Brantford Long-Term Disability Lawyer

Were you or a family member recently diagnosed with a long-term disability in Brantford, ON? You may have options for recovering compensation. Both private rights of action and government benefits may be available. An experienced Brantford long-term disability lawyer can help you pursue the money you need and deserve. Contact Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers at (226) 401-5433.

Our lawyers at Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers have over 92 years of experience between us. Since we started our law firm in 1981, we’ve recovered over $100 million in settlements and verdicts for injured clients.

Contact our law offices in Brantford, Ontario, to schedule your free consultation today.

Why Should I Call Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers for Legal Advice if I Sustained a Long-Term Disability in Brantford, ON?

Long-term disabilities often create extreme difficulties. Even if you understand that you have options for getting financial relief, the process of recovering compensation is rarely simple. You may face challenges at every turn.

Our Brantford personal injury lawyers are here to fight for you. At Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ve been recognized with The Hamilton Spectator Readers Choice Platinum award.

When you hire us, we will:

  • Identify all options for recovering compensation
  • Work with trusted experts in medicine and other specialties to prove the severity of your disability
  • Determine how much compensation you rightfully deserve
  • Collect any evidence to support your claim
  • Negotiate with the other side for a full settlement
  • Represent you at any hearings and at trial if necessary

Our team is always here to help. Give us a call today to learn more about your right to compensation.

Our Lawyers Handle All Types of Long-Term Disability Claims in Brantford

There really isn’t a clear-cut definition of what medical conditions qualify as a long-term disability. Long-term disabilities are those that will impact your life for an indefinite period of time. Some disabilities are permanent. Others may eventually result in death.

Long-term disabilities are also likely to cause significant disruptions in your previous lifestyle. Many people who struggle with a long-term disability are completely unable to work. Unfortunately, long-term disabilities can also be incredibly expensive to treat.

At Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers, our team is here to help regardless of the nature of your disability. In Canada, both physical and mental disabilities can give you the right to receive benefits or pursue compensation.

We often help individuals who are struggling with:

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Cancer and other serious diseases
  • Paralysis, including paraplegia and quadriplegia
  • Amputations and loss of limbs
  • Nerve damage and spinal cord injuries, which can result in debilitating pain
  • Organ damage, including lung damage, kidney disease, and cardiovascular diseases
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Neurological disorders
  • Vision loss or blindness
  • Multiple sclerosis 
  • ALS
  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Chest injuries
  • COPD and other respiratory illnesses
  • Long COVID
  • Orthopedic injuries
  • Musculoskeletal disorders
  • Postpartum depression 
  • Severe depression 

This listing is by no means exclusive. If you’re suffering from a disability that seems indefinite in nature, our lawyers in Brantford can help you understand your options for recovering compensation. Call our law office today to learn more about your rights.

What Are My Options for Recovering Compensation for a Long-Term Disability in Brantford, ON?

Your options for recovering compensation or government benefits depend heavily on the circumstances. How you were injured, your prior work history, and many other factors will be relevant. It’s even possible that you could have multiple options.

Individuals with long-term disabilities have four primary options in Ontario:

Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Disability Benefits: An Overview

The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) is a government-run program that provides cash benefits for individuals who cannot work due to a long-term disability. To receive benefits, you must prove that you’re eligible.

To receive CPP benefits, you must:

  • Be younger than age 65
  • Have contributed to the CPP (by having contributions withdrawn from your earnings)
  • Be diagnosed with a mental or physical disability that “regularly stops you from doing any type of substantially gainful work”
  • Have a disability that is long-term or indefinite in duration or is likely to result in death

A CPP post-retirement benefit may also be available if you’re between the ages of 60 and 65 and have been receiving retirement benefits for 15 months or become disabled after you start receiving the CPP retirement pension.

Your right to benefits also depends on how much you can earn with your disability. If you earn more than $6,800 per year, your benefits may be limited. Once your income reaches $19,339.74, you will likely lose your right to CPP benefits. The dollar amount is adjusted, so your right to benefits may change depending on the current maximum.

