HOW YOU CAN HELP YOUR CLAIM
Do not tell ICBC anything over the phone
Simply tell them that you were in an accident. Do not tell them anything about how the accident happened, or about your injuries. They are not entitled to such information at this stage. Contact Veale Law first for a free consultation, so that your legal rights are protected, and so that you can ensure maximum compensation for your injuries, and economic loss.
Do not sign a statement with ICBC
ICBC may try and get you to come in and sign a Statement after the accident. Bad idea. If you neglect to mention something in the Statement, or they construe something you said in the wrong way, the value of your claim can be significantly diminished. You are NOT required to sign a Statement, despite what ICBC may tell you. Speak to Veale Law first for a free consultation. Protect your legal rights.
Do not sign any blanket Release of Information forms with ICBC
You are NOT required to sign such forms with ICBC, despite them telling you that they are on your side, and want what is best for you. For example, they will try to get your lifelong medical history, when they are not entitled to such information. Contact Veale Law to arrange for a free consultation before signing ANY documentation.
Do not tell ICBC anything if they continue to contact you by phone
If you continue to be harassed by ICBC, despite you telling them that you will be hiring a lawyer, tell them in a polite yet firm manner that you will be contacting a lawyer, and that they will hear from your lawyer. Don’t be pressured into saying anything to them over the phone about your injuries, or about how the accident happened. You do not have to.
Do not sign a subrogation agreement with your employer or disability insurance company without letting your lawyer review it first
Often, where your employer or insurance company is paying you benefits, and they find out you have ICBC injury claims, they seek reimbursement of what they pay. They then ask you to sign a subrogation agreement, which is an agreement entitling them to recover what they pay out on your behalf. Before signing any subrogation agreement, it is very important that you review the agreement with your ICBC injury lawyer first. Quite often they will ask for 100% reimbursement of what they pay you, which is not fair to you.
Seek immediate medical treatment if you are injured
If you do not, ICBC will later argue that you could not have been that hurt if you did not go right to the doctor. It is critical that there is early documentation of your injuries.
Seek regular medical treatment
If you do not do this, ICBC will argue that you could not have been that hurt if you did not seek treatment. They will also argue that you failed to take the necessary steps to rehabilitate yourself. Not seeking regular medical treatment, if required, can have a severe negative impact on the value of your ICBC injury claim. It is very important when you go to your doctor that you report ALL of your symptoms, no matter how minor they may seem, and that you MAKE SURE your doctor records all of your symptoms. Sometimes, doctors do not, which can have a negative impact on the value of your ICBC injury claim in the end, as if evidence of your symptoms is not contained within clinical records, despite you having reported them, ICBC will likely believe your doctor more than they will believe you.
Do what your doctor tells you to do
First and foremost, this will help you get better. Secondly, it will help the value of your ICBC injury claim, as, by following your doctor’s advice, you will be taking necessary steps to rehabilitate yourself, something you are required by law to do. By following the advice of your doctor, ICBC cannot then argue that you did not make the required efforts to get better.
Avoid seeing multiple family doctors at different walk-in clinics
Try your best to just see one family doctor on a regular basis. This doctor will have a better understanding of your injuries, and will be able to prepare a more comprehensive medical report on your behalf when the time comes for your claim to be settled.
Report every emotional and physical problem to your doctor, no matter how trivial it may seem, even if not asked
If you don’t mention a particular problem, then ICBC will later argue that you are not entitled to compensation for that injury, as it is not in your doctor’s notes. They will also use any non-disclosure as a means to attack your credibility. This also applies to when you are seeing an ICBC doctor.
Do not exaggerate your injuries in any way
If you are being examined by an ICBC doctor, and you try to exaggerate your injuries, this will likely be noticed by the doctor. This will severely damage your credibility, which in the minds of ICBC will severely damage your ICBC injury claims.
Take active steps to rehabilitate yourself
You are under a legal duty to mitigate (lessen) your damages, meaning that you must take steps to improve your injuries. If you do not, there could be a deduction in your ICBC injury settlements for failure to do so. Contact Veale Law today for a free consultation to be made aware of your legal obligations.
Keep all original receipts for out of pocket expenses
If such expenses are reasonable as they pertain to your injuries, you can get reimbursement for such expenses. It will also look good for you, as it will show that you are taking active steps to rehabilitate yourself.
Do not discuss your matter with people other than immediate family members and your medical practitioners
ICBC has been known to hire private investigators, who will attempt to interview your friends and neighbours. Something you said could be misconstrued by a friend, who may then pass this information along to an ICBC investigator. You can rest assured that this information will be used against you.
ICBC has been known to frequent social networking sites in an effort to collect any information and photos that they can of you in an effort to devalue your ICBC injury claim. Some information or some photo may be taken totally out of context, and be used against you.
HOW WE CAN HELP
At Veale Law, we offer you a free consultation to discuss your case, and to advise you of your legal rights and obligations. For a free consultation, call us 24 hours a day at either 604-685-2833 or toll free at 1-855-685-2833, email us at info@vealelaw.com, or fill out our free consultation form on the right.
We also offer you a legal contingency fee of 20%, the lowest in the province of British Columbia for a motor vehicle accident. On an average ICBC injury claim, this can save you thousands of dollars. If you have an existing offer from ICBC, and would like us to finalize your matter for you, you will not be charged a fee on the amount of your existing offer from ICBC, and our fee will only be based on any amount recovered in excess of your current offer. You don’t pay us anything up front, you don’t make any payments along the way, and you don’t pay us anything until we resolve your ICBC injury claim for you. In reality, no money ever leaves your pockets, as our fee comes out of the settlement money. For your convenience, home and hospital appointments are also available.
We also serve clients throughout British Columbia, whether you are a resident of British Columbia, or a non-resident of British Columbia, that have been injured in a motor vehicle accident in British Columbia.
There are many benefits to having Veale Law represent you:
- Protection of your legal rights
- Explanation of your legal obligations
- Dealing with ICBC on your behalf
- Payment of disbursements on your behalf
- Explanation of what damages you can claim
- Maximization of the value of your injury claim
If you elect to have Veale Law represent you, we will do so with passion and dedication. We keep fully abreast with the current case law. We will apply our legal knowledge, experience, and skills to the facts of your case in order to achieve the best possible result for you. ICBC has trained adjusters and experienced lawyers representing their interests. You need someone to protect yours.
We look forward to serving all your personal injury needs, and to getting you the justice that you so rightly deserve. Contact Veale Law now.
