The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) is a publicly owned corporation that provides protection against third party liability, hit and run cases, and other claims of accidents. Individuals often face the dilemma of hiring a lawyer to deal with ICBC or facing ICBC on their own.
It is true that if you go ahead and deal with ICBC on your own, it will save you money. After all, no lawyer or law firm will advise you free of cost. At the same time, it is also to be taken into consideration that every job or task needs a specialist who can deal with the problem professionally, especially when it is related to claiming money. However, one question people ask is, should I get a lawyer to deal with ICBC?
Should I get a lawyer to deal with ICBC, or should I do it myself?
If you are thinking of getting the maximum amount of compensation, hiring a skilled personal injury lawyer is an option you can seriously think of. Dealing with an ICBC adjuster is a specialized job. It is no wonder that the adjuster would want to save money for his company after all he or she is an employee of that organization.
In addition to serving the customer right, it is also of the truth that the more money the adjuster can save for his company legally, the more he or she will be deemed as a performer.
The role of the adjuster:
After you file for compensation, the assigned adjuster would investigate the situation, go through your statements, police report, etc. The adjuster might also visit the accident site and might also discuss the accident with some people who witnessed it.
And beware, he will always look for your faults and use clauses and sub-clauses of the law against you which you are, as a layman, are not aware of.
When do you need a lawyer?
The good part is, you can, at any point, appoint an experienced lawyer to do the dealings with you. For example, even if the adjuster decides that you are the one to blame for the accident, you still have the right to appeal. And you should seriously think of appointing a lawyer who is experienced in dealing with ICBC at this juncture.
Once the ICBC claim adjuster has gone through your claim and offers you with a settlement, it is natural to say yes to the proposal and accept that right away. But please do not do that because once you formally accept the offer, you cannot do anything about that means there is no looking back.
Wise thing to do is to seek an expert’s advice and hire him for negotiating with ICBC. After all, there is no harm in getting a healthier amount than the one that has already been offered to you.
Benefits of getting a lawyer to deal with ICBC:
An experienced personal injury lawyer can be of great help because he already knows the tactics of ICBC, he knows whom to approach and from where collect the shreds of evidence to make a comprehensive and convincing claim.
In the following cases, it is wise to go with an expert and experienced personal injury lawyer who will be helpful to ensure you get the maximum compensation:
- If a dear one is killed in the car accident
- If someone is severely injured and needs immediate and prolonged medical attention and treatment
- If and when you think that the settlement offered to you is unfair or does not match with your expectation
- When the injury has dramatically impacted your ability to work and has a probable effect on your income
- The bill you have to pay to your lawyer will be proportionate to the amount you receive from ICBC.
To conclude, you should get a lawyer to deal with ICBC because of the reasons mentioned above. Keep in mind that in most cases, the amount will be more than what you would have got without appointing an expert lawyer.
Most importantly, when you leave the case to a professional, you do not have to go through the stress of handling a lawsuit on your own, which is priceless!