Am I Entitled to Workers’ Compensation Benefits Based on a Long-Term Disability?

If you were injured or developed a medical condition due to something work-related, you’ll probably qualify for workers’ compensation benefits in Ontario.

Workers’ compensation in Ontario provides several different types of benefits, including:

  • Medical benefits (all of your reasonable medical expenses should be covered)
  • Income replacement benefits if you can’t work or can’t earn as much as you did prior to the disability
  • Loss of retirement benefits
  • Non-economic loss benefits for permanent disabilities

Benefits for permanent disability depend on your age and level of impairment. 

Personal Injury Lawsuits in Brantford

Long-term disabilities often occur because of another party’s actions. If you were injured in an accident, by a doctor’s mistake, or due to someone’s wrongful act, you may have the right to file a lawsuit. 

Under Ontario’s personal injury laws, you can seek compensation for the full value of your pecuniary and non-pecuniary losses. 

Depending on your unique losses, you may be entitled to compensation for:

  • Medical bills
  • Lost income and employment benefits
  • Rehabilitation and PT
  • Nursing care
  • In-home assistance
  • Home or vehicle modifications
  • Long-term care in a facility
  • Property damage
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Diminished quality of life
  • Damage to relationships

In a successful personal injury case, the victim can hold the at-fault party liable for every loss they have suffered.

Private Disability Insurance Coverage

Many employers offer disability insurance as an employment benefit. It’s also possible to purchase an individual policy. Even if there is a disability insurance policy in place, the insurance company won’t automatically hand over fair compensation.

You’ll have to prove that your specific disability is covered under the policy. The policy terms always dictate the insurance company’s obligation to pay. Your ability to work and earn a living will likely be examined closely. Some policies even require a specific drop in income before they pay.

How Much Is My Brantford Long-Term Disability Case Worth?

As with any personal injury case, the value of a long-term disability claim depends on the unique details of your case. 

Factors that our lawyers consider in that determination include:

  • The nature of your injuries
  • Your age and life expectancy
  • Your average income prior to the disability
  • How much income you’ve lost to date
  • The cost of your medical care and rehabilitation
  • Damage to your quality of life and ability to enjoy life
  • Your anticipated future costs, including treatment costs
  • The identity of the at-fault party and whether liability is clear

Some of the same factors are relevant in cases involving government benefits. However, your workers’ comp and CPP limits are always subject to a cap. Disability benefits under private insurance policies depend on the policy’s terms and coverage limits.

Before taking any type of settlement, have an experienced Brantford long-term disability lawyer review your case. Your consultation is free. Without a skilled lawyer’s evaluation, you always risk taking less money than you deserve.

What Does it Cost to Hire a Lawyer to Handle My Long-Term Disability Case in Ontario?

At Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers, we work on a contingency fee basis. We don’t require upfront payment, and we don’t charge hourly rates. Instead, your lawyer’s fees are based on the amount of money we recover in your case.

Can I Receive Any Compensation If I Was Partly Responsible for Causing My Own Long-Term Disability in Ontario?

Ontario’s shared fault laws can be relevant if you have a valid personal injury case. Fault typically isn’t an issue in other cases–unless you intentionally harmed yourself.

If you share some blame, any personal injury settlement or verdict is reduced by your percentage of fault. You only lose your right to damages if you were 100% responsible.

How Much Time Do I Have To File a Claim for Compensation After Suffering a Long-Term Disability in Ontario?

The deadline for making a claim for compensation depends on the laws that apply in your case. Personal injury victims typically have two years from the date of an injury to file a lawsuit. Workers’ comp claims must generally be filed within six months.

The important thing to remember is that deadlines exist. Wait too long, and you could lose your right to compensation.

Contact a Brantford Long-Term Disability Lawyer for a Free Case Review Today

Do you have questions about your legal options? A Brantford long-term disability lawyer can evaluate your case for free. Contact Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers to get started today.

Our Personal Injury law firm in Brantford also provides: