Burnaby Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
In the time it takes a distracted driver to glance at a notification on their phone, the lives of innocent pedestrians can come to an abrupt, tragic end. Distracted driving is among the leading causes of fatal motor vehicle collisions. In fact, according to Burnaby police, distracted driving is a contributing factor in dozens of local traffic fatalities each year.
The use of cell phones behind the wheel may be one of the most common causes of serious pedestrian accidents in Burnaby, but many manifestations of driver negligence can jeopardize the physical safety of local road-users. Common examples of driver negligence that might cause a severe pedestrian accident include:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
- Speeding
- Ignoring traffic signs/signals
- Fatigued driving
- Street racing
- Distracted driving
- And more
By failing to consider the potentially earth-shattering consequences of their actions, negligent drivers put the lives of vulnerable road-users at risk. Families can be destroyed, loved ones can be lost forever, and regular community members can sustain debilitating, lifelong injuries, and all because a complete stranger could not be bothered to obey the rules of the road.
If you were struck by a negligent motor vehicle operator, our Burnaby pedestrian accident lawyers may be able to provide you crucial advice and assistance. If your pedestrian accident occurred before May 1, 2021, you might be entitled to pursue a civil claim against the at-fault driver whose misconduct led to your compensable injuries. By doing so, our pedestrian accident lawyers may be able to help you recover the maximum amount of damages to which you might be entitled.
However, if your pedestrian accident took place after May 1, 2021, the process of seeking fair treatment and compensation will likely be much more difficult, bureaucratic, and circuitous. That is because ICBC, the provincially-owned Crown corporation that provides basic auto insurance to drivers throughout British Columbia, have recently implemented a new “enhanced care” model of insurance coverage. Injured survivors of motor vehicle collisions are no longer entitled to pursue civil action against the party responsible for the crash. ICBC has stripped away accident victims’ rights to pursue fair compensation by initiating legal action. Instead, all injured survivors of motor vehicle collisions are now entitled to no-fault accident benefits, even if their negligence caused the accident to occur.
Under ICBC’s “enhanced care” system, pedestrians who have been injured by negligent drivers become reliant on the Crown corporation for necessary care and compensation for injury-related costs. However, the ubiquitous insurer has limited the ways in which injured pedestrians can appeal denied ICBC claims.
This new insurance model is already coming under scrutiny, as many injured accident survivors feel abandoned by ICBC. Vulnerable road-users like pedestrians have the most to lose. Many injured survivors of pedestrian accidents feel incapable of fighting against unfair decisions made by a large corporation, and unable to access the care they require in a fair and timely manner. If you are concerned about what this new system means for injured pedestrian accident victims and their families, contact your MLA.
Call Our Burnaby Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Today
Our pedestrian accident lawyers serving Burnaby offer all prospective clients a free initial consultation. Regardless of when your injury-causing pedestrian accident occurred, you could benefit from personalized, case-specific legal feedback.
To take advantage of your free initial consultation, contact us online or call 1-800-JUSTICE to speak with our Burnaby pedestrian accident lawyers today.
