St. Catharines Long-Term Disability Lawyer

Are you struggling with a long-term disability in St. Catharines, Ontario?  Serious disabilities can fundamentally change your life.  You may be completely unable to work and struggling under the weight of medical bills and living expenses.  An experienced St. Catharines long-term disability lawyer at Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers can help. Contact us today or call us at (289) 301-9496.

Our team at Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers has over 92 years of combined legal experience.  Since we started our law group, we’ve successfully recovered over $100 million for injured clients.

You may have multiple options for recovering compensation based on long-term disability. Call our law offices in St. Catharines, Ontario, to schedule a free consultation today.

How Can Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers Help if I Have Been Diagnosed With a Long-Term Disability in St. Catharines?

How Can Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers Help if I Have Been Diagnosed With a Long-Term Disability in St. Catharines?

Recovering compensation for long-term disability can be more difficult than you might imagine.  You’re already suffering from a debilitating disability; the idea of fighting with insurance companies and government agencies over money can be overwhelming.

Our experienced St. Catharines personal injury attorneys are here to handle the legal issues.

When you call Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers, you’ll have an attorney to:

  • Identify all sources of compensation
  • Compile and present evidence to establish your right to benefits or compensation
  • Hire medical experts and vocational rehabilitation specialists who can testify on your behalf
  • Determine how much money you deserve
  • Negotiate fiercely for a full compensation award

Our team is prepared to help you navigate the challenges you may face.  Contact our law firm today to learn more about how our St. Catharines personal injury lawyers can fight for you.  We work on a contingency fee basis, so you never pay attorneys’ fees unless we win.

What Counts as a Long-Term Disability in St. Catharines, Ontario?

As the name suggests, long-term disabilities are those that will impact your life over an extended period of time.  These disabilities will impact your work and your quality of life.  You may require extensive treatment and rehabilitation.  

In Ontario, both physical disabilities and mental health issues can qualify as long-term disabilities.  If you’re struggling with a severe medical condition or injury, contact our lawyers in St. Catharines to learn about your rights and options.  We’ll review your medical records and listen to your story to determine whether you qualify.

At Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers, we often represent clients in long-term disability cases involving:

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Cancer and other severe and life-altering diseases
  • Paralysis, including paraplegia and quadriplegia
  • Amputations and loss of limbs
  • Other types of serious spinal cord injuries
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Neurological disorders
  • Severe depression 
  • Lung damage
  • Vision loss
  • Multiple sclerosis 
  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Chest injuries
  • Chronic pain and nerve damage
  • COVID complications
  • Orthopedic injuries
  • Musculoskeletal problems
  • Postpartum depression 

Getting back on your feet again can be incredibly difficult when you’re struggling with these and other conditions.  Our attorneys are here to help you get the financial resources you need and deserve.  

How Do I Recover Compensation for My Long-Term Disability in St. Catharines, ON?

Individuals who are struggling with long-term disabilities in Ontario have options.  The options that are available for you will depend on the circumstances, including how the injury occurred.  

Am I Eligible for Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPPD) Benefits?

The Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) provides disability benefits for individuals whose disability prevents them from working.  

You may be eligible for monthly CPP benefits if you:

  • Are younger than 65
  • Have contributed to the CPP
  • Have experienced a mental or physical disability that regularly stops you from doing any type of “substantially gainful work”
  • The disability is long-term or indefinite in duration or is likely to result in death

The law defines “substantially gainful work” as work that pays at least as much as the maximum available disability benefit. That amount is adjusted each year.  In 2024, the limit is $19,339.74.  If you earn more than the maximum, you cannot receive CPP benefits at all.  

However, most earnings will impact your right to CPP benefits.  Once your annual earnings reach $6,800, you may be treated as though you’re capable of working on a regular basis, so your CPP benefits may be impacted.

Can I Qualify for Compensation Under Private Disability Insurance Policies?

Private disability insurance policies may be an option if you’ve either purchased your own policy or received disability insurance as an employment benefit.

The terms of the policy will determine whether your disability is covered.  If you’re entirely unable to work, it’s likely that your policy will cover the disability.  

