Dec 08, 2020 in News Long Term Disability

Long Term Disability: COVID-19 Has Changed the Face of Long Term Disability Claims in Ontario

Every Ontarian, from doctors to high school students to long term disability lawyers, has felt the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the event that has defined 2020 and is likely to define the next decade. Certain members of our community have felt its impacts more acutely than others, a fact that has been reflected in trends in personal injury claims. Motor vehicle accident claims, for example, have involved increasingly severe injuries, a result of lighter traffic on major routes. Long term disability claims, which were most often linked to physical injuries before the pandemic, are now trending towards psychological impacts. Both of these effects were reported in a recent article from Law Times.

Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries are Becoming More Severe

The increasing severity of motor vehicle accident injuries is one of the more unexpected side effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. General wisdom in March and April was that widespread lockdowns would limit the number of vehicles on the road, which would result in fewer accidents. That prediction may have come true, but what wasn't predicted were the changes in driver behaviour. With fewer vehicles on the road, drivers are travelling faster than usual which, as every car accident lawyer knows, is a recipe for disaster; open road collisions almost always result in more serious injuries than rush hour fender benders.

Long Term Disability Claims are Changing

Long term disability lawyers help clients who have experienced life-changing injuries access compensation to fund their recoveries. Traditionally, long term disability claims have been related to catastrophic physical injuries: spinal injuries; brain injuries; massive trauma; etc. Today, long term disability claims are increasingly linked to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, conditions that have been exasperated by restricted access to professional care. ?We have clients that were receiving regular treatment from a psychiatrist or psychologist, whether it's on a weekly basis, sometimes twice a week or monthly,? one lawyer told Law Times. ?But those appointments were being cancelled. And when they weren't getting the treatment, and medication, as well, wasn't being prescribed, their mental health problems were significantly exasperated, as a result.? Seriously injured accident victims are already among the most vulnerable people in Ontario, regardless of whether their injuries are physical, mental, or a combination of the two. Considering the profound challenges that COVID has presented - financial concerns, worries for the health of loved ones, isolation from friends and family - it's no surprise that mental health long term disability claims are on the rise.

Contact a Long Term Disability Lawyer at Neinstein

If you or a member of your family have been injured in an accident, contact Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. Our experienced team of personal injury and long term disability lawyers will assess your claim, outline your legal options, and provide a roadmap for your recovery.   Shutterstock