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Insurance dispute lawyers take notice of amendment to Ontario Insurance Act

Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyers Toronto - Completely Wrecked Car At Scrap Yard - NeinsteinFor victims of motor vehicle accidents, physical pain and suffering are often only a small part of a larger ordeal. Besides fighting through a long recovery process and dealing with the potential mental effects of a serious motor vehicle injury, accident victims may also face difficulty in receiving the compensation needed to finance their recovery. Resolving disputes with an insurance company can be a time consuming and costly process, and, to the displeasure of insurance dispute lawyers and accident victim advocates – such as FAIR and NeuroConnect – resolving accident benefit disputes will soon be more difficult.

Currently, disputes between insurance companies and claimants are handled by the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO). When a dispute occurs, the insurer and the claimant can apply for mediation with the FSCO and, if no resolution is reached, the claimant can either apply for arbitration or proceed, with the help of insurance dispute lawyers, to argue the case in court.

However, under an amendment to the provincial Insurance Act which was passed last November, handling of benefit disputes is being transferred away from the FSCO to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), an agency with a mandate to provide means to appeal decisions around compensation claims and licensing activities by several ministries of the provincial government, including the Ministry of Transportation. The LAT will begin accepting applications under the new Auto Insurance Dispute Resolution System (AIDRS) in April 2016. Leading up to that point, an advisory committee representing “groups that have an interest in the areas of law, business, government, consumer groups and the insurance industry” is meeting regularly to provide advice on the design and implementation of the new AIDRS.

As April 2016 approaches, several voices have raised concerns regarding the LAT’s ability to provide fair and balanced judgement to Ontario’s car accident injury victims. FAIR is a non-profit association supporting auto accident victims through advocacy and education. The group believes the current insurance system fails to provide the rehabilitation coverage and benefits necessary for accident victims to regain control of their lives. On September 30, FAIR released a letter to Ontario Attorney General Madeleine Meilleur stating that the LAT’s advisory committee “is composed of insurer defence lawyers and legal experts and consultants without any presence of consumers or MVA [motor vehicle accident] victims or those who represent them.” The letter insists the makeup of the committee will “underscore the public’s perception that Ontario’s insurance industry interests are of greater concern to our government than justice for Ontario citizens.”

FAIR’s letter focuses on the most important issue at hand: ensuring accident victims are treated fairly on the road to recovery. Injury victims rely on insurance coverage to pay for care and rehabilitation efforts, and FAIR believes the province is more concerned with the health of insurers than residents.

Toronto Sun legal columnist Alan Shanoff, meanwhile, published an article in January 2015 suggesting auto insurance benefit disputes could be “stacked against” the public. In the article, Shanoff cites a report from Canadians for Properly Built Homes (CFPBH) which looked at LAT decision making from 2006 to 2013. Over that eight year period, the LAT gave homeowners a 96 per cent failure rate on claims of major deficiencies, and over the final three years of the study, homeowners had a failure rate of 82, 83, and 94 per cent for all issues brought forward. The number of cases presented to the LAT also fell from 119 per year over the first four years of the study to 69 in the last four. The report concludes that the LAT’s “operations and performance need improvement both in relation to the adjudicators themselves (specifically in relation to self-represented parties) and the LAT’s management and administrative processes.”

In short, the amendment to Ontario’s Insurance Act has caused worry for representatives of and advocates for motor vehicle accident victims in the province, including insurance dispute lawyers and members of non-profit organizations like FAIR and NeuroConnect. Insurance disputes can be arduous processes, and an unbalanced LAT could make them worse still for injury victims.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a motor vehicle accident and is seeking benefits, contact the insurance dispute lawyers at Neinstein and Associates today. Call 866-920-4242 for a free, no obligation consultation.

Personal injury lawyers advise clients to avoid social media after injuries

Personal Injury Lawyers Toronto - Social Media Apps On Smart Phone - Neinstein

Photo credit: Jason Howle/Flickr

In September 2006, Facebook became available to anyone 13 years of age or older with a valid email address. Since then, the social networking giant has accrued upwards of 1.4 billion monthly active users, including 59 per cent of the Canadian population. According to a 2015 Forum Research poll, 30 per cent of Canadians also use LinkedIn, while a further 25 per cent use Twitter and 16 per cent use Instagram. In Canada, like in the majority of the developed world, social media networks are ubiquitous, and are employed not only by individual users, but by celebrities, professional sports teams, local businesses, and multi-national corporations.

Like all other industries in Canada, the legal profession has adopted social media as a means of increasing brand awareness, advertising services, and keeping up to date with breaking news. But social media’s use by lawyers extends beyond promotion. Facebook in particular has slowly become an important source of discovery for personal injury lawyers in Canada, particularly on the defense side. While questions surrounding the intrusiveness of accessing opponents’ social media accounts have been raised, most jurisdictions in Canada have determined that “social media is, without doubt, discoverable and producible if relevant,” according to an article on canadianlawyermag.com. Social media content is discoverable, the article continues “not only because courts have understood that the point of social media is the erosion of privacy, but also because courts have largely adopted the view that privacy will not trump discoverability of evidence as long as there isn’t an impact on third-party interests.”

This May, the National Post profiled Sarah Tambosso, a British Columbia resident whose claim for hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages following two car accidents was rejected based on social media evidence presented by the defence. While Tambosso’s personal injury lawyers claimed that the accidents had left her depressed – “I’m not a happy person,” she told a psychiatrist. “My life sucks.” – the defence presented Facebook photos showing her “drinking and river tubing with friends, attending costume parties,” and “performing at a karaoke competition.” The judge decided that her social activities were inconsistent with a person suffering psychological trauma, and awarded her just $36,000 in damages.

In order to avoid a similar result, personal injury lawyers warn clients to be vigilant with their social media posting. If a client is seeking damages for a serious injury, Facebook statuses or photo albums showing the client going on hikes or playing basketball can raise serious questions about the validity of the claim.

However, even when a client’s social media accounts suggest they live an active and healthy life, this representation can’t always be taken at face value. In many cases, Facebook profiles are used to keep up the appearance of happiness, even when a person is suffering through a painful recovery process.

“Social media can be a difficult kind of evidence to use because it consists of small snapshots of what people want others to hear,” said Rob Currie, director of Dalhousie University’s law and technology institute, in a National Post interview. “It’s different from behaviour you observe or statements you hear someone make; there is a wider variety of inferences the court can draw from it.”

Indeed, in a 2014 car accident trial in B.C., the judge ruled that Facebook photos of the plaintiff on trips and taking part in activities were not enough to prove that her injuries were exaggerated. “A snapshot does not show anything but a moment in time,” the judge said, “and does not disprove that the plaintiff also had many times … declined to participate in activities or felt in significant pain after trying to engage in activities.” The woman was eventually awarded $500,000.

Similarly, an Alberta judge ruled in 2010 that Facebook profiles may project an “overly positive perspective regarding one’s abilities and interests.”

In general, however, personal injury lawyers will warn clients to be extremely careful when posting to social media following an injury. Some lawyers will go so far as to advise their clients to erase all social media profiles during the duration of a trial.

At Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers, our team of personal injury lawyers will help you navigate every step of the legal process, and will fight to ensure you receive the compensation, care, and support you need. If you or a member of your family has suffered a serious injury, contact Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers at 416-920-4242 for a free consultation today.

Why is it so difficult for Canadian medical malpractice lawyers to win cases against negligent physicians?

Surgical Malpractice Lawyers Toronto - Doctors Performing Surgery - NeinsteinMedical malpractice suits in Canada are exceedingly rare. Each year medical malpractice lawyers bring an average of 911 cases against physicians, 20 of which patients win, 342 of which are settled out of court, and the rest of which are either won by doctors, abandoned by the plaintiff, or dismissed. In the past decade, even in the face of a growing population and a 38 per cent increase in the number of doctors in Canada, medical malpractice lawsuits have fallen by 5.4 per cent.

While a declining number of medical malpractice lawsuits may seem, on the surface, to indicate a rising level of care, the reality is less optimistic. As of the 2004 Canadian Adverse Events Study, patients across the country suffered an annual 185,000 adverse events – approximately 70,000 of which may have been preventable – accounting for between 9,250 and 23,750 deaths.

