Letters. to the Editor, Jan. 15 Toronto SUN
Re “Ontario insurers leave catastrophically injured at risk” (Jan. 8): I seriously doubt even lawyer Alan Shanoff would disagree that the definition of catastrophic impairment must ensure that all accident victims receive the right level of care and treatment. The purpose of the CAT impairment designation in the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule ensures that seriously injured people, who will need a great deal of specialized care over the remainder of their lives and who do not have access to a lawsuit against an at-fault driver, have enough resources to address their long-term needs. In his obsessive effort to vilify insurers, Shanoff oversimplifies the issue. It is obvious insurers want their injured policyholders to get better because everyone loses when they don’t. But there are bigger issues of legal principles and costs to the system. Ultimately, Shanoff is fighting for a very generous, and no doubt highly expensive, system that will ensure the legal community makes money without any guarantee that injured motorists are provided for. From the insurers’ perspective, it is important we have a CAT definition that is clear, so that all parties understand the intent and substance of the definition. By keeping disputes and unnecessary and abusive costs to the system to a minimum, we can ensure that more resources go to providing appropriate treatment to seriously injured motorists. The government is currently reviewing all aspects of the CAT definition and we’re hopeful that this process will resolve any uncertainty.
Ralph Palumbo
Vice-President, Ontario, Insurance Bureau of Canada
(Shanoff is obsessive? Someone has to speak up for innocent accident victims. We need a fair, not a generous system. And who says the current definition of catastrophic impairment isn’t clear? The courts have worked with it for years — and with the most recent decision in the Robert Kusnierz case, it seems clear enough) Editor http://www.torontosun.com/2012/01/13/letters-to-the-editor-jan-15