Tara Miller – January 2017
Generally, anyone injured in a motor vehicle accident is entitled to make a claim for no-fault accident benefits through Section B of their own automobile insurance policy. These benefits are no-fault, meaning they are available regardless of whether you were at fault for the accident. They include medical, rehabilitation, loss of income, death, funeral and other benefits and are intended to provide early interim financial assistance, particularly with getting medical treatment. The goal of this early financial assistance is to ensure necessary treatment is obtained in a timely fashion to assist with speedy recovery from car accident injuries.
Section B provides coverage for all reasonable medical and rehabilitation expenses incurred as a result of the injury within four years of the accident date up to a total of $50,000 per person. This coverage includes:
- Medical services
- Surgical services
- Dental services
- Chiropractic services
- Hospital services
- Professional nursing services
- Ambulance services
- Any other service insured under the Health Service and Insurance Act
- Any other services and supplies, which are, in the opinion of the injured person’s doctor and that of the insurer’s medical advisor (physician – not adjuster), essential for the treatment, occupational retraining or rehabilitation of the injured person, to the $50,000 limit, which can include:
- Travelling expenses for medical treatment or physiotherapy
- Hospital telephone rental
- Hair transplants
- Physiotherapy
- Massage therapy
- Replacement eyeglasses where glasses were damaged in accident
- Additions to the home of the parents of a quadriplegic
Sometimes the injuries sustained in a car accident require further specialized medical investigation to ensure proper treatment is received. This investigation can include a MRI. However, with significant wait times for a MRI in the Nova Scotia public health care system, those who have been injured in a car accident may have to wait an inordinate period of time to have accident injuries properly investigated with a MRI. Some of our personal injury clients have received appointment times for an accident related MRI 12 months in the future… It is easy to see how the benefit of early intervention to assist with timely recovery is lost when a car accident victim has to wait for such a prolonged time.
In situations where your family doctor or specialist has recommended a MRI for investigation into your accident injury (head, shoulder, knee, etc.), our Halifax lawyers can usually work with the Section B insurer to have them cover the cost of a MRI at a private clinic which can provide a MRI appointment in 1-2 weeks. Early investigation results in early treatment which facilitates an earlier recovery.
If you have any questions about whether the cost of your accident related MRI through a private MRI clinic might be covered under Section B, then please call one of Halifax lawyers for a free consultation.