Recorded on: May 13, 2025
Length: 60 minutes
Description
With the relatively recent shift to no-fault car insurance in BC, you may have questions about car accidents and insurance. Lawyer Paul Harden from Meridian Law Group answers common questions about insurance coverage and claims for personal injuries and vehicle damage.
Highlights
In this webinar, you will learn:
Insurance framework
How the no-fault insurance regime works in British Columbia. [2:50]
What kind of insurance coverage is available for property damage or personal injuries arising from a car accident. [4:20]
Whether it makes sense to pay for insurance coverage beyond the basic requirements. [6:00]
Whether you can buy car and accident insurance from insurance providers other than ICBC. [11:05]
What happens if you’re in a car accident outside of British Columbia and whether different rules would apply. [11:45]
What happens if you drive without valid insurance and have a car accident, including whether it matters if you’re at fault and how fault is determined. [13:15]
Personal injuries
What benefits you’re entitled to if you’re injured in a car accident, and whether it matters if you’re at fault. [15:50]
How long benefits last, and what happens if you’re permanently injured. [19:30]
How ICBC insurance works if you have disability insurance through work or if you’re on the job and WorkSafeBC kicks in. [23:50]
Whether you need ICBC’s approval before seeking medical treatment if you want ICBC to pay for it. [25:35]
Vehicle and property damage
What kind of property damage ICBC covers, and whether it matters if the damage is your fault. [29:50]
Whether insurance covers vehicle damage from a hit and run. [33:05]
ICBC’s points system
What driver penalty points are and how they work, including the difference between penalty point premiums and driver risk premiums, as well as how long you need to pay premiums. [33:50]
Whether you can lose your licence if you get too many points. [35:40]
Making a claim
What steps to take if you’ve been in a car accident, and whether there’s a separate process for personal injuries and vehicle or other property damage. [36:55]
What you can do if you don’t agree with ICBC, including whether you can challenge its decisions or sue it for more money. [39:35]
When to take your complaint to the Civil Resolution Tribunal and whether you would ever need to go to small claims or Supreme Court. [41:05]
When to retain a lawyer and what free resources are available. [44:40]
Live questions
Whether you’re covered for claims made against you if you have a car accident in a jurisdiction that doesn’t have no-fault insurance. [46:55]
Whether you can sue through small claims court to cover your losses if your expenses are not covered by ICBC. [47:45]
What happens if more than one vehicle is damaged in a car accident and whether $200K coverage is per vehicle or per incident. [48:50]
Whether there are situations where ICBC can deny dashcam evidence. [49:00]
What to do if your own extended insurance says other insurance pays first (similar to the position ICBC takes). [49:40]
What happens if an accident takes place with a borrowed vehicle. [50:40]
Whether there’s a deadline for settling a claim under ICBC’s enhanced care program for a passenger involved in an accident. [51:30]
In the case where you have an older vehicle and your practice has been to secure only basic insurance coverage (on the rationale that if you cause an accident, you would accept writing off the car, and if someone else caused the accident, you would repair the car under their insurance), whether that rationale would still apply under the no-fault regime. [53:00]
The recommended amount of third party liability coverage. [54:40]
Whether you’re responsible for the costs if you let a family member, who is not Canadian and is visiting from another country, drive your car while they’re here and they get into an accident. [56:00]
How to get your ex-partner to remove you as the principal operator of a vehicle you no longer drive. [57:30]
Featuring
Paul Harden
Paul Harden is a lawyer at Meridian Law Group in Vancouver. A versatile and experienced litigator, his practice includes estate litigation, property and business disputes, and insurance claims. He also represents individuals who have suffered serious injuries caused by another person’s negligence.
Attendee feedback
“This was a great webinar. I like the presentation style of the guest. He explained it in a very easy to understand way and easy to listen to. He gave relatable and personal examples which made it more engaging.”
“There are so many misunderstandings regarding dealing with ICBC. This webinar answered many of these issues and gave me a better understanding of how ICBC and no-fault insurance works.”
“This was good information to know. I enjoy the webinars as there is always something to learn, and I like the way you format the discussion. Thanks again.”
“I was very confused regarding no-fault insurance. It was great to receive CLEAR explanations.”
“Paul was very knowledgeable and informative in the subject matter and responses were provided in an easy-to-understand manner.”
“The webinars are always informative, and the presentations are simple and easy to understand. The Q&A sessions are crucial to follow, as they provide valuable insights and serve as an eye-opener.”
"I attended this webinar to try and understand the changes in car insurance that created so much furor when they were announced. I did learn a lot, thank you, but I also realized that just getting the facts in a straightforward and non-judgmental way was the best part. I was allowed to listen, absorb and learn. AND make my own judgment!"
“The team answering questions in real time did a great job. Great speaker. I plan to look at many of the links provided to delve deeper. Like that you encouraged 5M coverage.”
“Paul was wonderful 😎.”
“These webinars are useful for increasing our knowledge.”
Additional resources
From People’s Law School:
From ICBC:
Also: