Feifel Gualazzi has vast experience assisting victims who have sustained some of the most catastrophic and serious injuries, including brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations and fractures. Serious and catastrophic injuries impact not only individuals but their families as well. We are here to assist both, especially in those early and confusing days following injury.

The road to recovery is a long one, and we are here to assist you every step of the way, often beginning with the early days in hospital. Legal expertise in the area of catastrophic injuries is vital to achieve proper compensation.

Catastrophic injuries pose unique challenges to any legal team and it is important to trust that your legal team is aware of just how to properly protect your rights and ensure you receive proper compensation for your injuries.

SERIOUS AND CATASTROPHIC INJURY LAWYERS IN
SAULT STE. MARIE

WHAT IS CONSIDERED A SERIOUS INJURY?

The following types of injuries are defined as serious injuries:

Catastrophic Injuries

Catastrophic injury has a special meaning and definition in law. The AMA (American Medical Association) 4th Edition definition is utilized in Ontario. An injured victim can be catastrophically injured if the person after an accident has a GCS (Glasgow Coma Scale) of 9 or under for a reasonable period of time or has a 55% whole body impairment. One can also meet the definition of being catastrophically impaired if a person has a severe emotional or psychological injury and has either a marked impairment on one or more of four spheres including work adaptation, activities of daily living, social functioning or concentration. Other tests apply based upon the GOS (Glasgow Outcome Scale) Class 5 for extreme impairment and special considerations are given to children. The percentage of a brain injury, other physical injuries, and emotional or psychological injury from a marked impairment can be added together to determine if the injured person has a 55% whole body impairment.

The determination of catastrophic impairment is extremely important because if the injured victim meets the definition, the insurance company responsible to pay no-fault accident benefits must pay up to $1,000,000 of medical-rehabilitation benefits for the injured person’s lifetime. In addition, if a person is determined to be catastrophic, housekeeping is paid for life, income benefits are paid for life, attendant care is payable up to $6,000 per month and is payable for life up to $1,000,000, which is over and above the $1,000,000 for medical-rehabilitation benefits.

Spinal Cord Injuries (Quadriplegia & Paraplegia)

The spinal cord is extremely fragile, and damage to it as the result of a motor vehicle accident can result in paralysis, either paraplegia or quadriplegia. Paraplegia involves the lower portion of the body and the legs, and quadriplegia involves both arms and legs and usually the body. The degree of paralysis is dependent upon the area of the damage to the spine; the higher the injury means the greater the paralysis.

Becoming paralyzed as a result of a motor vehicle accident is life altering for the victim and the family. Feifel Gualazzi has extensive experience with spinal cord injury victims. The road to recovery is a long and complicated one that will require many health care and medical specialists along the way.

Amputations

To lose a limb as a result of an accident has extensive lifestyle ramifications. We have experience dealing with the insurance companies in respect of the modifications which will undoubtedly need to be made to a vehicle, home, workplace, etc. We work to ensure all are done in a timely manner so that you may return to your home and to the most normal life possible.

SPEAK WITH A CATASTROPHIC INJURY LAWYER IN SAULT STE. MARIE

The legal team at Feifel Gualazzi can assist you if you or a loved one has suffered a serious or injury. We specialise in personal injury claims and provide personalized support so that you receive the compensation you are entitled to. Contact us immediately at our Sault Ste. Marie office for a free consultation to see whether you have a case. We provide our services to residents in the entire surrounding district of Algoma.