Understanding The Impact of No-Fault and Access to Legal Advocacy - A Growing Concern

The BC government introduced major changes to ICBC’s system in 2021 under the NDP’s Enhanced Care model. As a result, British Columbians no longer have access to lawyers to represent them in most ICBC injury claims.

Many people don’t realize these changes have significantly reduced, and in most cases removed the legal support needed to help navigate claims, especially in cases where someone is injured due to another driver's fault. Instead, individuals must now self-advocate within a complex and often overwhelming system — one in which ICBC, as both insurer and decision-maker, hold significant influence over the claims process.

These reforms were introduced to lower costs and premiums, but some argue that they’ve also limited accountability and transparency.

Injured and vulnerable individuals are now required to deal directly with ICBC and its contracted service providers — such as treatment clinics and independent medical examiners — without legal representation.

This shift has led to growing concern that claimants may not fully understand what information is being shared, used, or potentially excluded from their claim files. Without access to independent legal advocacy, many feel they are at a disadvantage.

More public awareness is needed.This isn’t just about signing petitions, or social media presence and likes — it’s about collective action, gathering evidence, and ensuring people’s rights are protected.

ICBC may have changed in name and structure, but some feel the core concerns remain. And now, with reduced legal oversight, the balance of power has shifted even further.

It’s time to demand transparency through the claims process directly by the adjusters, fairness in accessing our clinical records without needing to pay when dealing with a claim, timely corrections of errors and inaccuracies in claims files and independent legal support needed for those navigating this system, and for those struggling having independent legal advocacy to handle their claim process.