However, some policies distinguish between total or partial disabilities.  The policy may not kick in if you can work in some capacity yet are earning less.  A specified drop in income may be required before you can receive compensation under the policy.

Some policies also distinguish between whether you can work in any occupation or your previous occupation. 

Recovering compensation from an insurance company is rarely easy.  You deserve to have an experienced attorney in your corner advocating on your behalf.  Contact our St. Catharines long-term disability attorneys if you have questions about a disability insurance policy.

Can I Qualify for Workers’ Compensation Insurance Benefits?

If you were disabled because of something at work, you likely qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.  

Workers’ compensation provides the following types of benefits:

  • Medical treatment benefits
  • Income replacement benefits (cash benefits)
  • Loss of retirement benefits
  • Non-economic loss benefits for permanent disabilities

Our attorneys can help you evaluate your rights.  If you have questions about workers’ compensation disability benefits in Ontario, call our team for a free case review.

Can I File a Personal Injury Lawsuit to Recover Compensation?

You may have the right to sue a third party for damages.  Under Ontario personal injury laws, you can seek compensation from anyone who is legally responsible for causing your injuries.  

For example, you may have a case against:

  • A negligent driver who caused a car crash
  • A doctor who prescribed the wrong dosage and caused brain damage
  • The manufacturer of a defective consumer product

Personal injury cases hinge on liability.  If someone (aside from your employer) caused your injuries, you can seek compensation if you can prove they were responsible.  

Under Ontario’s personal injury laws, you can receive compensation for your full pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages. 

That may include:

  • Medical bills
  • Lost wages
  • Rehabilitation
  • Nursing care
  • Property damage
  • Out-of-pocket expenses
  • Transportation costs
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental trauma
  • Reduced quality of life

Both financial and non-financial losses are considered.  If your case is successful, your compensation award should cover all of the losses you have experienced.

How Much Is My St. Catharines Long-Term Disability Case Worth?

Your case value depends on many different factors.  In addition to the severity of your disability, the laws that govern your case can impact how much compensation you receive.

Personal injury cases require victims to establish the full value of their losses. Important factors in that calculation include:

  • The severity of the injuries
  • The victim’s lost income
  • Medical treatment costs
  • How the injury impacts the victim’s quality of life
  • How the injury impacts the victim’s future earning capacity
  • Future medical and rehabilitative needs, and their cost
  • The strength of the evidence
  • Whether shared fault is an issue

Government benefits are always limited by law.  CPP benefits are limited by a monthly cap that changes each month.  By December of 2024, the cap will increase to $1,616.52.  Workers’ compensation benefits are also limited by Ontario law.

Disability benefits under private policies will always depend on the policy coverage limits and the terms of the policy itself.  

What Happens to My Right to Compensation If I Was Partly Responsible for Causing My Own Disability?

Under Ontario’s shared fault laws, damages in a personal injury case are reduced to account for your share of fault.  Each party is assigned a percentage of fault (through insurance negotiations or presentation of evidence at trial).  If you share any blame, your compensation is reduced by that percentage.  You only lose your right to damages if you were 100% liable.

Shared fault isn’t an issue when you’re seeking workers’ compensation or government disability benefits.  These are no-fault systems that offer benefits even if you were responsible for your own disability.

How Long Do I Have To File a Claim for Compensation Based on Long-Term Disability in Ontario?

In workers’ compensation cases, you should notify your employer as soon as possible.  You must provide the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board notice of your disability within six months of an injury or diagnosis.

In personal injury cases, you have two years from the date of your accident to sue for damages.

Insurance policies have their own terms and deadlines. The bottom line is that you may lose your right to compensation if you wait too long.

Contact an Experienced St. Catharines Long-Term Disability Lawyer for a Free Consultation Today

Serious disabilities can dramatically change your life.  If you’re dealing with a long-term disability and are unable to work, contact Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers today.  An experienced St. Catharines, ON, long-term disability lawyer can help you understand your options.

Our personal injury law firm in St. Catharines, ON also handles: