Pain free life is valued as part of the dream of the Good Life by most Canadians.  The elimination of auto victims rights in 2018 and the increase in the ICBC monopoly on car insurance is therefore a shocking embarrassment to our democratic principles in British Columbia.

Minor Injury Cap passed 2018 will apply to all car accidents after April 1, 2019. 2018 is the year the NDP coalition government discriminated against car accident victims, labelling most of their injuries as minor. The first major change of 2018 is the introduction of the Minor Injury Regulation. This year is the worse year for injury victim rights since the creation of ICBC, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, over 45 years ago.

Minor Injury Caps under the regulations apply to auto accident victims so that after April 1, 2019 ICBC and bad drivers pay much less to innocent victims for personal injury. A dangerous fiction is created in which significant injuries will now be called minor injuries  thanks to the NDP coalition government.

  • Cuts and bruises 
 Minor Injury Cap applies to Cuts and bruises after April 1, 2019
  • Sprains or strains
 Minor Injury Cap applies to sprains and strains after April 1, 2019
  • Pain syndrome
 Minor Injury Cap applies pain syndromes after April 1, 2019
  • Psychological or psychiatric condition
 Minor Injury Cap applies to mental injuries after April 1, 2019
  • Concussion that does not result in an incapacity
 Minor Injury Cap applies concussions after April 1, 2019
  •  Jaw disorder
 Minor Injury Cap applies to TMD after April 1, 2019
  • Whiplash injury 
 Minor Injury Cap applies to whiplash associated disorder after April 1, 2019
  • Further injuries as may be added
 Minor Injury Cap applies for auto accidents after April 1, 2019

The NDP justified these changes to reduce the cost of auto insurance premiums. This was untrue as  ICBC is demanding a rate increase from the Utility Commission of 6.3% for next year.

The Second major change is the elimination of subrogation for private insurers after car accidents. This means that ICBC increases their monopoly over car insurance, punishing citizens for purchasing private insurance for protection in the event of a car accident. Changes to the Insurance (Vehicle Act) give special powers to ICBC, allowing them to pay less to victims than the cost of their treatment and healthcare.

2019 will be the year British Columbians start paying more for less when it come to car insurance. Personal injury lawyers, human rights advocates and healthcare providers need to come to the aid of auto accident victims, fighting a battle against the inefficient but growing government monopoly ICBC.