In the latest ‘reform’ of the law for collision victims in BC, the NDP have passed a new regulation shortening the time to submit receipts to ICBC from 2 years to a mere 60 days.
There has been no real explanation from either the NDP or ICBC as to why they feel the need to shorten the existing time frame.
Even though this was proclaimed on April 1st, this unfortunately was no April Fool’s joke.
Among the changes is the creation of section 88.01 of the Insurance (Vehicle) Regulation creating a far shorter deadline for the submission of receipts to ICBC. The new section reads as follows:
Requirement for receipts
88.01
(1) If an accident occurs for which benefits are provided under section 88, the insured must provide to the corporation a receipt for the expenses incurred that will be compensated as benefits under that section no later than 60 days from the date that those expenses are incurred.
(2) The corporation is not liable to an insured who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with this section.
This requirement applies only to accidents occurring after April 1, 2019.
So those who are injured after April 1st must submit their receipts in this timeframe.
If you do not, and you cannot get them covered by your own private insurance, you may be out of luck recovering the expenses in your ICBC claim.
Paul Mitchell, Q.C. is a BC personal injury lawyer who is a Past Member of the Board of Governors of the BC Trial Lawyers Association. He has extensive experience with severe injury claims, including brain injury claims, spinal injury claims, bicycle claims, death claims, ICBC claims, medical malpractice claims, and other catastrophic injury claims. He is acts for injured clients all over BC and Alberta, and will not act for ICBC or any other insurance company. For more information on this article, or for a confidential discussion of your personal injury claim, contact Paul Mitchell, Q.C. at 250-869-1115 (direct line), or send him a confidential email at [email protected].
