The applicant, a bus driver, was injured in a motor vehicle accident when a transport truck collided with her bus.
She applied for a determination of catastrophic impairment under the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule.
The central issue was whether her injuries resulted in a 55% or more Whole Person Impairment (WPI) in accordance with the AMA Guides.
The adjudicator evaluated competing expert medical reports regarding the applicant's mental/behavioural disorders, lower extremity impairments, facial disfigurement, spinal issues, sleep disorder, and chronic pain.
After weighing the evidence and assigning WPI percentages for each category, the adjudicator concluded that the applicant sustained a 54% WPI.
Applying the rounding principles permitted by the AMA Guides, this met the 55% threshold.
The Tribunal declared the applicant catastrophically impaired.
