Driving Safely

Driving in BC from People's Law School is no longer available. It has been replaced by seven things you must know as a driver in BC and your rights to a driver's licence. We also cover traffic tickets, distracted driving, and car sales.

Car accidents

What should you do if you have an accident?

If you have an accident, you MUST stop and help.

1. If it is safe to do so, pull over to the side of the road so you do not block traffic.
2. If you can get out of the vehicle, find out if anyone is hurt.
3. If you or others are seriously injured, call 911.
4. Write down the other driver's:
   • name, address and phone number,
   • driver’s licence number,
   • vehicle licence plate number, and
   • vehicle registration and insurance information
5. Get the name, address and phone number of anyone who saw the accident.
6. Report the accident to ICBC as soon as possible. Phone the Dial-a-Claim centre:

   Lower Mainland

   604.520.8222

   Elsewhere in BC

   1.800.910.4222

   You can also report the accident online. Use the online claim report.

   To find the online claim report, go to the ICBC website at www.icbc.com. Select "Claims."

   ICBC has a “Claim Card” online that can help you collect the details you need. The Claim Card is available in English, Punjabi and Chinese. To find the Claim Card, go to the ICBC website. Select "Claims."

If you have any pain

• Go to a doctor. Make a note of your injuries or have someone do it for you. Be sure to report all your injuries to the doctor.
• Talk to a lawyer before you make your claim to ICBC. You have a right to do this.

Reporting to the police

Phone 911 and report the accident to the police if:

• Anyone has been hurt or killed.
• You think the damage to the cars will cost more than $1000.
• The other driver broke the law. For example, the driver was drunk or he drove through a red light.
• Another driver hit your vehicle and drove away (hit and run).

If it is not an emergency, report the accident within 24 hours. Call the non-emergency phone number. You can find the emergency number on the first inside page of your phone book.

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by People's Law School, 2011.

Driving in BC from People's Law School is no longer available. It has been replaced by seven things you must know as a driver in BC and your rights to a driver's licence. We also cover traffic tickets, distracted driving, and car sales.

Driving in BC Wikibook © People's Law School is, except for the images, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International Licence.

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(1) The assertion of a legal right to an order or to a thing; (2) the remedy or relief sought by a party to a court proceeding.

A person licensed to practice law in a particular jurisdiction by that jurisdiction's law society. See "barrister and solicitor."