Cell Phone Ban in an Effort to Reduce Car Accidents in BC

For those of you who love to drive and talk on the phone, as of January 1, 2010 in BC, you must do without the talk. In BC we now have to let our cell phones ring through to voice mail while driving; our government passed a law saying we can’t use hand-held devices while operating a motor vehicle. Our province’s police officers report that they’ll give us all a break and...

Should You Make an ICBC Dial-A-Claim After a Car Accident?

Steps to take with ICBC after a car accident in BC Car accidents can be violent, painful, frightening, and incredibly damaging to one’s life.  Many people don’t remember a lot of the details of a car crash; often people are confused, nervous, and/or in shock immediately after the crash and well into the events following a car accident. Steps to take after a car accident in BC 1.  If...

Witnessing a Car Accident

Not too long ago I witnessed a fairly violent car crash at an intersection in Abbotsford, BC.  I was waiting to cross that very intersection.  I can still picture in my mind and my thinking that just before the crash happened that it was going to happen.  I immediately paid attention because I knew witnesses can be very valuable in shedding light which vehicle did what.  I particularly looked...

I’ve been in a car crash. Do I need to sign anything?

Contrary to what many people believe, you do not need to sign your statement to ICBC.  The following are what you need to provide to ICBC after a car crash: •    Report the accident: You need to make a claim as soon as possible following the accident – you can do so over the telephone by using ICBC’s dial-a-claim service, or when you retain us, we’d be happy to do it for. •  ...

Hosting a Holiday Bash? The current law on social host liability

The holidays are a festive time.  It’s an occasion for families to gather, work colleagues to celebrate together, and friends to meet up. But along with all that merriment come some amplified safety issues: car accidents increase, drunk-driving charges go up, and alcohol over-indulgence can wreck havoc on what should be a joyous time. Canadian courts have long held that bars, restaurants and...

BC Safe Cycling Tips

It’s spring – and cycling season is in full gear. Ahhh…bicycling.  Who doesn’t enjoy the freedom of pedal pushing their way around town?  Living in the Fraser Valley, we’re especially fortunate to have such a great array of country roads and beautiful vistas to enjoy on our bicycles.  As lawyers, though, we tend to see the other side of cycling: bad driving, bad cycling practices...

ICBC’s LVI Policy

Has ICBC told you that you don’t have a claim because your car accident was “low velocity impact” or “minimal impact”? Being told you don’t have a claim from ICBC can be a slap in the face when you’re injured after a car accident.  I see many clients who believed they no longer could make a claim for their injuries?  Don’t worry, if you were hurt...

Will a Pre-existing Condition Ruin Your Car Accident Claim?

Not at all, unless you lie about it. Many persons in car crashes have some pre-existing spine degeneration (basically the aging process) and/or some previous injury.  If you are struggling to get better, your pre-existing condition may explain it. The first thing to remember is if you decide to talk to ICBC or are asked about any pre-existing conditions/injuries by a medical person is to tell...

B.C. Accident Statistics for the year 2005

The following B.C. car accident statistics are for the year 2005 and were sourced from the “Traffic Collision Statistics: Police-attended Injury and Fatal Collisions British Columbia 2005″ prepared by ICBC.  The full report can be viewed at ICBC Web site located at icbc.com/library/research_papers/traffic/index.asp # of accidents and injuries # of reported...

Interest on disbursements payable by wrongdoer in New Brunswick

Synopsis: New Brunswick Court of Queen’s Bench orders a wrongdoer (defendant) to pay the interest charged to an injured claimant that accrued in order to finance the cost of the lawsuit.  This doesn’t make this decision law in British Columbia at this time, but no doubt this issue will soon be addressed in BC’s Supreme Court.  (case:  Bourgoin v. Ouellette et al, N.B.R. (2d) TBEd....