Procedure for Making a Claim
The procedure for ICBC claims can be overwhelming and stressful, particularly when you are already dealing with the physical and emotional turmoil of a road accident. Here are some important things to keep in mind if you are injured in an accident.
Important Steps to Take After an Accident:
Get names and contact info of any witnesses.
Take photos of any damage, injuries, unsafe conditions, etc.
Exchange insurance information with all other parties involved in the accident.
Report the accident to the police.
Seek proper medical care right after your accident. You need all injuries to be officially documented by a healthcare professional.
Do I Need a Lawyer?
Talk to a lawyer before you contact ICBC (but don’t wait too long!). You need to notify ICBC about the accident right away, but during this initial notification you only need to give them the basic facts about what happened. You do not have to (and shouldn’t) discuss more nuanced details such as who is at fault and the specific nature of your injuries.
It is in your best interest to hire a personal injury lawyer to communicate with ICBC on your behalf in order to prevent anything you say from being twisted around and used to your disadvantage. All conversations that you have with ICBC will be noted down and can easily be used against your claim if you are not extremely vigilant in everything you say.
Types of ICBC Claims
There are three different types of ICBC claims:
Damage
This type of claim gives you compensation for any damages to your vehicle from a road accident.
Part 7 Benefits
Everyone is entitled to these benefits, even if they were responsible for the accident. These claims are meant to help compensate for rehabilitation, medical treatment, and a portion of any lost income.
Tort Claim Against At-Fault Party
These claims are available to parties not at fault in an accident and provide the largest amount of compensation available through ICBC claims.
For minor injuries, compensation paid out by ICBC now has a cap of $5,500, while more severe injuries make you eligible for larger sums. You should not try settling your case until you know exactly how severe your injuries are and what impact they will have on your life. In some cases, if your injury is determined to be minor initially, but later turns out to be more severe or lasts a long time, you may be able to have your case removed from the $5,500 cap and be entitled to a larger claim.
Our personal injury lawyers are knowledgeable and experienced when it comes to ICBC claims. Talk to us today to get help with your claim.