May 25, 2015 in News Neinstein in the Community

Neinstein in the Community: Join Neinstein in rallying against changes to accident benefits

The Ontario government is proposing reducing accident benefits, which we don’t agree with. Victims of a car accident will face more suffering if the Ontario government’s changes to cut auto insurance benefits are made.

“Currently, catastrophic victims are able to access one million dollars of medical rehabilitation benefits (outside of OHIP funding) and another million dollars for attendant care needs in order to assist with lifelong limitations and necessary care needs. The proposed changes will cut this funding in half,” says Greg Neinstein, Managing Partner at Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers LLP.

“One million dollars sounds like a lot of money, but if you are twenty years old and sustain a catastrophic injury, you will likely never work again and you will require 24-hour care, home modifications, and lifelong rehabilitation. The current policy limits will be exhausted within 5-10 years.”

Also, non-catastrophic injury victims will see their coverage for med/rehab and attendant care be reduced to $65,000 from $86,000.

Insurance companies would pay out less to victims, which could greatly impact their recovery and well-being.

We won’t sit quietly and wait for these changes to happen. Sign this petition to show your support for Ontario’s current accident benefits coverage. Also, join us, along with organizations, such as the Brain Injury Society of Toronto (BIST), Spinal Cord Injury Ontario and other victims, for our Rally for Ontario’s Future Accident Victims at Queen’s Park on June 3 at noon, where we will voice our concerns about why current accident benefits need to remain the way they are now.

These changes were introduced by Ontario’s finance minister to help reduce car insurance costs, tax payers will end up paying more instead, says the BIST.

“I also have no doubt that those who are injured will go without, families will shoulder the burden alone, and our [publicly-funded] healthcare system will pick up the tab,” chairwoman Judy Moir told CBC News.

But the Ontario government remains adamant on following through with the changes.

“The catastrophic insurance coverage is going to remain. It’s going to be at a million dollars. We want our dispute resolutions to be expedited more quickly so that those that are victims get the coverage that they deserve,” Finance Ministers told CBC News.

“In fact, catastrophic insurance, period, is still going to be available in Ontario — not available anywhere else — and we’re making it a million dollars, which is a substantive amount of coverage.”

Accidents can happen to anyone and the insurance coverage we pay for is crucial to helping spinal cord injury victims, acquired brain injury victims and other catastrophic injury victims after the incident.

The personal injury and accident lawyers at Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers have been handling motor vehicle accident injuries for clients throughout Ontario for over 50 years. We understand the impacts injuries can have on your life and know how to help you. Call us at 416-920-4242. Set up a free consultation and come talk with us.