Whistler ICBC Claims Lawyer
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Contact our Whistler ICBC lawyers for a free consultation if you have legal questions regarding your ICBC claim.
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Important Notice: Our firm can only assist with ICBC claims for accidents that occurred before May 1st, 2021. Unfortunately, we are unable to take on claims for accidents occurring on or after this date.
If you or a loved one sustained catastrophic injuries in a motor vehicle collision, do not hesitate the seek the service of our team of Whistler ICBC lawyers. Preszler Law provides expert legal representation in Vancouver and surrounding territories north of the metro.
B.C. Driver Bad Habits Lead To Roughly 900 Accidents A Day
British Columbia sees an average of 300,000 automobile accidents reported to ICBC each year. This includes roughly 89,000 serious injuries and 261 fatalities. Top contributing factors include: risky driving, speeding, intoxication, and distraction.
According to ICBC polls, 75 percent admit to bad driving habits like speeding, tailgating, and failing to yield right of way, and 40 percent of drivers confess they “may have forgotten some of the rules of the road.” Frustration with other motorists on the road, combined with increased traffic and construction, has led to an increasing number of accidents year after year.
PUT OUR EXPERIENCE TO WORK FOR YOU
Tell Us About Your Case
For more than 60 years, Preszler Injury Lawyers has been helping people across British Columbia pursue the compensation they deserve for their ICBC claims. As one of the country’s longest-standing personal injury law firms, our practice is devoted entirely to injury law and helping accident victims–it’s all we do.
Schedule a free consultation today to speak with our award-winning personal injury lawyers and find out if you have a case. Our legal team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to take your call.
5 Reasons You Need an ICBC Law Firm
You may be wondering whether you truly need an ICBC law firm or whether you could negotiate with ICBC on your own. More than half of claimants do negotiate through lawyers. Here’s why:
- ICBC will not act solely in your best interest. ICBC is in the business of insurance. They want to preserve their bottom line just like any other business. Sometimes this means paying you less than what your injuries are worth quickly and quietly, hoping you won’t notice.
- Injuries are more expensive to treat these days. The average claim for a MINOR injury went up from $8,220 in 2012 to $30,038 in 2016. You can’t risk getting left with a lowball settlement offer that will not protect you during your recovery period.
- ICBC might consider your injuries “minor.” How ICBC categorizes your injuries makes a huge difference in how much money you receive. The average pain and suffering award was $16,500 in 2016, but it has since been capped at $5,500 for “minor injuries.” Major injuries are not subject to this cap. The government explicitly designated sprains, strains, aches, cuts, bruises, whiplash, concussions, and mental health issues as “minor” injuries as of April 1, 2019. Mental health injuries can be considered “major” if they persist for more than four months, and soft tissue injuries if they last more than 12 months. Having the right lawyer will ensure your injuries are not minimized, and that our clients see the right medical professionals and receive proper treatment
- Your ICBC lawyer will make sure evidence is gathered. Sometimes automotive shops are quick to repair a vehicle — before all the evidence is documented and collected. Calling a lawyer right away will aid in the initial investigation, capturing surveillance data if it exists, interviewing eyewitnesses, and assembling valuable notes from a forensic crash investigator
- It will be easier to decide what full and proper compensation should be for your case. It’s easy enough to add up all your medical bills and pay stubs to determine what your current costs are. But how can you estimate the future expenses of your long-term recovery? It helps to work with someone who has a network of experts like economists and respected doctors– someone who has dealt with thousands of cases and knows what to expect from the courts.
How Much Do ICBC Lawyers Cost?
We understand your financial duress, which is why we offer a FREE CONSULTATION. Should you decide to work with our Whistler ICBC lawyers, we ask NOTHING upfront. If your case wins, you will be expected to pay 33 percent of the total amount achieved. This fee is government-regulated and standard across all ICBC law firms. Contact Preszler Law to speak with an experienced ICBC lawyer today.
Proudly Canadian
Award Winning Personal Injury Law Firm
We are proud to be one of Canada’s oldest and long-standing personal injury law firms. Since 1959, we have been providing exceptional legal services and have established ourselves as leading personal injury lawyers in the Canadian legal community. It’s not just the awards that recognize our achievements, but also the wins we’ve achieved for thousands of Canadians with their ICBC claims.
More ICBC Topics
Here’s more information on ICBC related topics that we think you might find helpful.
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February 20, 2020
Will the ICBC Cover Me If I Hit an Animal While Driving?
