Talk to an ICBC lawyer in our firm today. We have offices in Langley, Abbotsford, Surrey, Chilliwack, Maple Ridge and Aldergrove.
ICBC is the motor vehicle insurer in British Columbia. If you live in BC and you’ve suffered injury in an accident somewhere such as Abbotsford, Surrey, or Vancouver or elsewhere in BC, you will deal with ICBC about your injury claim.
If you’ve suffered injury in a car accident, continue reading to learn answers to some key questions you might have.
Should you talk to ICBC about your ICBC injury claim?
The simple answer is “No”.
Once you file an ICBC claim via the dial-a-claim system, you don’t need to talk to ICBC further. In fact, we suggest you don’t talk to ICBC at all until after you’ve spoken with an ICBC lawyer. If you prefer, our an ICBC lawyer in our firm can file your claim for you.
A real benefit in getting legal help is that if you’ve been in a road accident, we can help you right away by dealing with ICBC on your behalf. This means you don’t have to worry about saying something you shouldn’t have said. And you don’t have to worry about signing something you shouldn’t have signed.
We will take over all the paperwork and communication with ICBC for you. This is at no cost to you. We act on a contingency fee basis – meaning that we get paid only when we recover money for you.
Is ICBC’s settlement offer for your injury claim fair?
Sometimes ICBC makes early offers to injured persons before they hire an ICBC lawyer in the hopes that they will settle quickly. Often these early settlement offers are made too early (i.e. before the full medical condition is understood or before an injured person is fully recovered).
If you’ve received an offer to settle from ICBC, you should discuss it with an ICBC lawyer. If you’re still hurting – even just slightly – at the time ICBC puts out an offer, it is not a good idea to accept their offer.
Why? Because you don’t know how long you will continue to hurt and what, if any, consequences there might be as a result. For example, will your injuries affect you in the future?
You also don’t know what medical problems may arise in the future if you haven’t fully recovered. There’s a chance you might have to miss work in the future. There’s also a chance that you’ll need more treatment in the future, such as physiotherapy or surgery.
Once you settle with ICBC you cannot go back to them for more money. Once you sign their release, you’re legally barred from pursuing your claim further.
You may be surprised by what the court has determined is fair for the compensation you should receive for your injuries. This is where talking to a personal injury lawyer can help … you get feedback about what is reasonable compensation.
The best thing to do if you’re hurt from a road accident is to talk to an ICBC lawyer about your claim. Speaking with an ICBC claims lawyer at our firm costs you nothing and there is no obligation after your first visit.
What if more than one person may be at fault?
One of the most important legal issues regarding a car, truck, or motorcycle accident is determining who is at fault for the collision.
You may not know that legal fault can be divided between a number of drivers. In some cases, two or more drivers could be at fault.
For example, imagine a busy intersection in Abbotsford BC, on Clearbrook Road. A car enters the intersection. The driver isn’t paying attention and doesn’t see the second vehicle that’s also entering the intersection from a different direction. The second vehicle is speeding. The two vehicles crash.
In this example, who’s at fault? That’s a legal question that has to be resolved.
In other cases involving different roads or intersections, fault can partly be because of road design or highway maintenance.
Each case is different.
If you are found to be only 50% at fault for your motor vehicle accident, the courts say that you deserve to be compensated for the 50% of the accident that was not your fault.
You should know that ICBC makes its own determination of fault that may not always be right. If you believe your accident was not fairly treated by ICBC, you have the right to appeal your case to the Courts. An experienced ICBC lawyer can help you do this.
If you’re hurt, get some answers – at no cost to you
We welcome your call to discuss your claim. Just call our office and make an appointment with one of our ICBC lawyers.
The initial sit-down with an ICBC injury lawyer at our firm is at no cost to you. You are under no obligation to hire us. This is your chance to ask questions, and to tell your story.
Alternatively, if you would like one of our lawyers to visit you at your home – or anywhere else that’s more convenient for you – just let our office know and we’ll happily accommodate you.
Another way to get answers is to read our “BC Auto Injury Book: 9 Ways to Protect Your Claim” book published online.
Our book discusses all kinds of issues you’ll deal with after a car accident such as:
- interacting with doctors
- receiving proper treatment
- dealing with ICBC
- what paperwork you should be keeping track of
- getting reimbursed if you’re off work and not getting paid
- and much, much more.
How should you choose an ICBC injury lawyer?
We’ve been helping victims of car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, pedestrian, and hit and run accidents for over 30 years. Throughout this time, we’ve been dedicated to listening to clients’ stories, collecting evidence, and preparing a plan of action that is assertive, thoughtful, and practical – and that suits the unique needs of each case.
Our ICBC lawyers do not believe in formulaic solutions – we treat every case individually and offer our clients tailor-made solutions to best address the particulars of each case.
In addition, we are very familiar with how ICBC handles claim disputes and the most effective ways of getting a successful resolution – whether that’s settling outside of court or going to court on your behalf. We let you know your options. From experience, we know what your best course of action is.
We act for individuals with claims against ICBC
In the wake of a serious accident leading to injury, be sure to consult experienced and capable legal help. While you are recovering from your accident and piecing your life back together, an ICBC lawyer can make sure that your case comes to a fair resolution – one that helps you restore your life to where it was before the accident.
More than just legal help
Another benefit to hiring one of our ICBC injury lawyers is that we can help a great deal with your medical treatment. We work with many medical specialists with whom, if necessary, we can have you consult privately. This way you gain access to specialized medical help to aid your recovery and gather important medical evidence for your ICBC injury claim.
Call Us Today To Discuss Your Traffic Accident Case
The easiest way to learn whether you have a car accident case or whether ICBC’s offer to settle is fair is to contact a knowledgeable lawyer. For car accident claims, we offer all clients a free, no-obligation consultation where you can ask the legal questions you have. PLUS, we now offer $250 off your legal fee – just mention ‘discount’ when you contact us.
Contact us today by either calling us toll free at 1-855-283-0003, or by filling out the contact form at the right of this page.
Make sure you get the help that you need.
We have offices in Abbotsford, Aldergrove, Chilliwack, Langley, Surrey and Maple Ridge, BC. We serve people throughout BC and Greater Vancouver with their ICBC injury claims.