim Help!

Personal Injury Laywer | Personal Injury Settlement

admin — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 09:01:11 +0000

How do I find an experienced Personal Injury Lawyer to help me with my case? And how do I know that the Personal Injury Lawyer can get me the results I deserve?

Our network of Personal Injury Lawyers across Canada has experience representing injured persons. We have the know-how to present your car accident claim so that you collect your full entitlement.

10 Steps to Maximize You Car Accident Personal Injury Settlement

A car accident is very stressful and introduces a number of unpleasant realities: pain and disability plus financial woes to name a few. Take these 10 steps in the early days after your accident to protect your personal injury settlement or car accident Injury settlement later on.1. Keep a record of all expenses and days lost from work due to your injuries. One of our Car Accident Injury Settlement lawyer will get written documentation from your employer to verify the lost earnings. If your injuries are preventing you from returning to work or school, ask your doctor for a note confirming you cannot attend.

2. Keep track of the time spent by friends and family to look after you and to take over your household and family obligations.

3. Keep all bills and receipts related to your car accident. If you don’t save them, you may not be able to prove the amount of your damages. Be sure to save everything: hospital charges, pharmacy bills, therapy bills and all other bills you incurred because of your accident. If you buy over-the-counter pain medicine, heating pads, crutches, clothing to go over casts or braces, or similar items, you may be able to recover these expenses.

4. Know all your injuries. Injuries caused by accidents may not develop into symptoms for days — even weeks. As a result, in the days following your accident, you must avoid describing your injuries with the claims adjuster.

5. Do not ignore the emotional toll of an accident. If you are having flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, fear or sleep disturbance, you might benefit from a psychological assessment. Ask your doctor for a referral. If your doctor or family members suggest this type of treatment, take them up on it.

6. Keep a journal of your experiences. Record sleepless nights, pain relief needs and limitations on your regular activities. Make a note of special events, hobbies or outings that you missed because of the accident.

7. Know your sources for insurance coverage. Often an accident victim can legitimately benefit from multiple insurance policies simultaneously. Yet many accident victims don’t know where to look for various insurance coverage. Our personal injury lawyer will help you determine whether you can collect from more than one policy. We know some of these steps can be tough if you are injured… our personal injury settlement lawyer can relieve you of most of the burden by assuming responsibility for many of these tasks.

8. Follow your physician’s orders until your physician determines you are released. Many people stop going to their doctor, before the doctor releases them from treatment. Your doctor knows the complications that could result from your injury. The type of injury may be complex and the mere fact that you are no longer in pain does not mean that your injuries have fully healed. If you are referred to treatment with a therapist who is not covered by OHIP, your own insurance company may pay for the service. Our car accident personal injury lawyer can help you access these benefits.

9. Consider and be prepared to file a lawsuit if the settlement offer is not fair. After your rehabilitation is complete, get ready to issue your legal claim. Insurance companies usually get serious about settling your claim if they see that they will have to start paying lawyers to defend your lawsuit.

10. Ask a qualified, experienced personal injury trial lawyer to evaluate your case. You probably had a doctor evaluate your injuries. Don’t you think it is sensible to have a legal professional evaluate your potential legal claim? Our experienced personal injury trial lawyers can help you by reviewing your file. Our car accident injury settlement lawyers will carefully review the police report, doctors’ statements, therapy bills, time lost from work and other information. Then, our injury settlement lawyers can give you an informed opinion about the estimated value of your case. If you’d like us to evaluate your case, please don’t hesitate to call us.

Car Accident Lawyer & Personal Injury Settlement Toronto

admin — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 15:30:41 +0000

Have you been involved in a car accident or a personal injury accident victim?

How do I find an experienced Car Accident Lawyer to help me with my case? And how do I know that the Car Accident Lawyer can get me the results I deserve?

Our network of Car Accident Lawyers and Personal Injury Lawyers across Canada has experience representing car accident injured persons. We have the know-how to present your car accident claim so that you collect your full entitlement. By contacting us and submitting your contact information, one of our skilled car accident claim and personal injury claim lawyers who practices in Your City or Your Local Area will contact you without a fee and provide you with an opinion about your car accident claim.

Our Car Accident Lawyers have helped many clients make successful car accident or personal injury settlements against many car insurance companies. We are a successful, motivated team dedicated to helping our clients reach the best settlements and obtain the maximum accident benefits available.

We will help you how to save hundreds or even thousands of dollars on your car accident claim or car accident injury claim.

Contact Car Accident Lawyer Now and Get Our Free Car Accident Claim Assistance Services to Maximize Your Car Accident Claim and Personal Injury Settlement.

There Is No Obligation on You, and Full Confidentiality Is Assured!

Car Accident Claim, Personal Injury Settlement, Auto Insurance Claim Help!