A major class-action lawsuit was filed against ICBC. The lawsuit alleges that this company has been diverting millions of dollars that were meant to go toward the victims of accidents. The result has been a massive rise in insurance rates. Because ICBC has not been making funds available for the victims of accidents, the Medical Services Plan has been left to pick up the slack, driving up costs.
These funds were supposed to cover the medical costs incurred by the victims of motor vehicle accidents. According to fightforthelittleguy.com, “when a person is injured due to the negligent behavior or careless actions of someone else, the responsible party should be held accountable for the damages they’ve caused.” Some of the most common injuries that someone might suffer in a motor vehicle accident include broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and even trauma to internal organs. Sometimes, these injuries can cause someone to spend multiple days in the hospital. It might include a trip to the operating. On occasion, these injuries can impact someone for the rest of his or her life. It is easy to see how these expenses can add up quickly. Without these funds from the ICBC, taxpayers, individuals, and the families of victims have been left to cover the costs.
When the government is forced to pick up the slack because of ICBC’s illegal diversion of funds, nobody wins. The result is that the taxpayer has to fund these remittances instead. In a recent news article, one case was highlighted specifically of a young man who suffered a serious injury about fifteen years ago. A car crossed the center lane and struck his vehicle head-on. This led to injuries that rendered him paralyzed. Since that time, he has maxed out his benefits; however, he continues to incur medical costs to this day. This individual believes that if ICBC had not been diverting funds, he could have received more money that could have been used to cover his medical expenses.
Sadly, this story is not unique. This illegal diversion of funds has deprived many victims of accidents of funds to which they had a right. Now, a lawsuit has been filed that is going to right this wrong to the fullest extent possible. For the countless people who have suffered under this injustice, the lawsuit should provide some solace. In the eyes of many, the insurance hikes are seen as an unconstitutional tax that has been forced upon the people by ICBC. It will be interesting to see how this lawsuit unfolds and how the damages are disbursed.