Why, then, aren’t more victims of medical malpractice suing? The primary reason is money. In Canada, doctors are protected by the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA), an Ottawa-based organization that provides legal defence and liability protection to physicians nationwide. The CMPA is an incredibly well-funded organization, harbouring a war chest of $3.2 billion, and are well-known to vigorously defend their clients in court, even in cases where an out of court settlement may be the cheaper solution. They are able to take this aggressive line for a number of reasons:

  • Most lawyers are unwilling to fight medical malpractice claims against the CMPA. Because of the expense associated with malpractice suits, medical malpractice lawyers are often forced to finance cases on behalf of their clients. “Trying to convince today’s generation of young lawyers to get into this area where they are going to be bankrolling someone else’s misery at their own cost is a tough sell,” explained Queen’s University law professor Erik Knutsen in a Toronto Star interview.
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  • To make matters more complicated, in Canada the losing side of a legal dispute must pay some of the legal fees for the winning side. In theory, this regulation is in place to prevent an inundation of frivolous lawsuits. However, in cases where one side has access to exponentially more money than another, it can be used to intimidate the opponent. Victims of medical malpractice, who may already be struggling financially, are unlikely to risk the money they have at their disposal. “It’s a real David-and-Goliath situation,” said Susan McIver, author of After the Error, in an interview with the Toronto Star. “Plaintiffs risk losing their homes and life savings when going up against an organization with deep pockets.”
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  • The CMPA has far better access to medical professionals who can contribute their opinions to the case, and are better able to pay them.

In short, the CMPA’s financial dominance makes it very difficult for victims of medical malpractice to earn compensation for their injuries. Unfortunately, a significant portion of the CMPA’s money comes directly from Canadians’ pockets. In Ontario, doctor’s pay their own CMPA fees, but are later reimbursed for more than 80 per cent of the cost by the provincial government. In 2014, almost $200 million of taxpayer money was used to subsidize annual CMPA fees, and that number is continually rising. Between 2013/14 and 2014/15 alone, the cost of CMPA fee reimbursements to the province rose 28 per cent.

In order to win a medical malpractice case in Canada, plaintiffs must prove that the medical professionals in question failed to meet the “standard of care” that a reasonable colleague would provide. The cases are complex, costly, and can be emotionally painful. Medical malpractice lawyers must have a unique knowledge of both the Canadian legal and medical systems in order to have a chance at winning the case.

If you or a family member has been injured by a case of medical malpractice, contact the medical malpractice lawyers at Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation. We are one of the few law firms in Ontario who represent victims of medical malpractice in court.

Dangerous year for cycling in Toronto keeps police, bicycle accident lawyers busy

Bicycle Injury Lawyers Toronto - Pedestrian Riding Bicycle - Neinstein

Photo credit: Hallgrimsson/Wikimedia Commons

In a three week window spanning late-May and early-June 2015, three cyclists were killed in accidents in the city of Toronto. With those three deaths, the city matched its total number of cyclist fatalities in all of 2014 and brought the total number of road deaths for the year to 31, nearly triple last year’s total. read more…

Concussions can lead to acquired brain injury and are a growing problem among Canadian youth

Personal Injury Lawyers Toronto - Athlete Injured On Field - Neinstein

Photo credit: John Martinez Pavliga/Flickr

On August 19, the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and the Bloorview Research Institute announced the launch of the “Concussion & You” handbook, a concussion victim’s guide to making educated, real-world decisions about their brain health. The handbook was developed by experts in the field of childhood disability and acquired brain injury, and informed by evidence-based research. read more…

More Canadians than ever are living with stroke-induced disabilities – will more medical malpractice suits follow?

Brain Injury Lawyers Toronto - Cross-section Of Brain Affected By Stroke - Neinstein

Cross-section of brain affected by stroke. (Photo credit: Marvin 101/WikimediaCommons)

A cerebrovascular accident (CVA), more commonly known as a stroke, occurs when blood flow to the brain is restricted, resulting in brain cell death. Strokes are sometimes fatal, and often result in permanent disabilities. In Canada, someone dies from heart disease or stroke every seven minutes, and in 2008 cardiovascular disease accounted for 29 per cent of all deaths in the country.

Fatal strokes, though, are on the decline; Canadians now enjoy an 83 per cent survival rate. But a higher survival rate means more Canadians are battling through a long, often painful recovery process, which could result in more medical malpractice claims. A study recently published in Stroke medical journal found that 405,000 Canadian survivors are now living with stroke-induced disabilities. If this number seems staggering, the study offers little room for optimism. By 2038, between 654,000 and 726,000 Canadians are projected to be living with long-term stroke disabilities, an 80 per cent increase caused by a growing and aging population, in addition to improvements in quality of care.

