Rear-end Collision Draws Inference of Negligence against Rear ending Driver

Is it common sense and the law in BC that a driver rear ending another quickly stopping vehicle is at fault for following too closely, unless there is evidence to the contrary.  The following personal injury case tried unsuccessfully to prove otherwise ( click here to review full case of Wright v. Mistry,2017 BCSC 239).…

Read more

Pain and Suffering Award of $95,000 for Moderate Pain Disorder

This ICBC claimant was injured in a rear ender when driving on Boundary Road in Vancouver. When traffic came to a stop the claimant was rearended by a pick-up truck pushing her car about two car lengths into a van that had previously stopped in front of her. Immediately she experienced pain in her right leg, left…

Read more

$120,000 2x for Pain, Suffering and Future Income Loss

Two motor vehicle accidents are treated as one ICBC injury claim in today’s personal injury case review. In the first car accident the claimant was rear ended by a vehicle travelling at approximately 60 km/h at King George Highway and Highway #10 located in Surrey, British Columbia. The claimant’s vehicle was damaged and written off…

Read more

Apology at Car Accident Scene Not an Admission of Liability

This first personal injury case of 2017 is a classic example how various witnesses to a car accident will remember the circumstances differently.  This is also an unusual ICBC rear end crash in which the person hitting the other from behind is found 75% at fault. As Supreme Court Judge Griffin pointed out: Even honest witnesses will…

Read more

$100,000 Pain and Suffering Award for Neck Pain and Headaches

The purpose of an award for pain and suffering, called “non-pecuniary damages”, is to provide money compensation that ameliorates the condition of an injured claimant. In making such an award, the following factors are relevant: age of the claimant;  nature of the injury;severity and duration of pain; disability; emotional suffering; loss or impairment of life;  impairment of family, marital and social…

Read more

Legal Analysis for Multiple Car Accident Whiplash Claims

This ICBC personal injury claim arose out of two rear-end motor vehicle accidents.  The claimant  was involved in a third accident in which he was at fault. The question arose as to what impact, if any, the claimant’s responsibility for the third accident should have on the defendants’ liability for the consequences of his injuries (Derksen v. Nicholson,Insurance…

Read more
rear-end whiplash injuries

What to do when Rear-Ended: An ICBC Claim Checklist

With 25 years experience as a lawyer working for rear-ended injury Claimants, I have a few suggestions about ICBC injury claims and dealing with ICBC. “I just got rear-ended today should I call ICBC?”- if this sounds like you or someone you know, read on. Rear end collisions are common but different than most other…

Read more

$100,000 for Psychological Injury- Aggravation of Stuttering Condition

The claimant was rear-ended in a car accident and alleged he suffered chronic pain, with physical and psychological consequences, arising from neck and back injuries. The claimant had a longstanding stuttering condition since he was a young boy. The cause of this condition remained unknown and he continued to stutter to the date of trial (Karim v.…

Read more

Injured Motorcyclist has His Claim Dismissed for Travelling too Close

Barrie v. Marshall, 2010 BCSC 981 July 15th, 2010-  the injury claimant was riding his motorcycle  after spending time at a motorcycle show at the Tradex Centre near Abbotsford.  It was early afternoon, and the weather was clear and dry.  The claimant was travelling behind the car of the defendant, Benita Marshall.  The claimant said that Ms. Marshall stopped her…

Read more

ICBC Car Accident Case Rejects Last Clear Chance Analysis

Skinner v. Fu,2010 BCCA 321 The injury claimant rear-ended a vehicle when the other driver stopped without warning in the right lane of a highway. A personal injury claim from the car accident was originally dismissed by the court even though the trial judge found the driver that had stopped on the highway after hitting…

Read more