By Dave Branco

Starting Monday, vehicle injury claims under 50K will go a through a tribunal

Mar 29, 2019 | 3:03 PM

VANCOUVER – Injury claim disputes from motor vehicle accidents in British Columbia valued at $50,000 or less will be resolved through a tribunal starting Monday. The provincial government is expanding the services of the Civil Resolution Tribunal to resolve claim disputes with the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia and other insurers. The tribunal is already used to settle small claims cases as well as strata and property disagreements without using lawyers. On ICBC disputes, the tribunal will determine based on the evidence presented from both parties whether an injury is considered minor according to legislation, what entitlement there is to accident benefits and responsibility for a crash. The province says where parties can’t agree, the tribunal can make binding decisions that are enforceable as court orders. The tribunal has been operating since 2016 and operates independently from the government and public auto insurer ICBC.