The Broken Story of ICBC

From Whiplash Cheques to No-Fault Nightmares: The Broken Story of ICBC

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

💔 Introduction

I remember being in a car accident as a teen. I didn’t say anything. I was scared my mom would find out. But the truth is, I was injured and should have been compensated.

At the same time, I saw people around me bragging about $5,000 whiplash cheques. Some were legit. Some? Not so much. The old ICBC system was full of holes.

Fast forward to today — and the system has swung to the opposite extreme. Now, real victims get nothing. They can’t sue. They’re denied support. And the trauma? It gets buried in paperwork.

📚 A Brief History of ICBC

• ICBC was created in 1973 to offer public auto insurance to all British Columbians.
• For decades, you could sue if someone else caused your injuries — even minor ones.
• But over time, costs soared due to:
  • Fraudulent or exaggerated claims
  • Rising legal fees
  • Lack of internal accountability

So in 2021, the BC government introduced the “Enhanced Care” no-fault model.

⚠️ What Is the “No-Fault” System?

Under the new model:

• 🚫 You can’t sue — even if someone was impaired, reckless, or ran you over
• 🧾 ICBC decides what care, compensation, and benefits you get
• 😔 There’s no compensation for pain and suffering
• 🧱 It’s hard to appeal or push back — victims feel helpless

This system was sold as “saving money” and “ending lawsuits.” But what about justice? What about dignity?

👥 Real People, Real Harm

🔹 The Senior in Hospital

Struck in a hit-and-run, this woman lies in a hospital bed, her life changed forever. She’s scared — not just of the driver who fled, but of ICBC. Her story is now public, but her recovery is private and unsupported.

🔹 The Artist with Eye Damage

Last week, I read about a man who lost part of his vision after being hit. He’s an artist — his eyes are his life. But he can’t sue. He’s left with limited compensation and no justice.

🔹 My Story — The One Never Filed

As a teen, I stayed silent after a car crash. I didn’t want my mom to find out. But I was hurt. I wonder now how many people, like me, stayed quiet — and today, even when they speak up, it doesn't matter under no-fault.

🧠 Questions for Readers

• Have you or someone you know been injured and denied justice by ICBC?
• Do you believe people should be allowed to sue in cases of serious injury?
• Do you feel safe as a pedestrian, cyclist, or senior on BC streets?
• Is it fair for a public insurer to have no accountability to its clients?
• Are we saving money — or just shifting trauma onto the vulnerable?

🔧 Solutions and What Needs to Change

Here are reasonable, human-centered fixes we can fight for:

• ✅ Restore the right to sue in serious cases, including hit-and-runs, reckless driving, and impaired driving
• ✅ Reintroduce compensation for pain and suffering for legitimate injuries
• ✅ Create a truly independent review board for ICBC decisions
• ✅ Improve support for vulnerable groups: seniors, artists, gig workers, cyclists, pedestrians
• ✅ Ensure better education and prevention, not just denial of claims
• ✅ Pressure the BC Government and MLAs to reevaluate the Enhanced Care model

🗣️ Call to Action

If you’ve been impacted:

• 📣 Share your story — publicly or anonymously
• 📨 Email your MLA and demand a change to ICBC’s no-fault model
• 📲 Use hashtags:
  • #NoFaultNoJustice
  • #FixICBC
  • #EnhancedCareNotFair
  • #ICBCreform
• ✍️ Write a blog, tweet, reel, or post. Tag local news, city officials, and advocacy groups.

📎 Related Links 

• CTV News: Vancouver senior seriously injured in hit-and-run speaks from hospital
• ICBC’s Enhanced Care Summary (Government site)
• Petition for ICBC Reform

Let’s raise our voices. Because staying silent never protected us — and it never will.