HSH Senior Partner and Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA) President-Elect, Adam Wagman recently spoke to Tom Hayes of Global News on how new discounts on car insurance premiums will adversely affect accident benefits coverage for individuals catastrophically injured in a car accident.
In this interview Adam says:
“The worst thing that you want to hear from a client is ‘ I didn’t know’ …’I didn’t know that I wasn’t covered.'”
Among Adam’s concerns are that the amount of insurance coverage is dropping (by $1 million dollars) and that Ontarians may not know this is occurring leaving them vulnerable with coverage that may not be suitable for their needs.
However, it’s important for Ontarians to understand that the new rules also allow for Optional Benefits, which would bring your coverage back to $2M.
Some changes to the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule, include:
- Catastrophic
- Medical & rehabilitation as well as attendant care benefits reduced from $2,000,000 to $1,000,000 lifetime benefit (this means that if you’re involved in a car accident leading to serious injuries (for example: spinal cord injury, severe brain injury) after June 1, 2016, you may have a reduced benefit)
- Non-Catastrophic:
- Medical & rehabilitation as well as attendant care benefits reduced from $86,000 to $65,000 over 260 weeks
- Minor:
- Medical & rehabilitation remains at $3,500 over 260 weeks
Click to view the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule [PDF], which includes these recent changes.
Watch this Segment on Global News:
About Adam Wagman
Adam Wagman is Senior Partner and the former Managing Partner at HSH. Adam is recognized as a leader in the legal community. He is currently President-Elect of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA), and will become President in May 2016. He is a member of and has held leadership roles in a number of professional associations and organizations.
About OTLA
The Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA) was formed in 1991 by lawyers acting for plaintiffs. Our purpose is to promote access to justice for all Ontarians, preserve and improve the civil justice system, and advocate for the rights of those who have suffered injury and losses as the result of wrongdoing by others, while at the same time advocating strongly for safety initiatives.
