Understanding Trauma Season: How To Navigate a Catastrophic Injury

From Victoria Day to Labour Day, trauma hospitals across Ontario prepare for a spike in catastrophic injuries. This is a period known by healthcare professionals as Trauma Season.

While more accidents happen during the winter months, it’s the summer season that brings the most serious ones. Warm weather, long weekends, and open roads often mean higher speeds – and when collisions happen at high speeds, the outcomes can be devastating. Trauma hospitals see a sharp increase in admissions for serious injuries, especially from car, motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents, along with accidents related to water activities.

At Thomson Rogers LLP, we support families through some of the most difficult times of their lives. We created this page to share critical information about what to expect after a traumatic injury, why timing matters, and how early legal support can make a real difference.

After a Catastrophic Injury: What Families Need to Know

When a loved one is seriously injured, the first hours and days can feel like a blur. Families are left navigating unfamiliar territory; hospital systems, insurance processes, and life-altering decisions – all while managing shock and grief.

So where do you start?

The first step is understanding what’s ahead. During the hospital stay, trauma teams focus on survival and stabilization. But after discharge, the road forward is long and complex. Continuity of care becomes critical, and that includes navigating access to accident benefits, setting up rehabilitation, and securing long-term support.

That’s where experienced trauma lawyers can step in.

Why Legal Help Matters Early On

Timing makes a difference. Having the right legal team involved from the beginning helps prevent missed opportunities for support. The lawyers at Thomson Rogers help ensure the right treatment plans are in place early. We gather evidence before it’s lost, and coordinate with medical teams and insurers to protect your rights.

Legal representation isn’t just about litigation – it’s about creating stability in a time of crisis.

Many families are surprised by what they’re entitled to, and just as often, they don’t know how to access those benefits. From income replacement to attendant care, these supports can be life changing. But the system is complicated, and without legal guidance, families can be left to navigate it alone.

What Families Ask Us Most

These are the questions we hear most often from people facing catastrophic injury:

What are the first steps we should take?
How are we going to afford this?
How do we find the right medical and rehab support?
Who will explain the insurance paperwork?
How can we make sure we’re not missing something important?

The answer to all of these begins with experienced, accessible, and compassionate legal support. We offer free consultations, and we’re upfront about costs from day one. There are no surprises – just the reassurance that someone is in your corner.

Contact our trauma lawyers by filling out our free consultation form or calling 416-868-3100 or toll-free at 1-888-223-0448

If you’re wishing to locate and engage the services of health care professionals and treatment providers, go to TraumaResourceDirectory.com. It’s an online directory of health care professionals and treatment providers in Ontario.