Legal-Ease Glossary: T to Z

At long last, the final installment of our Legal-Ease glossary—a resource for anyone who’s experienced a personal injury so you can confidently wade through the complicated terminology of insurance claims, medical rehab and legal cases. This week’s post covers terms from T to Z.

Threshold: In Ontario, the point at which a personal injury is considered a serious or permanent disfigurement or impairment of an important physical, psychological or mental function. When this “threshold” or impairment level is proven, an injured person can sue the at-fault party for pain and suffering and future medical expenses.

Tort: Refers to harm, damage or wrong committed willfully or negligently by one person against another that results in injury or harm and a suit being filed by the afflicted party.

Treatment Plan: A form, created for use within the Statutory Accident Benefit Schedule (SABS), that is completed by a regulated health professional and outlines the treatment required by an injured person. The insurance company reviews the completed form and must approve the recommended treatment before funding is released.

Underinsured Coverage: A type of insurance coverage that provides compensation to a person who is injured in an accident when the party who caused the accident doesn’t have enough liability coverage.

Undertaking: A legally binding promise to produce documents, such as income tax returns and medical reports or records, that is made by the party being examined during the examination for discovery process.

Uninsured Coverage: A type of insurance coverage that provides compensation to an injured person when the party who caused the accident and injury isn’t covered by their own liability insurance.

Visitor Expenses: Under the Statutory Accident Benefit Schedule (SABS), an insurer will pay for the reasonable expenses that an insured person’s family members have incurred in visiting the person during their treatment or recovery, such as mileage, meals, parking, hotels and flights.

Wrongful Death: The death of an individual that was the direct result of negligence by another person.