“The good news is that we’re creating more survivors, thanks to tremendous progress in care,” said David Sculthorpe, CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, in a release. “But we need to do even more to keep up with the growing threat of stroke including raising awareness of the signs of stroke and improving prevention and care.”

Although preventative measures and post-stroke treatment have improved greatly in recent years, medical malpractice or negligence can compound the already severe impacts of a stroke.

“The increasing prevalence of stroke in Ontario means that we need smart investment in rehabilitation and recovery services across the province to ensure people regain their lives,” said Executive Director of the Ontario Stroke Network, Chris O’Callaghan.

Many strokes are unpreventable, but conditions like high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation (irregular heart rhythm), and carotid artery disease or sepsis (narrowing of the carotid artery) are all good indicators of a patient at risk. If these conditions are properly diagnosed, treatment and medication can substantially reduce stroke risk. For instance, if a patient is diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, anticoagulants can diminish the chances of a stroke occurring. Similarly, medication or surgery can help reduce stroke risk for patients diagnosed with carotid artery disease.

Even when a stroke occurs, timely treatment can mitigate the damage it causes. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can be used to breakdown blood clots and help restore blood flow to the effected region of the brain, but can only be administered in the first hours following the stroke.

The timely administration of appropriate treatment and medication can help save a stroke victim’s life and reduce the damaging impact a stroke can have on the body and brain. In some cases, the failure to diagnose or properly treat a stroke can be considered medical malpractice or negligence.

If you or a member of your family has suffered a stroke and feel that you have not received an acceptable level of medical care, contact a medical malpractice lawyer at Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers today. Call 1-844-920-4242 to arrange a free, no-obligation consultation.

Ontario road safety updates have implications for drivers, cyclists, and motor vehicle accident lawyers

Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyers Toronto - Someont Texting And Driving Using iPhone - NeinsteinThis September 1, the Province of Ontario implemented a number of new and updated road safety rules which will effect drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and motor vehicle accident lawyers alike. Stricter distracted driving penalties are a centrepiece of the new rules, as increased cell phone use has led to a rising number of collisions and fatalities in recent years. The new rules will also aim to protect tow truck drivers and children on school buses with stricter “Slow Down, Move Over” regulations, and place a renewed emphasis on cyclist safety.

Rule updates include:

Distracted Driving

Whether you’re checking the Blue Jays score on your smart phone or yelling at the kids in the back seat, distracted driving is a dangerous practice. Since 2009, upwards of 500 people have been killed in collisions caused by distracted driving on provincial roads. In fact, collision trends in Ontario suggest distracted driving fatalities may exceed those from drunk driving as early as 2016.

The province’s rule changes feature harsher punishments for distracted drivers, including a new set fine of $490 and three demerit points. Novice drivers guilty of distracted driving will receive a minimum 30-day suspension for their first conviction. In instances where injury occurs, motor vehicle accident lawyers can help victims navigate the legal landscape and earn appropriate compensation.

Cyclist Safety

Today, 1.2 million Ontarians ride their bicycles on a daily basis. Unfortunately, with an influx of cyclist traffic comes an influx of bicycle injuries, which the government is trying to mitigate by imposing harsher penalties on both drivers and cyclists who refuse to take necessary safety precautions. Drivers will face an increased minimum fine of $365 for opening their door and causing a cyclist to crash into it – an action known as dooring – and must now leave at least a metre of space when passing a cyclist.

Cyclists, meanwhile, may be punished for failing to adopt common sense safety precautions. Missing front lights and back reflectors can result in a $110 set fine.

Tow Trucks

Drivers in Ontario must now slow down and move over to give space to tow trucks stopped by the side of the road. Similar rules have been in place for emergency vehicles for years, and now tow truck drivers will benefit from similar protection. Failure to comply with the new law carries a minimum fine of $490.

The stricter fine has been implemented for good reason – a tow truck driver was struck and killed by a transport truck several years ago near London, ON. Severe injury and wrongful death are realities of car accidents, and motor vehicle accident lawyers can help ensure the guilty parties are held responsible.

