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Demonstrators protested over the weekend against changes to the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) – specifically about the introduction of a minor injury cap.
The provincial government of BC chose to implement a cap on minor injury claims – which comes into effect April 1, 2019 – to keep the struggling ICBC out of the red. The public insurer is projected to see a $1.3 billion shortfall this year.
Although the change is expected to bring savings to the insurer, some believe the restriction is unfair to victims, saying the $5,500 cap is not enough.
Protestors gathered Saturday outside the office of MLA Jenny Sims to voice their concerns regarding the divisive measure.
“They're going after the victims instead of going after the bad drivers, so it's going to impact all of us,” one of the protestors from the weekend demonstration said.
CTV News reported that the rally was hosted by the Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia and Rights Over Arbitrary Decisions for British Columbia (ROAD). ROAD has also published a petition asking the NDP to reverse the decision on injury claim caps. As of May 6, the petition has garnered 19,600 signatures.
Last month, BC Attorney General David Eby criticized personal injury lawyers who had been spending considerable money on advertising as the ICBC continued to financially suffer. He cited a report that found advertising spending by personal injury law firms had increased from $1.51 million in 2016 to $2.36 million in 2017.
