The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia [‘ICBC’], will, providing that you live in British Columbia, be the first people you call in the wake of an accident. Before you go ahead and phone them, however, it is important that you first know how to file an ICBC claim, and you must also prepare. Preparation for your claim is crucial. If you are not properly prepared, you risk your claim being turned down for insufficient evidence, or you risk it being turned down for another reason. Not to worry, though, we will help you on this page.
Yes, in this article, we are going to tell you what you should prepare before you report for an ICBC claim. We hope that this article will be useful to you and that you will find it educational and informative. With that said, we hope you never have to make an ICBC claim and that instead, you are able to get through your life accident-free.
Here is what you should prepare before you report an ICBC claim.
Report Your Accident
The first step in having your ICBC claim processed and accepted begins at the scene of the accident. It is absolutely important that, on the scene, you report the accident. If you do not report your accident, there is a strong chance that the insurance company will deny your claim for insufficient evidence. You often need the testimony and proof of a police officer – or any responding officer – to back-up your claim. If you do not report your accident, the ICBC will likely ask you why you did not, and then find your case dubious to say the least.
Independent Consultation
Before you go ahead and put in a claim from the ICBC, it is important that you receive independent consultation first. Having an independent consultant will be of great benefit and will make the process considerably smoother. There are a large number of independent insurance agents available who can ease you through the process step-by-step (in theory, that is). Independent insurance consultations with insurance agents or financial advisors are highly recommended before you involve yourself in anything insurance-related. Insurance claims can be quite complex, so get well versed first.
Legal Aid
Legal aid is very important, wherever you are in British Columbia, whether it be Vancouver or Victoria. Yes, you need to find local, trained attorneys. You can find a comprehensive list online, whether they be Vancouver ICBC lawyers or Victoria ICBC lawyers. Legal assistance is of the utmost importance in making your claim. There are a number of legal processes you will be expected to dutifully complete before your claim can be processed. Generally, these can only be performed by attorneys, or at the very least, people who have done them before. Be sure to contact an attorney and seek legal aid.
Other Preparation
Being that the subject of this article is preparation, how could we proceed without telling you how to prepare the small things? It is important that you do go prepared, otherwise, your claim, as we have already mentioned, could be denied. Whether you are going to a face-to-face appointment or making your claim over the phone, you need to be prepared. You will need to bring any evidence, necessary documentation, dates, times, and lists of people involved. Having all of this will strengthen your claim and make it considerably more likely that you will be accepted. If you are not prepared, you can expect to have your claim denied.
WorkSafe
There is an alternative to the ICBC, should you want one. WorkSafe British Columbia is another provider who, assuming you were employed at the time of your accident, will pay you recovery benefits through their benefits program. WorkSafe BC can, in some cases, payout more than the ICBC. However, if you do claim through WorkSafe BC, you will be unable to make a separate claim through the ICBC, so think carefully about it. WorkSafe BC is, for many, the go-to in times of accidents. You will still need a lawyer to deal with them too, though.
Progress
Once you have made your claim, be sure to intermittently check up on its status. Doing this will mean that should any problems arise that you will be able to address and answer them, saving yourself time. Check your progress report weekly to see if any changes have been made to your account. It’s a good habit to get into, especially with the ICBC.
In this article, we hope to have told you about a few things to prepare, and a few things you must do, if you are trying to make an ICBC claim. We hope that you have enjoyed this article and that you will come back and visit us again soon.