Are You Entitled to Accident Benefits?
When Brainworks first got started in Muskoka, back in 2008, we heard many personal stories from people who had been seriously injured in motor vehicle accidents but had little or no rehabilitation or any accident benefits whatsoever.
These stories tended to fit into one of three categories:
“I didn’t know I was entitled to benefits!”
“I got a bunch of paperwork in the mail, but I was in pain and it was way too much to handle.”
“I was told I could get help, but I would have to go to the city.How was I supposed to get to the city to get help?”
We learned of many more similar situations when talking to healthcare providers. In fact, one physician told us that he had to have very hard conversations with the families of his seriously injured patients. He told patients that they had two choices after an accident - they could either move to the city to get the best specialized treatment available or they could continue living at home in Muskoka and basically get none.
Becoming aware of situations like these, we just knew that we had to find a way to bolster services in our own communities AND get the word out about benefit entitlements. We wanted to be an answer right here at home – and – we wanted to let our communities know that there were now more options to get help right here at home in Muskoka.
We set out a mission to get the word out. We met with many healthcare providers and shared with them information about how to help their clients and patients access services. We went on a “travelling road show” and spoke to countless community groups about steps to take if they got in a car accident. We heard many stories, answered many calls, and were delighted when we were able to help some people access benefits that they couldn’t before. In one of the most dramatic cases we found, a young man had been struggling for TWO FULL YEARS following a car accident. He had lost his job and had almost lost his family. He had NO idea that he could get help – he was at fault and he did not think that he deserved benefits. It was a long haul and there was a lot of explaining to do to the insurer, but, in the end, he was able to get benefits and was finally able to get started on what would be a very long road to recovery for him. Please note – there are timelines to make claims and it is VERY hard and very often impossible to proceed when deadlines are missed. Reach out early!
We are so pleased that there is a lot more information out there about accident benefits, and so many more are able to access services. However, there is still a long way to go – especially in northern Ontario.
Just in case you are someone who is not quite sure when you might be able to access benefits after a motor vehicle accident – read on.
Did you know…
An individual may be eligible to claim accident benefits:
even if they were not directly involved in the accident;
even if they do not hold an insurance policy of their own;
even if the motor vehicle was a snowmobile, dirt bike or ATV;
even if they were at fault;
regardless of whether they were injured as a passenger, driver, pedestrian, cyclist; or suffered a secondary injury.
If a family member or someone very close to you was injured or killed in a motor-vehicle accident and your mental health has suffered, you may also be eligible to make your own claim and access counselling, psychotherapy or other forms of treatment and benefits.
Accident benefits coverage is standard among insurance companies throughout Ontario. This means that no matter who your insurer is and no matter where you live --- big city, small town, or remote hideaway – the entitlements are the same.
Compensation is available to you, your passengers, or pedestrians, regardless of fault, and you may qualify for compensation for lost income, rehabilitation services, caregivers, medical expenses, and reimbursement of expenses.
Have you been injured in a motor vehicle accident in Muskoka or Northeastern Ontario and haven’t been able to access services? Consider digging out that insurance paperwork and making a claim. Reach out and talk to a personal injury lawyer – they will usually do initial consultations with you for free. And – feel free to call us at (705) 787-7500 ext. 0. We are happy to talk with you, free of charge, and see if we can help you along to your next step. Sometimes we are able to help complete paperwork, help connect you with an appropriate advocate, or help you access services where you live.