Vancouver BC Personal Injury Lawyers - Stephens and Holman

Friday, August 30, 2013

Uninsured/Underinsured Drivers and Car Accidents in British Columbia

The ICBC includes coverage against uninsured drivers in all of its auto plans. Victims of automobile accidents involving uninsured drivers are entitled to up to $200,000 in compensation from ICBC, but the amount can go as high as $2 million if you have Excess Underinsured Motorist Protection through the ICBC.

Having a right to compensation and actually getting it are not, however, the same thing. Without an experienced British Columbia auto insurance lawyer on your side, it is highly likely that you will only see a fraction of the total amount you are due.

We can Help

For three decades, the British Columbia auto insurance lawyers at Stephens & Holman have been helping victims of accidents get maximum compensation. We know how to work with the ICBC and exactly when it becomes necessary to take your case to the next level to ensure proper compensation. We understand how frustrating it can be to deal with the ICBC and are here to protect you against their tactics and get you the full compensation you deserve.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident involving an uninsured or underinsured motorist, please contact Stephens & Holman today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced British Columbia auto insurance lawyer.

posted by Admin at 8:40 AM

Monday, August 26, 2013

Neck Injuries

If you’ve ever suffered a significant neck injury in an accident caused by someone else, you don’t need to be told how serious a condition it is. If you’ve suffered a neck injury as a result of someone else’s negligence or misconduct, let our experienced British Columbia accident lawyers fight for you.

Neck injuries can come from a number of places, and if you’ve been hurt you want a firm whose accident lawyers have handled a wide range of severe personal injury cases. We’ve handled cases involving neck injuries that were caused by:
One of the most common neck injuries is whiplash. We’ve helped countless British Columbia residents pursue justice and compensation for their whiplash injuries.

Whatever the cause of your neck injury, our accident lawyers have seen it. We know the law inside and out. We can investigate your case and use our decades of experience to interpret complicated medical records and accident reports.

If you’re a British Columbia resident who has suffered a neck injury as a result of someone else’s misconduct or neglect, our accident lawyers can help. Please contact Stephens and Holman today for a free consultation. 

posted by Admin at 8:40 AM

Friday, August 23, 2013

The Low Velocity Impact Program

ICBC investigates all accidents to determine how much each claimant is due. If, during the course of their investigation, they conclude that, “the minimal nature of the impact forces involved in the collision, as well as your physical condition at the time of the accident…did not result in any compensable injury,” they will file the claim as a Low Velocity Impact (LVI) and deny any compensation.

What Qualifies as LVI

ICBC uses four qualifiers to determine if an automobile accident was LVI:
  •          Was the speed at the time of impact less than 8 kmph?
  •          Have preexisting medical conditions made it more likely that injury occur?
  •          Has there been an object injury that warrants compensation?
  •          Are there any extraordinary conditions surrounding the accident?

Know Your Rights

ICBC may think a claim should be relegated to LVI status, but that does not mean you did not sustain an injury. If your claim has been given LVI status, you need a Vancouver ICBC lawyer on your side as soon as possible to fight for your rights and help you get the compensation you are due.

If your ICBC claim has been given LVI status, please contact Stephens & Holman today to schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced Victoria ICBC lawyer.

posted by Admin at 8:38 AM

Monday, August 19, 2013

ICBC No Fault Benefits

ICBC “no fault” benefits, commonly called “Part-7 benefits,” may entitle you to collect compensation following an automobile accident even if you were partially to blame. To be eligible for Part-7 benefits, you must meet criteria including:
  •          Owning a vehicle insured with ICBC
  •          Being a member of the vehicle owner’s household
  •          Being an occupant of a vehicle licensed in BC, or an occupant of a vehicle not required to be licensed in BC but driven by a person with a BC driver’s license
  •          Being a cyclist or pedestrian who collided with a vehicle described in an owner’s certificate
  •          Being a resident of BC who is entitled to bring an action for injury or death under the Insurance (Vehicle) Act. This includes issues such as hit and run and uninsured motorist provisions
  •          Being the personal representative of a deceased insured
  •          Being a resident of BC who holds a valid driver’s certificate and members of his or her household

Why You Need an Attorney

Even if you are entitled to Part-7 benefits claim with ICBC, it is helpful to have an attorney on your side. The ICBC settlement attorneys at Stephens & Holman have years of experience helping people injured in accidents and can help ensure you are treated fairly and provided maximum compensation.

