ICBC Claims/Personal Injury

Things You Should Know

We understand that some injuries that the Insurance Company sees as minor can have a significant effect on the injury victim.

Our job is to ensure that you are properly compensated for your injuries, including all types of compensation to which you may be entitled in your specific case.

Compassionate service, recognizing the special concerns and needs of accident victims, is a priority at Dawson & Associates.

We have experience representing clients with most types of injuries resulting from Motor Vehicle as well as other types of accidents.

We act for clients with minor to catastrophic injuries including post traumatic stress, chronic pain syndromes, head injuries and cognitive impairment.

We act solely for clients who have been injured. We never have or will act for insurance companies in injury claims. We represent injury victims, not insurers of negligent people.

We have represented hundreds of clients, obtaining fair and just compensation for them.

We give straight answers to your questions.

With over 35 years of combined experience as personal injury lawyers we work to ensure that our clients receive the maximum compensation for their injuries.

We represent our clients aggressively, going to court when necessary, or in negotiating the best possible settlement. (Most cases do not require a trial but the insurance company needs to know that we will go to a trial if we have to.)

We seek the active involvement of our clients I their own cases –we advise, but the final decisions are always yours.

Client’s Rights in Injury Claims

All injury claims have limitation dates

In British Columbia, if you are injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, the law gives you the right to recover compensation form the negligent party.

In British Columbia, the limitation period for starting your lawsuit is two years from the date of your accident in most cases. You must begin your lawsuit before this two year limitation is up, but you should obtain legal advice right away as there are many other factors to consider in order to protect your legal rights. The sooner your lawyer is working for you the sooner he can ensure a “level playing field” versus the insurance company’s lawyers and adjusters.

In British Columbia a victim injured due to the negligence of another driver has the right to sue the driver for compensation. This compensation usually, but not always, comes from ICBC.

If you have been injured in a car accident through no fault of your own, you may be entitled to make a claim for:

• pain and suffering, also known as “general damages” or “non-pecuniary damages”, which includes loss of enjoyment due to difficulties in daliy living, interruption of recreational activities and disruption of social life;
• wage or business income loss;
• cost of past and ongoing treatment, sometimes referred to as “special damages”;
• “future losses” including lost future opportunities;
• other things that may specifically apply to your circumstances;
• legal costs: you are entitled to be reimbursed by the insurer for most legal expenses.

Attitude of the Insurance Company In Injury Claims

No matter how friendly an ICBC adjuster appears to be, he or she is not your friend. They work for the insurance company. Their main responsibility is to their employer, the insurance company, which is most concerned about its ”bottom line”, not yours. Some adjusters will even tell you that “you do not need a lawyer” or “if you get a lawyer we will not give you anything”, although this is absolutely improper.

ICBC spends millions of dollars every year hiring experienced personal injury lawyers and so-called “independent” doctors to fight injury claims just like yours.

Hiring a lawyer on your side does not mean that you will necessarily have to go to court to settle your file. Approximately 95% of cases are settled without going to trial, by using preliminary litigation steps, negotiations and mediation.

Free Initial Consultation For Injury Claims

As an introduction to our firm, we are pleased to offer you a half hour consultation without charge to enable you to determine how we can assist you with your claim. Call today for a free initial consultation.

No Fee For Injury Claims Until You Collect

We work under contingency fee contracts for Personal Injury and ICBC Claims. This means that we do not charge any legal fees unless we are successful in getting you a settlement or judgment. If there’s no recovery, there’s no fee.

Our legal fees for injury cases are a percentage of your settlement or judgement. This means we are paid only when you get your money.