How to Respond to a Low Settlement Offer
If you have filed a claim against ICBC for injuries sustained in an accident, chances are that the first settlement offer you get will not be the amount that you expect or deserve. This is because ICBC is not looking out for you. Because you are making a claim against the liable motorist’s insurance policy, […]
Read ArticleFive Things Not To Do When Settling An ICBC Claim
If you’ve been in a car accident in BC, you’ll find that dealing with ICBC is a fairly unique situation when settling your ICBC car accident claim. There are only three provinces in Canada (including BC) with a government run car insurance monopoly. This insurance system creates some challenges to anyone trying to settle their […]
Read Article
Who Has The Right-Of-Way – Pedestrians Or Cars?
In the Vancouver 24 News (April 17, 2013) last week, there was an awesome observation by Keri Potipcoe regarding the rights of pedestrians. As she states, technically a pedestrian does have the right of way, but is it common sense to just step off the curb in front of a car? Of course not. But […]
Read Article
Five Essential Things NOT To Do At The Scene Of A Car Accident
It is always good to be prepared for an accident. Having a checklist of action steps can help you know what is most important to do at a car-accident scene. But just as important, it is what you don’t do at the scene that can be most beneficial. As I posted last week, if anyone […]
Read ArticleTop Five Things To Do After Leaving A Crash Site
Once the adrenaline that comes with being in a car accident dies down, a car-accident victim is left to deal with the realities of the situation: possible injuries, car repairs, medical attention and insurance. It can be very overwhelming. Here are a few tips to help you make it through the first 48 hours after […]
Read ArticleDo ICBC Driver Penalty Points Affect My ICBC Insurance Premium?
Last week we wrote about ICBC Driver Penalty points. But does getting penalty points and the payment premium affect my annual insurance premiums? The answer is yes and no. Confused yet? The actual points do not affect your insurance premiums as Driver Penalty Points and Driver Risk Premiums are separate from Autoplan insurance premiums, but […]
Read Article
What Are ICBC Driver Penalty Points?
ICBC driver penalty points is a very hot topic in British Columbia. It just keeps coming up over and over again. Why is that? I believe it is because the topic is uncomfortable. It is associated with a negative experience, shame, cops, tickets, and outgoing cash. On top of all of that, it’s a complicated […]
Read ArticleHands-Free Devices: Legal, But Are They Safe?
In British Columbia, the law allows for the use of hands-free devices while driving a motor vehicle. But statistics show that this is a very unsafe activity. A person talking on a mobile phone, whether hands free or not, is 4 times more likely to crash. According to research, and explained by David Teater, the […]
Read ArticleRight-Hand Drive: Will Right-Hand Drive Vehicles Survive In Canada?
Part Two Currently in Canada, there is a small contingent of brokers who import Right-Hand Drive (RHD) vehicles and facilitate repairs and access to parts. The support structure for RHD vehicle owners in Canada, however, is small and widely scattered. So before buying an RHD, make sure you have a local supplier and a mechanic […]
Read Article
Driver Training Taken To A Whole New Level
The BC Driving Center and Driving Unlimited Academy takes driver training to a whole new level. Located in Pitt Meadows this private facility offers a variety of driver training courses from the novice to the experienced car enthusiast. At 15, I started to learn to drive in my brother-in-law’s big pick up truck. I could […]
Read ArticleICBC Penalty Points
Recently the BC government made changes to the Motor Vehicle Act that came into effect September 20, 2010. There is a lot of jargon related to penalty points, insurance premiums and driver risk premiums. But what does this all mean? If you receive a violation ticket in BC – and the violation list is quite […]
Read ArticleNew Laws Address Dangerous Driving Behavior In BC – Confiscation, ICBC Risk Premiums, Penalty Points And Hefty Fines Implemented
Changes to the BC Motor Vehicle Act will come into affect on September 20th, 2010. BC’s worst offenders: those who drive impaired and those who drive at excessive speeds will see significant changes in fines and consequences. One major change is the new, roadside-issued, 90-day driving bans state police officers will no longer need to […]
Read ArticleWhat’s Up With The Right-Hand-Drive?
Until recently, the only right-hand-drive (RHD) cars seen in Canada were vintage versions of British imports like MGs, Morrises, Austins and Hillmans. But RHD cars are growing in popularity here, with ICBC reporting that some 200 of these vehicles are imported into British Columbia every month, mostly from Japan. So, why the popularity and why […]
Read Article
