Stop Reducing Ontario Accident Benefits
I’ve been very vocal in recent years about changes to accident benefits and safety in Ontario. There was a recent article I published called “Ontario Government Leaves Most Injured Forgotten” which talks about budget cuts in auto insurance coverage impacting the Catastrophically Impaired, which often includes paraplegics and quadriplegics. Further cuts to winter road maintenance has also reduced safety on Ontario’s highways, which force more people to rely on accident benefits.
NeuroConnect, which provides information and resources to people living with brain injury, recently released a petition to stop and be aware of the proposed changes to Accident Benefits which impact all of Ontario (including our loved ones) when injured in a car crash or accident.
Click the image below to view the petition:
More information on the petition:
“If you or a loved one is injured in a car accident you are entitled to certain benefits which you will rely on for your recovery. These Accident Benefits are paid by you and regulated by the Ontario Government.
In 2010 the Ontario Government permitted insurance companies to dramatically cut these benefits for all accident victims. Now there are more proposed reductions which will severely cut benefits for the most vulnerable victims of car crashes. This will hurt victims’ chances to recover from accidents and load additional costs to our already overly burdened health care system.
Finance Minister Charles Sousa recently announced the following proposed changes to the standard benefit level:
-$1 million coverage for medical and rehabilitation benefits and $1 million for attendant care benefits for catastrophically impaired persons to be reduced to half and combined
-Non-catastrophic benefits to be reduced from $86,000 to $65,000
-Medical and rehabilitation benefits for non-catastrophically injured persons will be available for only 5 years instead of 10
-Non-earner benefits (available for students or recent graduates) limited to two years
These proposed changes are unethical, especially considering Ontarians overpaid $840 million in 2013 and $3-4 billion from 2001-2013.
And unless we speak up, changes to our Accident Benefits could continue to take hits. It takes a lot to recover from a serious injury and many will be impaired for the entirety of their lives.”
Jeremy Diamond, Isaac Zisckind, myself (Sandra Zisckind) and the team at Diamond and Diamond Personal Injury Lawyers encourage everyone to take the time to sign the petition.
Thanks,
Sandra