The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) is facing criticism from a 74-year-old business owner who says its no-fault system is failing to provide customers with adequate support.
Yoshihiro Yanagitani was involved in a motorcycle crash in May 2022. It led to several injuries, including fractures in his shoulder, hip, knees, and ankle.
Following the accident, Yanagitani said he had been unable to go back to work and was forced to close down his auto repair shop.
“I can’t even grab a wrench, and I can’t do jobs,” he told Global News.
Yanagitani said he sought help from ICBC shortly after the incident, but the insurer did not respond until after he hired a lawyer a month later.
And although ICBC did eventually grant him a weekly compensation of $740, Yanagitani argued that the sum was not enough to help him address the challenges caused by his injuries.
“To keep my shop open, it costs about $25,000 a month,” he said.
Ryan Kusuhara, Yanagitani’s lawyer, said his client was not able receive income replacement benefit and permanent impairment benefit until he stepped in.
Kusuhara also indicated that they are contemplating taking the matter to the BC Supreme Court to challenge existing policies.
In response, ICBC spokesperson Brent Sherer told Global News that Yanagitani had received approximately £25,000 in income replacement benefits and would continue to receive this support for the duration of the time that he is unable to work.
Sherer also clarified that ICBC had paid out over $14,000 for Yanagitani’s medical and rehabilitation benefits.
“Under [the no-fault model] of insurance, everyone has access to a wide-range of care and recovery benefits,” he said.
Yanagitani isn’t the first ICBC customer to criticize the Crown corporation’s no-fault insurance scheme.
Last year, a family from Port Alberni spoke with CHEK News to recount how the no-fault system added to their frustrations as they dealt with the aftermath of a car crash.
“We were hit by an intoxicated person in a stolen vehicle with our kids in the car and you’re telling me we have no coverage, and we owe a thousand dollars,” said Angela Murray, whose husband was driving the family’s vehicle during the crash.
ICBC responded to the family’s concerns and clarified that they would have to pay a deductible to activate their collision coverage.
A similar deductible would need to be paid under the previous system, ICBC added.
What are your thoughts on this story? Feel free to comment below.
