In this article we will give some more practical info related to auto insurance, but first some words about Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) in case you don’t know what it is. The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) was founded in 1973 by the NDP government of British Columbia and was responsible for providing universal public auto insurance in British Columbia. Later its possibilities were expanded and now they also include driver licensing and vehicle registration and vehicle licensing.
The law of British Columbia states that any vehicle registered and driven or parked on public streets in British Columbia must have an ICBC's basic insurance package, purchased from an independent broker. This coverage at the moment includes protection from third party legal liability, under-insured motorist protection, accident benefits, hit-and-run protection, and inverse liability.
We already wrote about what to do if you got into a car accident but in case you missed this article, the most important thing is to gather all the possible data before contacting the insurance company. The second most important thing is to be very careful when presenting the info to the agency representative. The problem in negotiating with the insurance company is not about the truth, it is about possible misunderstanding. The insurance agent will view the accident from a completely different angle and he or she will look at all the facts that can assist the insurance company in either denying or defending your claim for medical or rehabilitation benefits and for your compensation. Be sure to keep this in mind when you describe the situation, if at the moment of the accident you’ve done something that was necessary, but it gives you a part of the fault try to present it in the right light.
As for the role of the lawyer in making and ICBC claim it is actually a very important role. If the accident was very serious or had serious consequences it is best to contact your lawyer right away from the crash site. Be sure not to claim any fault or sign anything. Your lawyer will help you to negotiate with ICBC and to make an insurance claim for the damage to your vehicle. He will most probably easily deal with presenting information the right way and he will also protect your rights because the insurance agencies are always interested in preserving their funds in the first place. Every situation needs practice, experience and knowledge that most people don’t have. Do not try to describe the types of your damages without your attorney, do not try to set the right compensation without your attorney and most important don’t make any serious statements about the accident. Everything that you say can be turned against you, even worse everything that you say could be misunderstood and turned against you.
So at any serious crash site it is good to be happy for having insurance, but it is better to be happy that you are okay.
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