If you have been injured in an accident in British Columbia and need help with an ICBC settlement, please contact Stephens & Holman today to schedule a free initial consultation.

posted by Admin at 8:36 AM

Friday, August 16, 2013

Eligible Parties in an ICBC claim

Anyone injured in an automobile accident in British Columbia has a right to file an ICBC claim. This includes:
  •          Drivers
  •          Passengers
  •          Bicyclists
  •          Motorcyclists
  •          Pedestrians

Claims can even be brought by expectant parents on behalf of unborn children who were fatally injured in an accident.

Know Your Rights

Being eligible to file a claim and getting compensation are two completely different things. Even with ICBC’s no fault coverage, denials are not uncommon. Discussing your case with a Langley ICBC claim lawyer is the best way to determine if you are eligible for benefits and one of the most effective ways to get the maximum benefits you are due.

The ICBC claim lawyers at Stephens & Holman have years of experience helping people throughout British Columbia file for and receive benefits. We are intimately familiar with ICBC procedures and know how to help ensure eligible parties get fair compensation. We would be happy to review your case for free and help you determine all that you may be entitled to.

If you have been injured in an automobile accident in British Columbia, please contact Stephens & Holman today to schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced Langley ICBC claim lawyer.

posted by Admin at 8:33 AM

Monday, August 12, 2013

ICBC and Breach of Insurance

If you are involved in an automobile accident, you are required to deal with ICBC in good faith. Should you fail in this duty, ICBC can deny your claim on grounds of “breach of insurance.”

To help avoid a breach of insurance denial, it is helpful to have an attorney on your side at all times during the claims process. The Surrey ICBC lawyers at Stephens & Holman are prepared to take your case, guard against denial, and help you get maximum compensation.

What is a Breach of Insurance

Breach of insurance is detailed in section 19 of the Insurance (Vehicle) Act. ICBC may consider your insurance breached under circumstances such as:
  •          False statements made in regards to a claim
  •          False description of the motor vehicle
  •          Knowing misrepresenting or failing to disclose any facts
  •          Any violation of the terms or conditions of the plan
  •          Fraud in respect of the Insurance (Vehicle) Act

If ICBC accuses you of any of these things, you lose your right to file for benefits along with your right to have ICBC indemnify you for court judgments against you.

To avoid these issues, it is best to have an ICBC lawyer on your side as soon as possible following your accident.

If you have been injured in an accident in Surrey or elsewhere in British Columbia, please contact Stephens & Holman today to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our ICBC lawyers.

posted by Admin at 8:30 AM

Friday, August 9, 2013

ICBC and the Appeals Process

If your ICBC claim has been denied, you need an attorney on your side as soon as possible. The process of appealing an ICBC denial can be difficult and may end up in a lengthy court battle. The Vancouver ICBC lawyers at Stephens & Holman can help expedite the process and see that you get the fair compensation you deserve.

Steps to Appealing a Denied Claim

There are three steps your ICBC lawyer can take when your claim is denied:
  •          Talk to the adjustor – we can investigate your accident and provide your adjustor with information he or she may not have been aware of
  •          Talk to the adjustor’s manager – if we are not satisfied with the adjustor’s response, we can take the claim to their manager. The manager may resolve the issue or refer it to the ICBC claims coverage committee. If referred, the committee will determine if your coverage applies, which may include requiring additional information if your claim was denied on grounds of an insurance breach
  •          Court dispute – if we cannot reach a resolution with ICBC, we can take your case to court. In these instances, small claims court would assess the evidence we provide and determine the amount you are due

If your ICBC claim has been denied, please contact Stephens & Holman today to schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced Victoria ICBC lawyer.

posted by Admin at 8:28 AM

Monday, August 5, 2013

Settlement Process with the ICBC

When you accept an ICBC settlement, you are taking the final offer for compensation. Due to this, it is vital that you understand how your injury will impact you in the future. Before you accept an ICBC settlement, you should discuss your case with one of the attorneys at Stephens & Holman. We will work closely with you to help you determine what your claim is really worth.

Stages of an ICBC Settlement

There are four stages to an ICBC settlement:
  • An adjustor reviews your claim
  • You review the settlement offer with the adjustor
  • You accept the adjustor’s offer
  • You receive payment


During stage three, the acceptance, you also have a right to deny the offer. Once you have signed the final release forms, you waive your right to seek further compensation.

To ensure you are being treated fairly and awarded the entire amount you are due, you need an experienced lawyer on your side. Our Surrey ICBC settlement attorneys have years of experience helping victims of automobile accidents work with ICBC and get the maximum compensation they are due.

If you need help with an ICBC settlement in Surrey or throughout British Columbia, please contact Stephens & Holman today to schedule a free initial consultation.

posted by Admin at 8:27 AM

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