FAIR Advocates on Behalf of MVA Victims
Many individuals who are involved in an Ontario motor vehicle accident (“MVA”) sustain debilitating injuries involving the brain, spinal cord, loss of a limb, among other long-term injuries. This often results in the victim being unable to work and live independently.
After an accident, many MVA victims are faced with difficult challenges involving overcoming and adapting to their injuries. This process is made even more gruelling due to the inadequate provincial auto insurance legislation currently in place that does not provide needed or timely medical and rehabilitation coverage and benefits to MVA victims.
Within Ontario’s current statutory accident benefits insurance legislation:
· There is a maximum $3,500 for medical and rehabilitation benefits for “minor injuries”;
· For injuries not deemed minor, there is $50,000 in medical and rehabilitation benefits available (a 50% reduction from the $100,000 available prior to Sept. 2010); and,
· For victims suffering from catastrophic impairment, they are entitled to up to $1 million in medical and rehabilitation benefits, however only 1% of accident victims qualify under the current definition.
Even with the minimal benefits that are currently available, the insurance industry is still pushing to change the definitions further so fewer victims will qualify. FAIR (Fair Association of Victims for Accident Insurance Reform) is hoping to change that.
FAIR is a non-profit organization for MVA victims. They provide a voice for MVA victims, advocating for change and the fair treatment of accident victims. Their purpose is to hold the insurance companies accountable for the insurance contracts they issue and seek change in how insurance companies assess and pay for benefits arising from injuries suffered in Ontario MVA accidents.
FAIR was recently profiled in the Toronto Sun. You can read the article at: http://www.torontosun.com/2013/06/28/accident-victims-advocate.
For more information on FAIR or to donate to the cause, visit http://www.fairassociation.ca/
