How much is a spinal cord injury claim worth in Canada?
Catastrophic spinal cord injury (paraplegia or quadriplegia) claims are among the largest in Canadian law, frequently in the millions. The dominant component is future cost of care — lifelong attendant care, equipment, medication, and home modifications — discounted to present value. General damages for pain and suffering are effectively fixed at the ~$430,000 SCC cap, a small fraction of the total.
What future care costs are recoverable for a spinal injury?
24-hour or part-time attendant care, personal support workers, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, wheelchairs and specialized seating, catheters and medical supplies, medications, home retrofits (ramps, lifts, widened doorways, accessible bathrooms), an adapted vehicle, and case management. A life-care planner and economist quantify and discount these over the claimant's life expectancy.
How does no-fault accident benefits interact with a spinal injury claim?
If the injury arose from a motor vehicle accident, catastrophic-impairment accident benefits (e.g. Ontario SABS) provide substantial no-fault funding for medical, rehabilitation, and attendant care up to statutory limits. A tort claim against the at-fault party covers pain and suffering and any care costs exceeding the accident-benefit limits.
Why do I need an economist for a spinal cord injury claim?
Because the future-care award spans decades, it must be discounted to present value using the mandated real discount rate and the claimant's actuarial life expectancy. A life-care planner details every future cost and a forensic economist calculates the lump-sum present value — expert evidence courts require for these high-value claims.