Hit and Run Accidents – Surrey
ICBC Hit and Run Accident Claims – Surrey BC Office
Hit And Run Accidents – Our Experience:
Over the past eleven years, we have successfully advanced “Hit and Run” claims for hundreds of clients throughout BC. In many of these cases, without our help, the injured parties may not have been paid any money by ICBC. Instead, because these clients hired us right away, we were able to secure them fair settlements from ICBC for their hit and run accident. If you’ve been a victim of a hit and run accident in Surrey, Bungay Law Office can help you too.
(ICBC injury claims lawyers)
Involved in a Hit and Run Accident?
Call us today for a free consultation 604-512-0301
Bungay Law Office – Surrey
#202 – 7164 – 120th Street
Our Surrey law office is conveniently located at 72nd Ave and Scott Road (120th). Easily accessed in Surrey or Delta by transit. We are in the Scottsdale Square Business Centre, on Scott Road, across the street from Target and RBC, and next door to BMO.
What is a Hit and run Accident?
A hit and run accident occurs when a driver causes another person’s injuries, and that driver then flees the scene of the accident. In other words, if you have any type of injuries caused by a driver, and you were unable to identify the driver, the accident is considered to be “hit and run”.
Who can make hit and run claims?
Hit and run claims can be made by anyone in BC who is injured by a vehicle that runs away from the accident scene. You do not have to be in a vehicle at the time of the accident. If you are a cyclist or a pedestrian, and you are hit by an unidentified vehicle, you are entitled to claim money for your injuries from ICBC.
Why is it important to seek legal advice after a Hit and Run Accident?
There are a number of reasons why it is important to seek legal advice after a hit and run accident. Firstly, unlike in many “normal” accidents, you are not entitled to benefits just because you are injured. In order to receive money for a hit and run claim, there are a number of complex legal requirements you must fulfill (see below). Simply telling ICBC about the accident is not going to be enough to ensure you are paid for your injuries. An experienced lawyer can help you understand what steps you need to take to ensure you obtain compensation.
Secondly, in order to qualify for benefits, you need to take specific actions very quickly. If you fail to do what is required, and you do not act quickly, you will not be entitled to any benefits. An experienced hit and run accident lawyer can step into your shoes, and take all of these steps for you. This removes the hassle of dealing with ICBC, and more importantly, it limits your risk of being denied compensation.
The importance of trying to find the driver who hit you
In order to get benefits in a hit and run accident, you are not required to find the driver who hit you. However, you are required to show that you have made “reasonable efforts” to try and find the driver. If you do not make “reasonable efforts” to try and find the unidentified driver, you will not be entitled to any money for your injuries. “Reasonable efforts” to try and find the driver can include attempting to get the license plate of the vehicle, posting signs at the accident scene looking for witnesses, and reporting the accident to the police. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list. What you are required to do will depend upon the facts of your specific case. In order to find out exactly what you should do after your accident, you should seek the advice of an experienced car accident lawyer.
How our experienced Surrey hit and run accident lawyers can help you make “reasonable efforts”…
Our experienced hit and run accident lawyers can help ensure that you make all required efforts to try and find the driver, and qualify for benefits. At Bungay Law Office, we take quick action in any hit and run accident claim. We contact ICBC immediately and report the accident to the police. We also post ads in the newspaper looking for witnesses. Our experienced staff will go to the accident scene for you and post signs advertising for witnesses. In many cases, we will also hire an investigator to interview people who might have witnessed the accident. By making all of these efforts, we ensure that you meet the legal requirements necessary to ensure you receive compensation for your injuries.
Reporting your hit and run accident claim: Time is of the essence
The law requires that you report your hit and run accident claim to ICBC “as soon as practicable”. In reality, this means that you must report the claim as quickly as possible. If you do not report the claim in a timely manner, ICBC will not be required to pay you any money for your injuries. An example of this occurred in the case of Stanley v. ICBC. In that case, a driver was injured by another vehicle that fled the scene of the accident. He waited three months before reporting the accident to ICBC. The judge hearing the case felt that three months was too long to wait for reporting the accident. The judge dismissed his claim for injuries, and he was required to pay ICBC’s legal costs.
ICBC is not required to tell you what steps you need to take
It is a mistake to think that ICBC will act in your best interests when you are in a hit and run accident. The law does not require ICBC to inform you of the necessary legal steps to take after a hit and run collision. In the case of Springer v. Kee, a driver was injured by a motorist who fled the scene of the accident. The injured driver, Ms. Springer, reported the accident to ICBC and the police. However, the injured driver did not take all required legal steps, such as posting ads in the newspaper or at the scene of the accident. The ICBC adjuster did not tell Ms. Kee what steps she needed to take to qualify for benefits. The Court dismissed Ms. Kee’s case against ICBC. In doing so, the judge noted that the ICBC adjuster was not legally obligated to inform Ms. Kee of the steps she needed to take to get compensation in a hit and run accident.
This case is an important warning to anyone involved in a hit and run accident. If you are involved in a collision such as this, the adjuster is not your friend and does not have your best interests at heart. Advice from one of our experienced Surrey hit and run lawyers are necessary to ensure that you take all required steps to get compensation.
(ICBC injury claims lawyers)
Involved in a Hit and Run Accident in Surrey?
Call us today for a free consultation 604-512-0301
Bungay Law Office – Surrey
#202 – 7164 – 120th Street
Our Surrey law office is conveniently located at 72nd Ave and Scott Road (120th). Easily accessed in Surrey or Delta by transit. We are in the Scottsdale Square Business Centre, on Scott Road, across the street from Target and RBC, and next door to BMO.
Overall rating of Google reviews
4.7 out of 5 STARS
BACK to: Surrey ICBC Injury Claims home page
Author: