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Ontario Automobile Reforms

Definitions:

Attendant Care Benefit: Pays for an aide or attendant to look after you if you have been seriously injured in an accident.

Caregiver Benefit: If you are providing full-time care to dependants and can no longer provide that care as the result of an auto accident, you may be eligible for caregiver benefits to reimburse you for your expenses to hire someone to care for your dependants.

Catastrophic impairment caused by an accident is,

(a) paraplegia or quadriplegia;

(b) the amputation of an arm or leg or another impairment causing the total and permanent loss of use of an arm or a leg;

(c) the total loss of vision in both eyes;

(d) subject to subsection (4), brain impairment that results in,

(i) a score of 9 or less on the Glasgow Coma Scale, as published in Jennett, B. and Teasdale, G., Management of Head Injuries, Contemporary Neurology Series, Volume 20, F.A. Davis Company, Philadelphia, 1981, according to a test administered within a reasonable period of time after the accident by a person trained for that purpose, or

(ii) a score of 2 (vegetative) or 3 (severe disability) on the Glasgow Outcome Scale, as published in Jennett, B. and Bond, M., Assessment of Outcome After Severe Brain Damage, Lancet i:480, 1975, according to a test administered more than six months after the accident by a person trained for that purpose;

Non-catastrophic impairment caused by an accident is, by default is neither a Minor Injury nor a catastrophic impairment.

Death and Funeral Benefit: If you die as a result of an auto accident, the death benefit provides a lump sum payout to your spouse and your dependant; the funeral benefit provides a lump sum payout to cover the costs of your funeral expenses.

Dependant Care Benefit: Pays for additional expenses incurred to care for your dependants if you are employed and are injured in an auto accident.

Direct Compensation-Property Damage (DC-PD): Covers damage to your vehicle or its contents if another person was at fault for the accident. It is called direct compensation because even though someone else causes the damage, you collect directly from your own insurer. The accident must also occur in Ontario and both drivers must be insured by an insurance company licensed in the province.

Housekeeping and Home Maintenance Benefit: If you are unable to perform your usual duties due to your injuries, this benefit pays for reasonable and necessary additional expenses for someone to complete your usual duties.

Income Replacement Benefit: If you cannot work as the result of an auto accident, you may be eligible for basic weekly income replacement benefits of up to $400.

Indexation: The automatic adjustment of the income replacement benefit, non-earner benefit, attendant care benefit or medical and rehabilitation benefit according to the Consumer Price Index for Canada to compensate for inflation.

Minor injury: caused by an accident  - means a sprain, strain, whiplash associated disorder, contusion, abrasion, laceration or subluxation and any clinically associated sequelae

Medical and Rehabilitation Benefit: Covers the cost of reasonable and necessary medical and rehabilitation expenses (e.g. physiotherapy, prescriptions) that are not covered by OHIP or your disability insurance plan.

Non-earner Benefit: This benefit may provide compensation if you and other insured persons are completely unable to carry on a normal life and do not qualify for an Income Replacement or Caregiver Benefit.

Statutory Accident Benefits: Benefits you receive if you are injured in an auto accident.

Third Party Liability: If you or someone else are killed or injured, or if their property is damaged, it will pay for legitimate claims against you up to the limit of your coverage, and will pay the costs of settling those claims.

Tort Deductible: The amount that is deducted from a settlement or court award for pain and suffering.