Catastrophic Injury
Lawyers: Brampton
Catastrophic injury lawyers in Brampton work to get clients
the financial compensation they need. Have you suffered a severe and permanent
injury due to an accident? Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to
recover expenses associated with the injury as well as financial compensation
for loss of future income, pain and suffering, and more. The definition of
catastrophic impairment can be found in Ontario’s
standard accident benefits schedule (SABS), and it includes spinal cord
injuries, traumatic brain injury, loss of limb, loss of vision, mental and
behavioural impairments, and provisions for combining physical and mental or
behavioural injuries. Basically, a catastrophic injury is one that is
life-changing. In many cases, there is recourse to insurance or a legal claim
that can provide substantial damages to the victim. However, each case is
unique, and your eligibility for compensation will depend on the circumstances
of your case, your life before the accident, and the degree of impairment.
Factors Considered
When Assessing a Case
There are many factors to take into consideration when
deciding which path to pursue following a catastrophic injury. Take the case of
Susan, a forty-year-old woman who, before her motor vehicle accident, was a
successful self-employed auctioneer. Ever since the accident, Susan has been
unable to express herself clearly, due to a traumatic
brain injury that will affect her ability to communicate permanently. This
meant that she was unable to continue doing the work that she’d been doing for
almost twenty years, and she lost her only source of income. Both of these
things contributed to an unprecedented bout of depression which has left Susan
with feelings of helplessness and despair. Her relationships with family
members have also suffered due to both her difficulty with communicating and
her mental health issues. After making a claim for a catastrophic impairment,
Susan was able to receive a large settlement.
A different accident victim with exactly the same injury
that Susan suffered might not receive the same kind of award; a retired person,
for example, or one whose ability to continue working in their chosen field
might not be able to recover the same damages. If Susan’s work had been, for
example, creating websites from home, the injuries might not have had such a
dramatic impact on all of the aspects of her life, and her compensation level
might not have been as high. Susan’s age and pre-accident income also played a role
in the amount of money she received; it was assumed that if the accident had
not occurred, Susan would have continued to maintain a high annual income for
at least the next twenty-five years. Susan’s health prior to the accident might
also have made a difference. If she had previously suffered from depression,
for example, that factor may not have been considered in the claim.
Personal Injury Law
Firms
If you’ve been injured and are wondering about the options
open to you, call a personal
injury law firm. These types of cases are complex, and having a lawyer who
has experience with personal injury cases is essential. If you or a loved one
has suffered a catastrophic injury, call a Brampton personal injury law firm
today, and get the compensation you deserve.