While there is nothing in the law that requires that you hire a lawyer when dealing with ICBC, there are multiple reasons why it is a good idea to do so. It is also always within your rights to hire a personal injury lawyer.

Know Your Rights

First, ICBC will appoint an adjuster responsible for your claim. This person is well-schooled in personal injury lawsuits and is also practiced in negotiation. However, this person works for ICBC, a for-profit institution, and may or may not have your best interests in mind. A defence lawyer who you’ve hired, on the other hand, will act solely in your best interest, protect your rights, and attempt to obtain a fair settlement from your perspective, not the ICBC’s. Hiring a lawyer does not mean that you have to go to court,  and most ICBC cases do not end up in the courtroom.

One of Many Claims

An ICBC adjuster works on many claims every day. Your case is simply one more on their long list of claims to work out. For this reason, they may not take the time to collect all pertinent information relating to your motor vehicle collision. Information is evidence, and all cases are resolved according to evidence collected.

A lawyer, on the other hand, has more time and incentive to find all the detailed evidence related to your case. Often, it is the details that sway a case decision one way or another. An ICBC adjuster may also not be motivated to obtain full medical records related to your case, and this, too can make a difference in the outcome. A lawyer is highly motivated to uncover these details, as they often make or break a case.

A personal defence lawyer working on your ICBC case is, ultimately, peace of mind.

BAC Information – How Many Drinks Take Your Blood Alcohol Over the Limit

Whether you are going out for after work drinks, having dinner with family & friends or going out for a night on the town, the most important thing to consider is ensuring that you get home safely.  If you are in a group, you should always assign a designated driver.

While no alcohol is safest when getting behind the wheel, you can guesstimate your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) after 1 or 2 drinks depending on several factors.

Some of the factors that might affect a person’s BAC include:

• body size
• gender
• physical condition
• what they have had to eat
• how much sleep they have had
• what medications they are taking
• the actual alcohol content of their “drink”

Click here for BAC Charts.

The problem many people may have is after a couple of drinks, their judgement becomes impaired and they may feel they are fine to drive when actually they are over the legal limit.  This can be especially true for small women who may not have had much to eat.  So be sure when you are out that not only you are responsible about your alcohol intake if you will be getting behind the wheel, but also keep an eye out for friends who may not realize they have crossed the line of inebriation.