Lower auto insurance premiums: the other side of the story

The Ontario government has proposed to slash auto insurance rates, a change that most people would welcome at first glance.  However, this slash comes with significant implications to both the taxpayer and any individual that files a claim after a serious accident, including:

• increased difficulty in obtaining “catastrophic injury” status
• those who do obtain catastrophic injury status seeing their funding reduced from $2 million to $1 million

What does this mean for injured accident victims and taxpayers?

While $2 million may sound like a generous amount, the round-the-clock care required to live with a debilitating injury adds up quickly. With such a dramatic reduction in health care funding, part the financial burden of care beyond $1 million shifts from the insurance companies to taxpayer-funded programs such as OHIP, the Ontario Disability Support Plan and Ontario Works. The remainder of the increased financial burden shifts to the injured victim, something most Ontario families are not financially able to handle.

The Personal Injury Alliance says that the government’s proposed rate cuts come with a significant risk, and won’t end up saving Ontario drivers money in the long run, as they have suggested.

What are we doing about it?

McLeish Orlando lawyers, other members of the Personal Injury Alliance (PIA), and accident victims were at Queen’s Park last week for a press conference to inform people of the proposed changes and their implications.  With taxpayers and accident victims in mind, we will continue to see this through.

What can you do about it?

1. Sign the petition on Charge.org.
2. Show your support at the rally at Queen’s Park on Wednesday June 3rd at 12 noon.
3. Have your say by writing and emailing your local MPP, Charles Sousa and Premier Kathleen Wynne with your opposition to these changes. Click HERE to find your local MPP.
4. Engage your respective communities to stand up against this.  Groups and associations that advocate for the rights of children, seniors, the disabled, brain injured, spinal cord, and other impacted groups must be engaged as well.

Related coverage:

Crash victims slam auto insurance rule changes via The Toronto Sun

Lower auto insurance premiums could hurt more than they help, lawyer says via CTV News