Classes of Impairment

For the purposes of a claim for accident benefits, a minor injury is defined as being one or more of a sprain, strain, whiplash associated disorder, contusion, abrasion, laceration or subluxation and includes any clinically associated sequelae to such an injury. If an insurer determines that a person has suffered minor injury, it will impose the Minor Injury Guideline (MIG) and restrict medical and rehabilitation benefits to a combined total of $3,500. Such a determination will also disallow access to the attendant care benefit, the caregiver benefit and the housekeeping and home maintenance benefit.

However, in the event that a person suffers a predominantly minor injury as a result of motor vehicle accident, but has a pre-existing medical condition that will prevent him or her from achieving maximal recovery if only $3,500 is afforded for medical and rehabilitation benefits, then it is possible that the minor injury coverage limit will not be applied to the claim. The legislation imposes the expectation that only in extremely limited instances will the existence of a pre-existing medical condition exclude a person’s impairment from the MIG.

A non-catastrophic impairment may be considered one which neither fits the defined criteria for a minor injury or that of a catastrophic impairment.

When a person suffers severe injury due to a motor vehicle accident, having early access to the highest level of accident benefit coverage is of utmost importance. In order to achieve the highest coverage limit, a catastrophic impairment designation must first be achieved.

The legal definition of catastrophic impairment has become increasingly complex with the passage of time. Legal professionals, healthcare providers, and insurers bear responsibility to be aware of the relevant catastrophic impairment criteria and must pro-actively manage the timing of application for injured clients. Of note, opportunities for catastrophic impairment application may arise at a number of points post-accident and may include: immediately following an accident, at the one, six, nine, and 12 month anniversaries of the accident, or at the 104 week anniversary of the accident or beyond.

Generally speaking a catastrophic impairment may be confirmed if the impairment results from any of the following:

1. Paraplegia or tetraplegia that meets the following criteria:

• The permanent grade on the ASIA Impairment Scale is or will be either an A, B, or C, or
• The permanent grade on the ASIA Impairment Scale is or will be a D, and mobility, urological function, or anorectal function is significantly impaired.

2. Severe impairment of ambulatory mobility or use of an arm, or amputation.

3. Loss of vision of both eyes, with organic cause, even with the use of corrective lenses or medication.

4. If the person was 18 years of age or older at the time of the accident, a traumatic brain injury that meets the following criteria:

• The injury shows positive findings on a CT Scan, a MRI, or any other medically recognized brain diagnostic technology
• When assessed in accordance with the Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale, the injury results in a rating of,
  • Vegetative State, one month or more after the accident,
  • Upper or Lower Severe Disability, six months or more after the accident, or
  • Lower Moderate Disability, one year or more after the accident.

5. If the person was under 18 years of age at the time of the accident, a traumatic brain injury that meets one of

• The person is accepted for in-patient admission to a recognized public hospital with positive findings on a CT scan, a MRI, or any other medically recognized brain diagnostic technology.
• The person is accepted for in-patient admission to a program of neurological rehabilitation in a recognized paediatric rehabilitation facility
• One month or more after the accident, the person’s score on the KOSCHI does not exceed category 2 (Vegetative)
• Six months or more after the accident, the person’s score on the KOSCHI does not exceed category 3 (Severe disability)
• Nine months or more after the accident, the person’s level of function remains seriously impaired such that the person is not age-appropriately independent and requires in-person supervision or assistance for the majority of the waking day.

6. Physical impairment that, in accordance with the AMA’s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (4th edition), results in 55 percent or more physical impairment of the whole person.

7. A mental or behavioural impairment, excluding traumatic brain injury, rated in accordance with Chapter 14 of the AMA’s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (6th edition) that, when combined with the physical impairment score as described above, results in 55 percent or more impairment of the whole person.

8. An impairment due to mental or behavioural disorder that, in accordance with the AMA’s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (4th edition), results in a class 4 impairment (marked impairment) in three or more areas, or a class 5 impairment (extreme impairment) in one or more areas.

To learn more about the Glasgow Outcome Scale, please click here.

Accessing a claim for catastrophic impairment is of significant importance in terms of increasing eligibility and entitlement to accident benefits.

To pursue a catastrophic impairment designation, an Application of Determination of Catastrophic Impairment form should be submitted to the insurer along with supportive medical documentation. It is usually required that the application be prepared by a physician, who may be assisted by other regulated health care professionals as may reasonably be required. The exception to the rule is when the impairment is a traumatic brain impairment only, in which case, a neuropsychologist may prepare the application with the assistance of other regulated health care professionals as may be required.

Once the insurer has received the application for catastrophic impairment, it has 10 business days to give the injured person notice regarding whether it agrees that the impairments meet the definition of “catastrophic impairment.”