ICBC leaves homeowners on hook for thousands after car crashes into condo – BC | 24CA News
Residents of a apartment constructing in White Rock, B.C., are combating with ICBC about fee for fixes wanted after a automobile crashed into the constructing late final yr.
Strata vice-president and treasurer Ken Harverson informed Global News it was on Dec. 3, on an icy and snowy night time when a automobile was coming down Blackwood Street, ran the cease signal, clipped one other car and ended up crashing into the aspect of the constructing.
“Both airbags were deployed,” he informed Global News. “So obviously it was a big enough impact for that to happen. And we have pictures, of course, of what it looked like. Fortunately, nobody was hurt. That was good news.”
Harverson mentioned they bought all the data from the driving force and despatched off the paperwork and quotes to ICBC to get the injury to the constructing repaired.
He mentioned they bought a response on Jan. 23 telling them what quantity ICBC would cowl to repair the constructing.
“They went back to 1988 and said, ‘OK, it’s 1988, this is the amount that it would cost’,” Harverson mentioned.
ICBC bases property injury settlements on the precise money worth of the property, which incorporates depreciation.
This signifies that as a result of the constructing was in-built 1986, ICBC is prepared to cowl the price of repairs, however not the total quantity.
Harverson mentioned ICBC knocked off 30 per cent for depreciation, which leaves householders on the hook for $6,000.
He mentioned ICBC informed him to place the declare by means of the strata insurance coverage however he mentioned they’ve a $15,000 deductible anyway and in the event that they declare it on their insurance coverage their charges will go up.
“Right now, the strata, as you’re well aware, even finding insurance is very tough,” Harverson added.
The constructing is for adults 55 years and older, with most of their late 60s and 70s on a hard and fast earnings.
“I’m sorry, but I just think morally it’s wrong,” Harverson mentioned. “And it’s basically a bully tactic.”
In an announcement to Global News, ICBC mentioned that house owners of property injury on account of a collision with a B.C. motorist can pursue damages by means of the authorized system.
The group mentioned the Enhanced Care mannequin has not modified the best way property injury claims are processed.
“We’re legally responsible, on behalf of the B.C.-insured motorist who caused the damage to the property, for restoring the property to the condition it was prior to the loss, not betterment of the property,” ICBC mentioned within the assertion.
Harverson mentioned he feels this technique is simply not morally proper.
“I don’t want to involve our insurance company if I don’t have to involve them. And I’d rather that we get this thing resolved. And it’s not a HUB issue or an insurance issue. It’s an ICBC issue.”
Trevor Halford, BC Liberal MLA for Surrey-White Rock and Shadow Minister for Transportation, Infrastructure Affordability and ICBC, informed Global News he thinks this incident is proof of a “complete lack of common sense” and is “completely unacceptable.”
“Here we are under David Eby’s ICBC and we’ve got a house that’s been smashed into. And these people are fighting to get it back to its original condition. It shouldn’t be a fight. This was months ago. This should have been done immediately,” Halford mentioned.
“This is somebody’s home. They had nothing to do with the accident. This house was smashed into by a vehicle and ICBC needs to take care of this. It should not be months in the making. Get it done and get it done now.”
Harverson mentioned they’re nonetheless unsure precisely what to do however the so-called no-fault system appears damaged to him.
” It’s not no fault. It’s our fault. Or it’s going to be your fault.”
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
