Minor Injury Guidelines
Ontario Minor Injury Guideline (MIG) Lawyers
In Ontario, a limit of $3,500.00 for treatment applies to claimants who have their injuries deemed as minor by the Minor Injury Guidelines (MIG). This is problematic for those whose injuries are in fact more severe than what the guidelines account for and exceed the $3,500.00 limit for minor injury treatment. From past experience, clients are more often than not placed in the MIG category if they suffer soft-tissue injuries from a motorist collision.
At Juzkiw Law, our team of MIG lawyers stand with clients who face a limited benefit payout because of the potential misclassification of their injuries. We are committed to taking the time to understand and investigate the full scope of our clients’ conditions and to utilize our experience and legal advocacy to capture the appropriate level of compensation with a unique legal strategy tailored for each client in an effort to establish a claim outside the MIG.
About the Minor Injury Guidelines
The Minor Injury Guideline (MIG) is part of the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS). It is in place to guide how accident victims are covered for goods and services by their standard insurance company or Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund (MVAC) if their injuries fall within the definition in the MIG. Treatment does not require the insurance company’s or MVAC’s approval for minor injuries sustained in an accident if an application is accurately prepared regarding a motor vehicle accident. The MIG outlines a treatment course of 12 weeks (divided into three blocks of four weeks each). During each block, health practitioners work with the injured person according to the guideline and oversee all interventions. If an injured individual has extended health benefits privately or through their employer, these are to be accessed first, thereby exhausting all extended health benefits for the year. For a victim to claim benefits beyond the $3500.00 limit, they must prove that their injuries are beyond the minor classification, or that a pre-existing condition precludes them from applying MIG limits. The guidelines define several kinds of injuries as minor, including but not limited to the following:
- Sprains
- Strains
- Whiplash associated disorder
- Contusion
- Abrasion
- Laceration
- Subluxation (where a joint begins to dislocate)
- Clinically associated sequelae (this means an injury or other health complaints that arises as a result of the initial concern)
While the above-noted injuries may be classified as MIG, they can, if superimposed on prior health issues and or simply with the passage of time develop into chronic issues which may impede recovery. To protect your claim, both past, and present, it is imperative that you seek a competent and experienced MIG lawyer at the outset of your motor vehicle accident claim.
Competent and Dedicated Legal Advocacy
At Juzkiw Law, our team is dedicated to providing clients with strong legal advocacy. This includes gathering necessary medical evidence combined with our client’s statements and details required to provide exposure regarding their injuries. In turn this exposure will assist in negotiating appropriate benefits from their insurers. Results that matter.
Serving Ontario: MIG Lawyers
Filing a Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT) application to dispute a MIG classification is time-sensitive, so speaking to a MIG lawyer as soon as possible can help make sure that your rights are protected. We offer a free consultation for our services and contingency fee paid on settlement. Contact us online or call us at 416-290-5055. If mobility is an issue, we can arrange to see you.