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Do I have an ICBC Car Accident Claim?

Vancouver ICBC Claims

If you have followed the law and bought basic auto insurance coverage through the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC), then you should be eligible to file an ICBC claim after a car accident.

It does not matter who is at fault for the crash. It also does not matter if your accident happened outside Vancouver. You should be covered for any crash in Canada or the U.S.

Get help from Klein Lawyers right away. We have offices in Vancouver and Toronto. The sooner we can become involved in your case, the more we can do to protect your rights when you file an ICBC claim.

Call or reach us online today. Our initial consultations are always FREE.

Types of BC ICBC Claims

You can file an ICBC claim based on two general types of coverage:

Collision – This protects you when you are involved in a single-vehicle crash or multiple-vehicle crash that results in vehicle damage and/or bodily injury or death.

Comprehensive – This protects you when your car, truck, motorcycle or other vehicle is damaged due to:

  • Fire, hail or vandalism
  • Theft or attempted theft of your vehicle, vehicle parts or items from the vehicle (except personal property such as your cell phone).

At Klein Lawyers, we primarily assist clients in Vancouver and throughout British Columbia with filing claims through their Basic Autoplan coverage, which we explain below.

What Is Basic Autoplan Coverage?

You cannot register your vehicle and drive or park it in British Columbia if you have not bought ICBC’s basic insurance policy coverage, or “Autoplan.” Generally speaking, you can file five different types of claims through this coverage:

Third-party liability – When you cause a crash. You are covered for up to $200,000 in injury costs and auto damage that you cause (unless you buy excess coverage).

Accident benefits – When you, a passenger or a member of your household is injured or killed in a crash. It pays medical and wage loss benefits of up to $150,000 (unless you buy excess coverage). The costs it covers include:

  • Hospital care (including surgery, tests, hospitalization)
  • Chiropractor treatment
  • Dentist care
  • Medication
  • Assistive devices
  • Physical therapy.

Underinsured motorist (UIM) – When the driver who caused your crash lacks enough insurance to pay your claim. This coverage can extend to you and members of your household for injury or death suffered as a driver, passenger, pedestrian or bicyclist. It pays up to $1 million per person per claim unless you purchase coverage of up to $2 million.

Hit-and-run coverageWhen the person who caused your crash fled the scene. It provides up to $200,000 in injury, death and property damage coverage.

Inverse liability protection – If your crash occurs in an area in Canada or even the U.S. where the laws will not allow you to obtain a recovery.

We have helped clients throughout Vancouver and British Columbia with handling these and other ICBC claims. We can review your case and advise you on the best strategy to follow when filing an ICBC claim after your accident.

How To Report Your ICBC Claim

Victim seeking an ICBC claims lawyer after a Vancouver accidentYou should know that, in some situations, you must first report your motor vehicle accident to the police. These situations include when:

  • Someone dies or needs emergency medical attention or treatment
  • A hit-and-run occurs

According to ICBC, a “good rule of thumb” is to report your crash to police if the total damage looks like it could be more than:

  • $1,000 (motor vehicle accident)
  • $600 (motorcycle accident)
  • $100 (bicycle accident)

You must also report any incident to police that involves a vehicle break-in, vandalism or theft or attempted theft.

ICBC suggests that you look at your “Claim Card” and follow its directions. The Card should contain information about the two basic ways to report your claim to ICBC:

  • Online – Go to ICBC’s website
  • Phone – Call (800) 910-4222 or (604) 520-8222 if in the Lower Mainland

You should contact Klein Lawyers before you report your ICBC claim. However, if you go forward without a lawyer’s help, simply make sure to provide only basic information. Do not admit fault. Do not assign blame to another. Who was at fault can only be determined after a in-depth investigation.

You should expect an ICBC claims adjuster to be assigned to your case within a few days. The adjuster will be in charge of determining who was at fault in your crash and assessing the amount of your claim.

This is very important: Do not agree to any claim settlement without first allowing a lawyer to review it. You don’t want to lose your right to a full and fair recovery.

ICBC Accident Claims: What Can You Recover?

Two main factors are involved with determining the amount you can recover in an ICBC claim, including:

  • Type and extent of your injuries – Your claim for serious injuries such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) or spinal cord injury (SCI) would be higher than a claim for minor fractures, cuts or burns.
  • Impact on your life and ability to work – If you have suffered a disabling injury, severe scarring or disfigurement, your life will be greatly impacted. You may also be unable to work for an extended period or return to the same job you held before your injury, or you may be unable to work again.

If you want to get an idea of the amounts that have been paid in past settlements, you can go to the Courts of British Columbia website and type in an “ICBC Claims” search.

How Can an ICBC Claims Lawyer Help You?

Klein Lawyers can help you if you have not yet filed your ICBC claim or if you have already reported your claim and need assistance of a lawyer as you move ahead with the claims process.

Our goal is to protect your rights and ease the burden you may be experiencing after suffering injuries in a car accident.

In particular, you can count on our legal team to:

  • Provide you with a free initial consultation in which we can review the facts of your case and answer any questions you may have.
  • Help you to navigate through the medical system so you get the best care possible, including access to specialists.
  • Conduct an independent investigation into your crash to determine fault and the extent of your damages.
  • Consult with experts who can help us to understand your accident and the amount you should seek in your recovery.
  • Deal directly with ICBC on your behalf, including making sure ICBC has complete and correct information about your vehicle damage, medical bills, lost wages and other expenses.
  • Negotiate for an ICBC claim settlement that is full and fair
  • Represent you in court if necessary.

Our Vancouver ICBC Claim Lawyers Are Here to Help

At Klein Lawyers, we provide a No Fee Guarantee® to our clients: If we don’t win or settle your car accident case, we charge no fee. We do not want a concern about legal costs getting in the way of you seeking advice and representation when dealing with ICBC and processing a claim. Contact us today by phone or online. We are ready to help.

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