Since 2010, Holness and Small Law Group has written over 1000 legal blog articles. We believe that staying informed and current with personal injury news and case developments is essential to providing proper legal services to our clients when advocating for their rights.
On November 9, 2018 the NDP Coalition government released their ICBC Minor Injury Claim laws to take effect April 1, 2019. These laws pre-set compensation for pain and suffering to an injury cap maximum of $5,500 for all accident’s injuries after April 1, 2019 unless proof of serious impairment is presented. Given the complexity of the new…
The Court of Appeal has upheld a $200,000.00 award to a 25-year old student for loss of future earning capacity despite having no settled pattern of employment, and no causal link between her injuries and her inability to keep positions in her desired field of employment. (Layes v. Stevens,2018 BCCA 415). An ICBC offer to…
In this personal injury case Volvo was found 100% liable for negligent manufacture, negligent design and failure to warn for a Volvo 780 truck purchased in 2007. The appellants, Volvo Trucks North America Inc. and National Truck Centre Inc. dba Pacific Coast Heavy Truck Group, appealed an order that they pay damages to the…
As a personal injury lawyer since 1995 my law firm and I have assisted thousands of claimants in search of a legal advocate after an injury. One of the most common questions: Do I need a lawyer? Why? Answer: To obtain better compensation without dealing directly with ICBC is often the reason a claimant hires a lawyer. To…
In this unusual car accident case the claimant was driving west on Marine Way in Burnaby approaching Byrne Road when a vehicle driving east lost control of his car, went over the median and collided with the claimant’s vehicle. Another vehicle was travelling west on Marine Way behind the claimant and rear-ended the claimant’s vehicle. The claims…
At first glance, the increase in ICBC accident benefits from $150,000 for each vehicle accident to $300,000 appears to be a positive change for innocent victims of auto accidents. In fact this change will only benefit those drivers that are at fault for causing the car accident injuries. How is this possible? Read on. Important to…
This is an appeal of an order dismissing a constitutional challenge to the requirement to pay daily hearing fees in civil trials.(Cambie Surgeries Corporation v. British Columbia (Attorney General),2018 BCCA 385). This case outlines a few of the issues the BC government will face in trying to justify the denial of rights to the injured with ICBC injury caps,…
This ICBC claimant sought compensation for brain injury which he said was caused after he was thrown from his bicycle with no contact with the vehicle. There were several statements given to ICBC both in writing and by email which the court had to consider in determining fault. The issue regarding liability was whether the driver caused the…
In this personal injury case the claimant suffered injury in two motor vehicle accidents for which she was not at fault. The claimant was a 16 year-old high school student, enrolled in Grade 11 when the first car accident occurred. It requires the capital asset approach to assess the value of personal injury case when…
There are significant negative changes after April 1, 2019 that will limit and reduce victim compensation. In 2018 the NDP coalition government passed laws to secure the monopoly ICBC has over auto insurance and increased ICBC’s power to deny compensation to innocent victims. Speak to a lawyer about the facts of your case before you settle.…
