ICBC Rate Increase 2014: The Truth About ICBC Injury Claims

Being a personal injury lawyer in Vancouver since 1995 gives me the benefit of some experiential knowledge when it comes to what ICBC says publicly about bodily injury claims and how they behave in private litigation. The recent attempt of ICBC to obtain an insurance rate increase is the latest example of a government corporation…

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$100,000 Award for Facial Scarring and Whiplash

This motor vehicle accident personal injury case required the Supreme Court to put a value on the pain and suffering for an eight year old boy with severe facial scarring and soft tissue injury. Tragically, his mother and his twin brother were killed, and his significant facial scarring had required him to endure numerous uncomfortable surgeries…

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Teenage Personal Injury Claimant Awarded $45,000 for Pain and Suffering

ICBC injury claims can often involve valuing pain and suffering for children and teenagers. This personal injury claimant was a 9 years old passenger in the front seat of her mother’s minivan when another vehicle failed to yield the right of way and collided with her right front bumper(Toopitsin v. McMullen,2014 BCSC 1486). She claims…

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Business Losses after Car Accident- ICBC vs. WCB

In this somewhat successful appeal, the BC Court of Appeal makes it clear that a car accident claimant, despite being a worker and being injured by a worker, is not statute-barred from maintaining an action for business-related losses that do not relate to personal injuries(Singh v. Sopper,2014 BCCA 243). The case involved a  motor vehicle…

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Teens and Youth Personal Injury Claims Concussion Guidelines

Help for children, youth and teenagers suffering from concussion and mild traumatic brain injury following a car accident just got easier.  Concussion guidelines have been established for every adolescent aged 5 to 18 years who have or may have sustained concussions. Ontario is now ahead of British Columbia, including ICBC, in providing guidelines for managing and…

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Making an ICBC Statement- Why How and When to Sign

Personal injury lawyers in Vancouver  give notice of accidents and report motor vehicle crashes to the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, ICBC on behalf of clients. However, whether you have a lawyer or not, a statement following an accident does not have to be signed, but as set out in the legislation you will have…

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Injured Police Officer Entitled to Disregard Rules of the Road

When you are privileged you do not have to follow the rules of the road. This unanimous and successful appeal confirms that there is little room to find a  police officer negligent for a car accident which results from the officer responding to a vehicle travelling at such an excessive speed (Maddex v. Sigouin, 2014 BCCA…

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Start Advocate Making Online ICBC Claim

Finally Found! We have been receiving online ICBC claims information and reporting ICBC claims since 1999 for our personal injury clients. As a legal advocate for the injured I began reporting ICBC claims in 1995, before any online reporting systems existed. Unbelievably very little has changed in the ICBC reporting requirements since the regulations were…

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ICBC Insurance Now Covers Travel To Outdoor Activities- No Waivers Allowed!

The law creating the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, ICBC, essentially prohibits an owner, driver or passenger from entering into a contract to exclude liability while in use and operation of a motor vehicle. The majority of our Court of Appeal have determined that such a waiver or release is contrary to the nature of…

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ICBC Statement Causes Lawsuit in Agony of Collision Case

  This personal injury case involved in a motor vehicle collision that occurred on Highway 97 North near Summit Lake, BC. when the claimant hit into a parked vehicle that had lost control earlier(Hart v. Jacobsen, 2014 BCSC 704 ). Despite the ice and snow the claimant told the ICBC adjuster he was driving at 80 to…

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