Ontario's government leaves most injured forgotten

I, Sandra Zisckind, have been very vocal about cuts in accident benefits over the past 5 years. Beginning in 2010, the Liberal government cut the no-fault medical coverage available by approximately 97% for car accident injury victims. The Ontario government has been turning its back on society’s most injured in favour of big business and record profits.

I recently published an article in the Toronto Sun, “Ontario’s government leaves most injured forgotten” that discusses how insurance companies are posting record profits in a time where coverage declines:

“In the last speech of politician Hubert Humphrey, he delivered wise words we should all remember come election time: “…the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the shadows of life; the sick, the needy and the handicapped.”

In just five years, the Liberal government has managed to fail this test twice, turning their back on society’s most injured in favour of big business and record profits.

In 2010, the Liberal government cut the no-fault medical coverage available to most car accident victims by 97% to a measly $3,500. Now, just this April, the hammer came down again with the Liberals planning to change the Insurance Act to reduce total mandatory coverage for medical and rehabilitation benefits.

Even worse, the budget cuts auto insurance coverage in half for the Catastrophically Impaired, which often includes paraplegics and quadriplegics. The government made a conscious decision to turn its back on society’s most injured who rely on multiple caregivers in their daily life.

Cuts were an attempt to help drivers, yet savings did not trickle down and a new Schulich report confirms that the average profit of insurance companies was 17.5%. The government’s own regular FSCO says it’s too high and should be closer to 11%.

Starting when we are young, we all have this idea we are invincible. We witness worst case scenarios day in and day out but believe it only happens to “them” and never “us”.

This issue should not be one that is only of the utmost importance when we ourselves or a family member is injured — we need to take a stand for the injured.

If we don’t care about the most helpless in our society, what message do we send to future generations?

Take a stand.”

Have you or a loved one been injured in a car accident or slip and fall? Call Jeremy Diamond, Sandra Zisckind or anyone on the team at Diamond & Diamond Personal Injury Lawyers. We will work tirelessly to make sure you get the compensation you deserve. Call us for a free consultation at 1-800-567-HURT (4878) or visit us here.