Cyclists worry ICBC has no financial incentive to fault drivers who hit them
Several cyclists have come forward to CTV News questioning the way ICBC decides who is at fault in collisions between cars and bikes.
Alicia Sharp was hit while crossing Clark Drive using the dedicated East 10th Avenue bike route.
“I was crossing an intersection and I got hit by a car that ran a red light,” said Sharp. “Unfortunately, because I left on a stretcher, I wasn’t able to get the information of the car that hit me or any witnesses that might have seen it.”
Sharp was pregnant at the time and is extremely grateful neither she nor her unborn baby suffered serious injuries in the crash — but she may not get away completely unscathed, because there could be a financial hit.
The driver says Sharp blew through a stop sign on her bike and entered Clark Drive, a busy truck route, against the light.
“I understand that the only evidence they have is a police report that was inconclusive and conflicting statements between myself and the driver,” said Sharp. “They’re finding me at fault for the accident despite only having my statement versus the driver’s statement. They said I was at fault because I was crossing from a stop sign.”
She’s not on the hook for anything yet, but ICBC has told her she could be billed for damage to the car that hit her.
Something similar happened to Ben Chick back in 2016, after he was hit by a car while riding his bike.
“I had a broken elbow, a bruised retina, a bunch of glass in my back, a major concussion,” Chick said of his injuries.
“And then I got a bill in the mail not to long after from ICBC for $13,000 damage on the person’s car.”
It took him four years to pay off the debt and he is still living with physical impacts from the crash.
Another cyclist also finds himself on the hook for damage to the car that hit him.
Ben Bolliger took to Twitter to complain about the predicament he finds himself in after being hit by a car while riding on a Vancouver bike route in July.
He said he had severe injuries, including broken bones, and that he will never again have full range of motion in his right arm.
He’s had surgery and continues to go to physiotherapy sessions and rehab.
Bolliger says the car that him ran through a stop sign, but ICBC found him at fault, and last week he received a bill for $3,700 to cover repairs to the hood and windshield of the car that hit him.
“It financially benefits ICBC to find fault against cyclists,” said Joel Zanatta, Bolliger’s lawyer.
“They’re riding a bike because they’ve made a choice and they’re being struck by cars. They’re not being compensated, which is shocking. And then in certain cases they’re getting a bill in the mail. It’s appalling.”
In a statement to CTV News, ICBC said it thoroughly investigates accidents before determining who is at fault.
“In assessing any claim, we review all of the evidence presented to us in order to come to a fair decision,” the insurance corporation said. “This would include reports from the drivers involved, witness statements and police reports if available.”
Zanatta, founder of a firm called The Cycling Lawyer, takes issue with the way ICBC deals with cyclists.
“They’re doing it in a completely discriminatory fashion,” he said. “They’re regularly finding fault with cyclists where none existed and they’re protecting their drivers.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.