What Is Catastrophic Impairment?

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Catastrophic impairment is a term used by auto accident lawyers Toronto to describe the injuries or ailments a person has received, that allows them to receive a higher amount of accident benefit compensation then someone with non-catastrophic injuries. In order to qualify for a catastrophic impairment benefit, you must fall into one of six definitions the courts have developed. Here is a spinal cord injury lawyer examination of catastrophic impairment and its definitions.

If a person is in a car accident and sustains an injury which leads them to become paralyzed either, as partially or completely, then they are able to qualify for catastrophic impairment. In this unfortunate scenario, most insurance adjusters will ask long-term disability lawyers, if their clients would be willing to receive one large lump sum of money as opposed to monthly payments for the rest of their lives. For insurance ...
... companies, it is cheaper to pay a 25-year-old car accident victim a large lump sum to cover their medical expenses after their accident, and then it is to pay them monthly until they are 65.

Another scenario in which you may receive catastrophic impairment benefits, is amputation, but only if two limbs are amputated. Essentially, because a lot of people will have a limb amputated because of injury or disease, but then have it replaced by a mechanical leg, they do not qualify for catastrophic impairment. Yet, if you sustain a traumatic brain injury in which you can no longer use your legs, thus having them amputated, you may qualify for catastrophic impairment.

Along with the amputation of two limbs, if you are born or suffer an illness that causes blindness, you can receive catastrophic impairment benefits. The loss of vision has yet to be cured, which in turn, requires you to receive lifetime accident benefits.