School Buses

Police will be cracking down on drivers who fail to stop for school buses, as well. First time convictions will be punished with a fine of up to $2,000 and six demerit points.

“Ontario’s roads are among the safest in North America, and we want to keep it that way,” said Ontario Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca. “We will continue to work hard to curb distracted driving, protect cyclists, and improve the safety of tow truck operators and children riding school buses.”

While updated rules of the road can help to improve the safety of Ontarians, some car accidents are unavoidable. If you or a member of your family has been seriously injured, contact Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers’ team of motor vehicle accident lawyers today. We will fight to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

How would publicly-traded personal injury law firms effect Ontario’s accident victims?

Personal Injury Lawyers Toronto - Stock Market Monitor Of Data - Neinstein

Photo credit: Katrina Tuliao/Flickr

Slater & Gordon Lawyers is an Australian multinational personal injury law firm which employs more than 2,500 people worldwide. In 2007, it became the first law firm in the world to be listed on a stock exchange, and in 2012 it entered the British market by acquiring several UK firms. Now Slater & Gordon is eyeing a move to Canada which would require regulators to change rules banning non-lawyers from owning law firms. The potential regulatory changes have prompted debate on the value of publicly owned law firms in both Canada and the United States.

While the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) has endorsed the exploration of Alternative Business Structures (ABS), which would allow firms to be listed on stock exchanges, a significant portion of the Canadian legal industry, including the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA) opposes the reforms.

According to the Globe and Mail, supporters of the rule changes believe that “allowing law firms to attract capital from non-lawyers means they can use it to expand and provide innovative new legal services,” and that the “new services will help deal with the ‘access to justice’ problem, which sees many Canadians unable to afford a lawyer.”

However, critics have suggested that reforms would make lawyers answerable first to their shareholders and second to their clients, which could generate ethical and conflict-of-interest issues.

Detractors also believe the changes would mean less choice for clients seeking a personal injury law firm.

“If the model that we have seen in the U.K. and Australia progresses, it will absolutely mean fewer choices for the consumer,” OTLA president Maia Bent told the Globe and Mail. “The choice that you have is going to be a much more cookie-cutter, assembly-line type of legal service.”

However, with or without regulatory changes, Slater & Gordon’s hopes of entering the Canadian personal injury law market may already be in jeopardy. Earlier in 2015, the firm saw its shares plummet by around 50 per cent over just three months after one of its British acquisitions, Quindell Legal Services, was made to “restate a previously reported profit as a loss,” according to the Financial Post. While the scandal is hardly a nail in the coffin for one of the world’s largest personal injury law firms, it certainly won’t help to rally already lukewarm support for Alternative Business Structures in Canada.

A recent OTLA blog post summed up its opposition to ABS as such: “Traditional law firms have, of course, also been run as businesses with revenue streams that fluctuate over time. The difference is that while lawyers facing a slow revenue period remain ethically bound to act in their clients’ best interests, the same cannot be said for shareholders.”

At Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers, our clients are our first priority. We have represented clients throughout Ontario and the GTA in a wide range of personal injury law cases. Our team of experienced lawyers will fight to ensure you and your family receive the compensation, care, and support you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Accessibility Innovation Showcase highlights technology of interest to accident victims and the personal injury lawyers who represent them

Personal Injury Lawyers Toronto - Accessibility Convention - Neinstein

Ontario Centres of Excellence’s (OCE) first ever Accessibility Innovation Showcase, an official event of the 2015 Parapan Am Games, took place from August 8 to 10 at the MaRS Discovery District in downtown Toronto. More than 50 companies were able to connect with investors and showcase innovations in technologies and assistive devices that may be of great interest to personal injury lawyers and their clients.

“The kick-off of the 2015 Parapan Am Games is the perfect time to showcase innovative Ontario-based companies creating life-changing accessible technologies,” said Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Employment, and Infrastructure, Brad Duguid, in a news release. “Our government is proud to invest in the skills and talents of our people and businesses that are creating new products to help people with disabilities achieve their full potential.”

Among the exhibitors at the showcase was GestureTek Systems, a Toronto-based company providing gesture-controlled technology for immersive displays, signs, surfaces, and full body games. GestureTek’s virtual reality technology could be of particular interest to personal injury lawyers representing injury victims who suffer from a disability. Virtual reality is sometimes used as a rehabilitation technique, which has been found to increase the independence and confidence of participants.

The Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital’s Bloorview Research Institute (BRI) was also present at the showcase. On August 8, they exhibited a number of different innovations, including a vocal cord vibration switch known as the “Hummer.”

The Hummer is a variety of access technology which allows children with severe physical disabilities, including a lack of functional speech or reliable movement, to communicate and participate in activities. According to BRI literature, the Hummer “converts vocal cord vibrations into binary control signals for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), environmental control, and computer access.” The device, which is designed for people unable to form words but still capable of vocalization, is already being used by dozens of children.

Personal Injury Lawyers Toronto - Accessibility Innovation Project - NeinsteinCompanies were invited to participate in the Accessibility Tech Pitch competition, which was ultimately won by
Legworks, who developed a next-generation prosthetic knee for amputees. The high-performing, durable, and low-maintenance prosthetic allows amputees to walk efficiently, safely, and at multiple speeds. Its affordability makes it a viable choice in both the developed and developing world, and should raise hopes of increased accessibility and mobility for severe accident victims and the personal injury lawyers representing them. Legworks plans to use the $20,000 first prize to outfit 200 amputees in developing countries with its prosthetic.

“Winning the Accessibility Innovation Showcase Tech Pitch was amazing validation of our product and social business model,” said Legworks’ co-CEO Emily Mochizuki. “Our goal is for every amputee around the world to walk with confidence on affordable and high-performing prosthetic devices.”

The Accessibility Innovation Showcase is an excellent example of business and government coming together in search of solutions to the many challenges faced by accident victims, personal injury victims, and disabled people in Ontario. Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers team of personal injury lawyers will fight to ensure personal injury victims and their families receive the compensation, care, and support they need. If you or a member of your family has been injured, contact Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers at 416-920-4242 for a free consultation today.

Study finds that people who have suffered a traumatic brain injury may be more at risk of ADHD

Medical Malpractice Lawyers Toronto - Doctors Running Medical Tests - NeinsteinA new study led by Dr. Gabriela Ilie, a post-doctoral fellow at Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital, has found a “significant association” between adults who suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) at some point in their lives and who also have attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD). The study, which was published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, adds credence to recent research showing a similar association in children.

“This is not surprising, because some of the most persistent consequences of TBI include ADHD-like symptoms, such as memory and attention impairment, deficits in executive functions such as planning and organization, processing consonants and vowels and impulsive behaviour,” Dr. Ilie said in a St. Michael’s news release.

The data used in the study was collected by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s Monitor, a continuous, cross-sectional telephone survey of nearly 4,000 Ontario residents older than 18. The study classified a traumatic brain injury as “any injury to the head that resulted in loss of consciousness for at least five minutes or overnight hospitalization.” Instances of ADHD were measured by either self-reported diagnosis or the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale.

Just under 6 per cent of the surveyed adults who had suffered a traumatic brain injury reported having been diagnosed with ADHD during their lifetime, while a further 6.6 per cent screened positive for ADHD when the self-report scale was issued during the survey.

“These new data suggest a significant association between ADHD and TBI,” said Dr. Robert Mann, a senior scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and co-principal investigator for the study. “We see that adults with TBI are more than twice as likely than those without to report symptoms of ADHD.”

The results of the study expand on previous findings linking TBI with addiction issues, mental health problems, depression, substance abuse, and even road rage.

Another study published this month, “Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury and Attention Deficit,” examined 113 children between the ages of 6 and 13 who had suffered from traumatic brain injuries of various severities, and another group of 53 children who experienced a non-head-related trauma. Parents and teachers were asked to report on the attention and other health indicators of the children about 18 months after the injuries. According to the Washington Post, “they found that those with TBI had more lapses in attention and other issues, such as anxiety, a tendency to internalize their problems and slower processing speed.”

Traumatic brain injuries can occur at any time, and can result in a wide range of symptoms which can be difficult to diagnose, particularly in children. Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers has worked in personal injury law for more than 45 years, and can help determine whether you are eligible for accident or disability benefits, in addition to potential remuneration.

If you or a family member has been involved in an accident and are now coping with a traumatic brain injury, contact Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers today. For a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer, call us toll-free at 1-866-920-4242, or fill out an online consultation request here.

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