Prince George Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
In accordance with the British Columbia Motor Vehicle Act, all drivers are required to exercise a reasonable degree of caution while operating their vehicles. They are required by law to provide a duty of care to all other road-users, including motorcyclists.
Unfortunately, many motor vehicle operators engage in wrongful, negligent behaviour behind the wheel. Whether they ignore traffic signs and signals, coast distractedly through intersections, change lanes without signaling, exceed the posted speed limit, or operate their vehicles under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, by exhibiting such negligence, they essentially fail to uphold the duty of care they are legally required to fulfill. Doing so jeopardizes the lives of all road-users, especially its most vulnerable ones.
Motorcycle riders may have a reputation for being tough-as-nails, but in reality, their lack of protection while operating their bikes makes them some of the most vulnerable road-users. They are extremely susceptible to severe injuries caused by the negligent conduct of other motorists.
When a motorcycle rider encounters a negligent driver on the road, their life could be changed drastically in the blink of an eye. Injured motorcycle accident survivors often experience enduring physical pain and discomfort, long-lasting psychological trauma, and financial insecurity. This is especially true for motorcycle accident victims whose injuries make it impossible to continue earning a living, or reduce their future earning capacity.
The province’s sole provider of basic auto insurance has recently introduced a new method of distributing ICBC accident benefits to injured survivors of motor vehicle collisions in British Columbia. Introduced on May 1, 2021, ICBC’s no-fault insurance system was purportedly implemented to cut costs for policyholders. Instead, their so-called “enhanced care” insurance model has made it more difficult than ever for injured accident survivors to recover the compensation they deserve.
ICBC has taken away injured accident victims’ rights to pursue civil claims against the party responsible for their collisions. That means, if a negligent driver caused an accident after May 1, 2021, in which a motorcyclist was injured, the accident victim would not be eligible to sue the at-fault driver for damages (except in specific circumstances). Furthermore, if the motorcycle accident victim receives a lump sum payment that does not sufficiently cover their total injury-related losses, or if their ICBC claim is denied outright, they now have limited options for appealing the unfair decision.
If you are concerned about what these changes to ICBC’s insurance model could mean for your claim and for your family’s financial well-being in the wake of an injury-causing motorcycle accident, contact your MLA and ask them to repeal the no-fault insurance system.
If the collision in which you were injured occurred before May 1, 2021, you might be eligible to work with our Prince George motorcycle accident lawyers to pursue a civil claim for damages. By doing so, you may be able to recover the compensation you are rightfully owed from the at-fault driver whose negligence was responsible for your crash. To learn more, contact our motorcycle accident lawyers serving Prince George by calling 1-800-JUSTICE and receive a free initial consultation.
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Our Prince George motorcycle accident lawyers are standing by to discuss your case and offer personalized legal feedback and advice. To learn how our motorcycle accident lawyers serving Prince George may be able to help you receive the care and compensation you need, contact us today and schedule your free initial consultation.
