British Columbia Car Accident Lawyers
Car accidents in British Columbia can be devastating, traumatizing, and deadly events. Each year, nearly 200 occupants of motor vehicles are killed in car accidents across the province. Thousands more car accident victims are hospitalized as a result of injuries they have sustained as the result of collisions with another motor vehicle.
The drivers and passengers who manage to survive near-fatal collisions with other vehicles are often required to undergo major life changes in order to fully recuperate from the physical and psychological injuries they have sustained. They might find themselves enduring long stretches of hospitalization, undergoing major surgeries, subjected to lengthy periods of physiotherapy, requiring psychological treatment to recover from the trauma of the collision, lacking the ability to carry out the tasks of their jobs because of the injuries they have sustained, and facing financial insecurity.
Car accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. They often occur close to home, or while going about routine tasks like driving the kids to school, commuting to work, or visiting a local retailer. In a flash, an everyday task could turn into a harrowing, years-long, uphill battle to both recover from severe injuries and to access fair compensation from ICBC.
ICBC (the Insurance Company of British Columbia) is a provincial Crown corporation. Every resident of British Columbia who owns and operates a motor vehicle throughout the province is required to have ICBC’s basic autoplan. That means that, regardless of which driver is at-fault for causing a collision, they should be able to access Part 7 accident benefits to help cover the costs they have incurred as a result of being injured in a car accident.
However, for those who are unfamiliar with the ICBC claims process, cutting through the red tape and navigating their way through the insurance system can be a complicated and frustrating task. Without assistance and guidance from car accident lawyers serving British Columbia, it can be difficult to comprehend just how much compensation one should be entitled to receive and to ensure that a fair settlement is reached.
That is why if you were recently injured in a motor vehicle, speaking with a British Columbia car accident lawyer as soon as possible could be extremely beneficial. To discuss the details of your accident and receive case-specific legal feedback in a free initial consultation, contact Preszler Injury Lawyers by calling 1-844-373-8202.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in British Columbia
Car accidents can happen in a variety of locations throughout British Columbia. But regardless of whether they occur on highways, residential streets, rural roads, sidewalks, in parking lots, or in other areas, they often have a common cause: the negligence of another driver.
In accordance with the province’s Motor Vehicle Act, anyone who operates a motor vehicle in British Columbia is required to do so with a reasonable degree of caution. Drivers must take the safety of other road-users into consideration while operating their vehicles. By obeying the rules of the road, safe drivers help reduce the risk of fatal or injury-causing accidents with:
- Other drivers
- Their passengers
- Pedestrians
- Cyclists
- Motorcycle riders
- And other road-users
If a driver violates local traffic laws, their actions could have disastrous consequences for countless other community members. Serious motor vehicle collisions do not simply affect the lives of wrongfully deceased car accident victims or seriously injured crash survivors. The impact of their car accident is often felt by an accident victim’s friends, family members, loved ones, and indeed all members of their community.
When a driver’s wrongful actions behind the wheel of their vehicle causes a car accident in which another road-user sustains injuries, the at-fault driver might be considered negligent. The majority of fatal or injurious car accidents in British Columbia are caused by another driver’s wrongful behaviour.
Cell phone use behind the wheel is one of the most common causes of car accidents throughout the province. In fact, according to a recent study, British Columbia is the province with the highest number of car accidents caused by distracted driving. In the time it takes to glance away from the windshield to check a text message notification, families can be ripped apart and unsuspecting accident victims could have their lives changed forever, all because of a driver’s inattention.
Other examples of driver negligence that often lead to fatal or severe car accidents in British Columbia include:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
- Speeding
- Street racing and stunt driving
- Improperly changing lanes
- Ignoring traffic signs/signals
- Eating while the vehicle is in motion
- And more
Receiving the Coverage You Deserve
Even though most car accidents might be caused by one driver’s negligence, ICBC’s newly introduced “enhanced care” model provides no-fault insurance coverage to all injured motor vehicle operators, regardless of who is responsible for causing a collision. While this system claims to provide all injured car accident victims with equal access to financial support, it also puts significant roadblocks in the way of collision survivors trying to recover fair compensation for the damages they have incurred.
If you have recently been involved in a motor vehicle collision in which you sustained injuries, talking to our car accident lawyers serving British Columbia could be beneficial. Our British Columbia car accident lawyers have combined decades’ of experience helping clients navigate the ICBC claims process, and fighting for their best interests when settlements offered to them do not take their injuries’ full severity or impacts on their lives into account.
Our British Columbia car accident lawyers may be able to help you receive the maximum amount of coverage to which you might be owed. This coverage could include the costs of:
- Medical expenses
- Property damage
- Hospital care
- Chiropractic treatments
- Prescription medication
- Physiotherapy
- Psychiatric treatment
- Attendant care
- Lost wages
- Funeral expenses
- And more
Contact Preszler Injury Lawyers Today
After surviving a traumatic, violent, injury-causing car accident, it can be difficult to know just which steps to take next. No one should be required to navigate the complicated ICBC claims process alone, especially while they are struggling to cope with the physical, emotional, and economic repercussions of their collision.
By taking advantage of a free initial consultation with our car accident lawyers serving British Columbia, local car crash survivors can receive the benefit of personalized legal advice and case-specific feedback about the compensation they might be able to recover based on the circumstances of their collision. To learn how our British Columbia car accident lawyers may be able to assist you, contact Preszler Injury Lawyers online or call 1-844-373-8202.
