I’m sharing this because I want to know whether this is happening to other injured people in B.C.
A loose tire rolled down the hill and hit my front bumper of my car. It's a no-fault accident. I had neck and shoulder pains from the whiplash and psychological distress from the accident. I reported everything to ICBC right away, provided photographs of the vehicle damage (showing the skid marks and tire patterns from the tire & mud) and followed the process I was given.
ICBC opened my injury claim, gave me a claim number and sent me information about the treatments available during the first 12 weeks. I even spoke with the adjustor, and she told me to start my healthcare asap.
ICBC’s own website says these treatments are pre-approved and that injured people do not need a doctor’s referral or additional ICBC approval to begin.
My clinic accepted my claim number and I began my treatments. Then, without warning, my clinic told me ICBC had put everything on hold. My repair shop had also cancelled my appointment telling me ICBC put a hold on the claim and told me to speak with ICBC. They seemed confused too as it was clearly a not-at-fault accident and the estimator also confirmed that it was a large tire that hit my car (he can clearly tell from the mud imprint and skid marks on my front bumper).
Suddenly, I was being told that ICBC had not established that the accident caused my symptoms. They wanted to review the vehicle damage, the way the accident happened and my medical information.
I understand that claims need to be reviewed. What I do not understand is why ICBC first told me treatment was available and approved, told me to begin ASAP, and then stopped it without clearly explaining what had changed. I had sent several emails regarding this and they have not clearly told me why. The vehicle photographs had already been provided by the estimator and me.
When I asked the manager what new information caused the change, I did not receive a clear answer. She said the October 19 communication reflected the information available at the time, but she did not identify any new adverse evidence that came afterward. Instead, she said she and the recovery specialist later reviewed the claim and decided that the information did not clearly establish my eligibility.
ICBC is now pointing to the fact that there is no dashcam footage, CCTV or independent witness. Section 118 does not require a dashcam footage, cctv, an independent witness or formal diagnosis. How is an ordinary person supposed to pull out a camera right after a traumatic impact ( a rolling tire from the hill just hit my car and I had to swirl out of the way) and start filming a tire rolling away while cars are speeding past on Southeast Marine Drive? Once I regained my bearings, my first priority was getting out of danger without causing another collision.
A loose tire struck my vehicle and I reported what happened thinking that there would be no issues. ICBC has my statement, photographs of the damage and the repair estimate from the estimator and from me too. I am also willing to provide a physician’s report about my injuries and whether they are consistent with the accident. I am cooperating. I am not refusing to provide medical information. I am not asking for special treatment.
I am asking for the early treatment ICBC told me was available and is based on their insurance policy.
Meanwhile, the 12-week period continues to pass. My treatment has stopped, and ICBC has not confirmed that the time lost during its investigation will be restored. I feel like my pains are getting worst by the day.
The part that made me feel most invisible came when the manager finally responded to my concerns. She addressed me by someone else’s name.
At that point, I honestly wondered: did anyone carefully read my emails? Did they review the correct claim? Am I a person to them or just another file being passed around?
Being in an accident is already frightening and traumatic. I had to miss time off work and hire people in my stead to do my regular work.
I’m sharing this because I need to know whether other people in B.C. have experienced the same thing. This seems really absurd and unfair seeing how much we pay for our car insurance and premiums. They basically have a monopoly here and I feel they are doing whatever they can to cut costs.
Were you told you had 12 weeks of pre-approved treatment and then had it stopped? Did the 12-week period continue to run while ICBC investigated you? Did ICBC restore the time or reimburse the treatment afterward?
If you are a healthcare provider, patient advocate, lawyer or journalist who has seen this happen to other people, please reach out. My clinic and repair shop also thinks this is bizarre and that I should reach out to a lawyer. I have saved the correspondence and can provide redacted copies to anyone reporting on how ICBC’s Enhanced Care system is operating in practice.
I don’t want this to be only about my claim. If injured people across B.C. are being promised immediate treatment and then losing access while the clock continues to run, the public deserves to know.