03 Feb Common Traffic Injuries – The New Regime in Ontario
In the wake of the new proposed guidelines by the Ontario government, “common traffic injuries” (CTI) will be the new collective term to encompass injuries with recovery times ranging from a few days to a few months. This new regime is expected to impact approximately 60,000 Ontarians each year. Included in this definition will be all of the injuries that previously fell within the Minor Injury Guideline with the addition of minor head injuries.
Injuries are categorized into three categories: Type I, Type II, or Type III injuries. These categories are further divided by phase: Recent (zero to three months post-collision) or Persistent (four to six months post-collision).
Common Traffic Injuries : Concerns About The New Regime
One concern is that under this regime, injured individuals will require a physician or nurse practitioner to provide substantial evidence as to why the individual’s injuries should exclude them from the CTI, which will prevent a large percentage of those injured in an accident from obtaining the medical and rehabilitative treatment they require. The substantial evidence that will be required must reveal a neurological disorder, psychosis, or severe PTSD or a severe pathology. Another concern with the proposed guidelines is that those who are allowed to commence and coordinate the goods and services under CTI constitute a very small group of individuals. Excluded from this group are occupational therapists, speech pathologists, and psychologists, all of whom regularly treat those injured following a motor vehicle accident.
As a result of the proposed guidelines, the Ontario Trial Lawyers’ Association (OTLA) estimates that treatment costs under one of the CTI guidelines will be approximately $1,000 whereas prior to 2010 most injured individuals had $100,000 available to them through their automobile insurer for medical and rehabilitative treatment.
Motor Vehicle Accident Advice
If you have been injured due to a motor vehicle accident and are unsure as to what benefits your automobile insurer can provide, or what compensation you are reasonably entitled to for your pain and suffering, income loss, and/or future medical treatment, KCY at LAW has the experience and expertise necessary to effectively handle your motor vehicle accident claim.
Contact KCY at LAW today at 905-639-0999 or online to book a FREE consultation!