Accident Benefits in Ontario and Home Renovations
In Ontario, people who are injured in motor vehicle collisions can receive accident benefits from their insurance company. Accident benefits are intended to cover all reasonable and necessary rehabilitation expenses. The expenses made are those that are to help reduce the impact of the disability caused by the injury suffered in the car accident.
Following a car accident many people find that navigating their home in a wheelchair or walker is very difficult if not impossible. Therefore, home renovations may be covered by accident benefits under the category of rehabilitation benefits. In severe cases, accident benefits specifically cover the purchase of a new house for the injured person to accommodate his / her needs caused by the injury when purchasing a new home is a more reasonable and less expense than renovating the injured person’s current home.
In some cases an injured person’s existing house is not able to be renovated to accommodate the injured person’s needs. In such a case the only limit to the purchase of a new home is the policy limit for this category of accident benefits.
So what are the policy limits? For the purpose of calculating the amount of money available under the policy for renovations by the accident benefit insurer, both the medical benefits and rehabilitation benefit expenses are combined. If the person has not suffered injuries that are considered “catastrophic”, then the total amount available for the medical / rehabilitation benefit is $100,000. The payment of the rehabilitation / medical benefits expire ten years after the date of the car accident. In the event that the injured person is deemed “catastrophic”, then the total medical / rehabilitation benefits available is one million dollars and there is no expiry date on the payment of those benefits.
In order to be able to obtain the accident benefits, specifically the renovations and home modifications, the injured person will be subject to an in-home assessment. To get approval for an assessment in Ontario, an OCF-22 form must be filled out. Once approved, the assessment is paid for by the accident benefit insurer. The assessment is intended to provide recommendations to help the injured person function in their home at their pre-accident level of functioning.
If you feel you require home renovations, vehicle modifications, or workplace accommodations following you injury due to a car accident it is recommended that you contact a qualified car accident lawyer to help you obtain the maximum accident benefits to which you are entitled. We can help if you experienced the accident in Ontario or anywhere in North America.
*This article is not intended to provide legal advice. Each case is different. It is recommended that you consult your lawyer for advice concerning your particular case.
