How Long Do You Have to Make an ICBC Claim?

The Insurance Company of British Columbia, or ICBC, is the crown-operated corporation that insures all registered vehicles. It can cover claims from a fender bender to a serious, life-changing injury. While these claims can result in monetary compensation for your injuries, there is no guarantee that they will succeed. This especially true if you try to do it yourself.

If you have suffered an injury, an ICBC claim could provide you with the compensation you need to make ends meet. However, a mistake can be devastating to your pursuit of benefits. Preszler Injury Lawyers could help you through this process.

Deadline for filing an ICBC claim

In most cases, the deadline for filing an ICBC claim is two years. This two-year window begins to run from the date of the accident. This deadline is the same limitation period for any tort claim in the province. It is also important to remember that the deadline in British Columbia could be different compared to other provinces.

If you fail to initiate a lawsuit, which involves filing a Notice of Civil Claim, within the two years, then the court has the power to cancel your claim forever. In addition, it does not mean you have two years before you decide. The process can be lengthy and waiting to the last minute could be detrimental. In fact, many lawyers will not agree to take your case if you are at risk of missing the deadline. The investigation process can take weeks, if not longer.

Exceptions for filing a claim after two years

There are some limited exceptions to the above, but they are rarely used. Consult with a lawyer before presuming they could apply in your case:

• If you were under the age of 19 when the accident occurred
• You were not immediately aware of the person who caused the accident
• You discovered some of your injuries from the accident at a later date
• Your injuries were so severe it was impossible to pursue a claim before the deadline
• Your injury occurred on the job, and WorksafeBC covered the accident

Understanding these deadlines is a crucial part of bringing a claim. We can keep tabs on the time limit to file, and identify any potential exceptions that would allow you to extend it.

Other important deadlines

While two years is the standard deadline, there are others to consider. For example, the deadline to file a claim against a city government is much shorter– within two months. Additionally, special claims like the ICBC hit and run fund require notice within six months as well.

There are other deadlines that are not directly related to the claims process. However, they could still be critical. They typically relate to providing notice to your insurance company. For example, you must provide notice to the ICBC within 30 days of an accident and submit a CL22 claim form with 90 days.

How an ICBC claims lawyer could help

Remember, this is only a brief overview of the time limits to file. There could be additional deadlines and exceptions that apply. To discuss this in detail, contact Preszler Injury Lawyers right away to schedule a free consultation.