Hitting a large animal, such as a moose or deer, can cause serious injuries and significant damage to your vehicle. Since these wild creatures do…
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February 8, 2020
Is There a Cap on Personal Injury Compensation From ICBC?
For years, there has been no cap on personal injury compensation for ICBC claims. Without limits, the victims of accident injuries had the opportunity to…
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February 7, 2020
What Are ICBC Part 7 Benefits?
ICBC Part 7 Benefits apply to accidents involving an insured motor vehicle in British Columbia. These “no-fault” benefits are designed to provide short-term relief to…
ICBC FAQs
Here are some commonly asked questions for ICBC claims
Will hiring an injury lawyer impact my ICBC claim negatively?
No, personal injury lawyers teach you about your rights, advise you how much money your claim is worth, and, work to ensure that you are legally protected.
Preszler Law BC’s lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means that we take on the costs of your lawsuit for you until the settlement or judgment; we do not ask for any money up front; and, there is no fee unless we recover money for you.
Personal injury lawyers are nearly always able to increase the amount of money you receive for your settlement, even after the fees are deducted.
How can an accident lawyer help me with ICBC?
Our accident lawyers know the law. They will teach you about your rights and advise you how much your claim is worth. We handle all aspects of the lawsuit for you so that you can focus on your recovery.
If you do not know your rights or what your claim is worth, then you may settle for a low or unfair amount. ICBC wants to lower your settlement as much as possible. ICBC is a business seeking to maximize its profits.
ICBC will hire a lawyer to defend its interests. This lawyer does not represent you and will actively seek to harm your case. A personal injury lawyer works to even the power balance between you and ICBC.
ICBC or ICBC’s lawyer will take notes of everything you say. It is important to know your rights so that you do not say or do something that will hurt your case. Once retained, Preszler Law BC will deal with ICBC and their lawyer for you.
Personal injury lawyers will help coordinate your treatment and rehabilitation. We know the best doctors, physiotherapists and health professionals. Getting the best treatment increases the chances of getting back to work and your regular life.
ICBC should pay for all or most of your treatment and up to $300 each week in income replacement if you are not able to return to work. Preszler Law BC works to ensure that ICBC pays for your treatment expenses (physiotherapy, chiropractic care, massage therapy, occupational therapy, etc.) and pays your weekly income replacement benefit.
If an ICBC adjuster offers a settlement, what should I do?
ICBC may try to offer you a low settlement before you have retained a lawyer and know your rights. Before accepting any settlement, it is important to speak with a personal injury lawyer. Even if you do not retain a lawyer, an initial free consultation can provide you with important legal information to help you make informed decisions about your settlement.
You should consider retaining a personal injury lawyer before settling your claim. In nearly all cases, personal injury lawyers are able to recover more money than you can on your own, even after the fees are deducted.
What kind of treatment does ICBC pay for?
If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, then ICBC should be paying for the treatment you reasonably need to recover from your injuries.
ICBC commonly pays for physiotherapy, massage therapy and chiropractic care to help treat your pain. If you need to attend the gym, then ICBC should pay for your gym pass. If you have driving anxiety, depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder, then ICBC should pay for your counseling. Talk to a Preszler Law BC lawyer to find out if ICBC should be paying for your treatment.
How do I know if ICBC is offering a fair settlement?
In order to know if you have been offered a fair settlement, you need to know:
- who caused your accident, legally speaking;
- what your injuries are;
- how long your injuries will last and how they will affect you long-term;
- how much your injuries will affect your work and personal life;
- how much income you will lose over your lifetime due to your injuries;
- what treatment you need now and in the future; and,
- how the law values your injuries.
If you cannot confidently answer each of the above questions, then you may be settling your claim for an unfairly low amount.
Determining the value of your case can be complicated, requiring a careful analysis of your medical records, employment records, the circumstances of your accident, and the law. In many cases, you may need multiple expert opinions from doctors and other professionals to know the full extent of your injuries and losses.
The best way to know if ICBC has offered you a fair settlement is to contact a personal injury lawyer. Preszler Law BC offers free case evaluations by telephone, online or in person.
Can I take ICBC to court?
Yes, if ICBC does not pay for your treatment, your income loss, or other benefits, then you can start a lawsuit asking for fair treatment under the law.
If ICBC has treated you unfairly, then you may also be able to sue them for “bad faith” or punitive damages.
It is best to consult a lawyer before starting a lawsuit against ICBC. The lawyer can explain your rights and may be able to settle your dispute out of court.
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