The recent story of this harasser to whom IVAC paid compensation1 shocked more than one. The Minister of Justice, Simon Jolin-Barrette, was quick to describe this situation as unacceptable. An equally unacceptable flaw is that of the SAAQ which compensates motorists found criminally responsible for an accident. The difference here is that we are not talking about fraud, but about a public system, in place since 1978.
On August 17, 2022, early in the afternoon, I was driving quietly on a path along the river in Montérégie. In this 50 km/h zone, near my house, I was in no hurry. Quite the opposite of a young motorist, in the opposite direction, whose odometer fluctuated between 100 and 148 km/h. He was running from the police2.
In a fairly sharp curve, which I took at 36 km/h, according to the investigation report, he veered into my lane and hit me head-on.
His car caught fire. I was trapped in mine for 30 minutes, unconscious, broken everywhere. Both in critical condition. He received a sentence of two years and two months. Mine, like that of many other victims, is undetermined: a career as a high school teacher still impossible to pursue, an aching body, the after-effects of a head trauma, a generalized anxiety disorder resulting from post-stress. traumatic, but also a desire to embrace life and make a new start. I had a narrow escape, all in all.
The nonsense of no fault
If I have made peace with the author of the accident, it is different with the regime. no fault “. The government would never tolerate a person who is injured while committing a crime receiving compensation; if she is in a car, yes. Nonsense.
Furthermore, when the real victim is no longer considered an “acute case”, goodbye to reimbursement of costs for psychotherapy, physiotherapy, etc., while the needs can be prolonged, even lasting.
A battle ensues to prove the necessity of treatments and hope to recover part of the costs for those who do not have private insurance. Most of the time, the outcome is negative. All that remains is the administrative court to turn to. Many will give up, due to lack of energy or means.
Recently, I had to fight to be reimbursed for an occlusal plate supposed to reduce the tension on the temporomandibular joints. The argument given for refusing? My history of osteoarthritis in the jaw. The costs are not related to the accident, I was told. Really ? What about my head, which was thrown forward, then back with enough force to fracture the occipital bone? And the fact that I was living very well without plaque before this brutal event? The criteria are the criteria. Remember this: it is better to be in perfect health before an accident.
When will there be a government that will eliminate compensation for criminals to provide better coverage for real victims? Marc Bellemare, lawyer and former Minister of Justice, has been hoping for this for many years. This would already be a good step forward for all these people who are struggling to rebuild themselves, to find meaning in their lives. For now, I have swapped the administrative court for the people’s court. Probably a drop in the ocean, but a necessary outlet in my healing process. While waiting for political decision-makers to correct this injustice, I am taming my new reality by celebrating each small victory, with my head held high.
1. Read “Victim of IVAC”
2. Another debate would be that of police pursuits in residential areas.
What do you think ? Participate in the dialogue
reference: www.lapresse.ca