How COVID-19 Is Probably Affecting Your Auto Claimants

The precautions underway to reduce COVID-19 transmission risk appear to be having a direct impact on auto accident benefits claimants — and not in a good way.

“We have people who are seriously and catastrophically injured who are in their own homes or in community settings and they are vulnerable, by virtue of their often complex constellation of injuries,” Laurie Davis, executive director of the Ontario Rehabilitation Alliance, said Thursday of motor vehicle accident victims.

“They may be paraplegics. They may be quadriplegics. They may have brain injury. They may have all of the above,” Davis told Canadian Underwriter.

“They may have severe motor and cognitive impairments, which makes it difficult at the best of times for them to stay healthy.”

So what happens when the social distancing measures, recommended by public health authorities, prevent a claimant from getting physiotherapy or chiropractic treatment?