Difference between revisions of "Insurance Benefits for Accident Victims"
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This script explains motor vehicle insurance from the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (called ICBC), plus insurance benefits and other payments for people injured in a motor vehicle accident. For information on insurance payments for vehicle damage, check script [[Making a Vehicle Damage Claim (Script 186)|186]] on “Making a Vehicle Damage Claim”. | This script explains motor vehicle insurance from the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (called ICBC), plus insurance benefits and other payments for people injured in a motor vehicle accident. For information on insurance payments for vehicle damage, check script [[Making a Vehicle Damage Claim (Script 186)|186]] on “Making a Vehicle Damage Claim”. | ||
=Types of insurance= | ==Types of insurance== | ||
==ICBC vehicle insurance is mandatory== | ===ICBC vehicle insurance is mandatory=== | ||
Everyone who owns a motor vehicle in BC must have basic vehicle insurance, called Autoplan, from ICBC. You can buy more insurance than Autoplan’s basic insurance—from ICBC or a private insurance company. Autoplan agents can give you the options. | Everyone who owns a motor vehicle in BC must have basic vehicle insurance, called Autoplan, from ICBC. You can buy more insurance than Autoplan’s basic insurance—from ICBC or a private insurance company. Autoplan agents can give you the options. | ||
==Autoplan includes basic third-party legal liability insurance of $200,000== | ===Autoplan includes basic third-party legal liability insurance of $200,000=== | ||
If you injure someone or damage their vehicle in an accident, your third-party legal liability insurance will pay their claim up to the limit of your insurance. The minimum third-party legal liability insurance you must have is $200,000. This insurance will also pay for most of the legal and investigative costs. | If you injure someone or damage their vehicle in an accident, your third-party legal liability insurance will pay their claim up to the limit of your insurance. The minimum third-party legal liability insurance you must have is $200,000. This insurance will also pay for most of the legal and investigative costs. | ||
==You can buy more than the basic $200,000 insurance== | ===You can buy more than the basic $200,000 insurance=== | ||
Courts often award much more money (called compensation or damages) than $200,000 – sometimes $1 million or more – especially if the victim was seriously injured. You can buy much more insurance than $200,000—up to several million dollars and most people do. You can buy this extra insurance from ICBC or from a private insurance company. Buying more than the basic insurance is even more important if you drive to the United States because accident costs (especially medical) can be much higher there. | Courts often award much more money (called compensation or damages) than $200,000 – sometimes $1 million or more – especially if the victim was seriously injured. You can buy much more insurance than $200,000—up to several million dollars and most people do. You can buy this extra insurance from ICBC or from a private insurance company. Buying more than the basic insurance is even more important if you drive to the United States because accident costs (especially medical) can be much higher there. | ||
If you have only the basic $200,000 insurance, and someone you injure sues you for more, you may have to pay the rest. That can be a financial disaster for you. | If you have only the basic $200,000 insurance, and someone you injure sues you for more, you may have to pay the rest. That can be a financial disaster for you. | ||
==Autoplan includes under-insured motorist protection== | ===Autoplan includes under-insured motorist protection=== | ||
Basic Autoplan includes under-insured motorist insurance up to $1 million. For example, you are hurt in an accident that is the other driver’s fault, and the other driver has only the basic $200,000 insurance. But ICBC decides your claim is worth $800,000. What happens? ICBC will pay your full $800,000 claim through your under-insured motorist protection. | Basic Autoplan includes under-insured motorist insurance up to $1 million. For example, you are hurt in an accident that is the other driver’s fault, and the other driver has only the basic $200,000 insurance. But ICBC decides your claim is worth $800,000. What happens? ICBC will pay your full $800,000 claim through your under-insured motorist protection. | ||
You can increase the under-insured motorist protection with ICBC from $1 million to $2 million. | You can increase the under-insured motorist protection with ICBC from $1 million to $2 million. | ||
==Autoplan includes protection against hit-and-run accidents== | ===Autoplan includes protection against hit-and-run accidents=== | ||
All BC residents—even if they do not own a vehicle—are insured up to $200,000 by Autoplan if a hit-and-run driver kills or injures them. | All BC residents—even if they do not own a vehicle—are insured up to $200,000 by Autoplan if a hit-and-run driver kills or injures them. | ||
==You can lose your insurance if you break the law== | ===You can lose your insurance if you break the law=== | ||
Be careful not to lose your insurance by driving while you’re prohibited or your license is suspended or committing a crime while driving. In these cases, your third-party legal liability insurance may not cover you, and you may have to pay for any damage or injury you cause in an accident. | Be careful not to lose your insurance by driving while you’re prohibited or your license is suspended or committing a crime while driving. In these cases, your third-party legal liability insurance may not cover you, and you may have to pay for any damage or injury you cause in an accident. | ||