Immediately after an accident ICBC’s adjuster may contact you in order to interview you about what happerned. When speaking with them is important to remember that an adjuster works for ICBC not the injured individual. One of the main purposes of this interview is to obtain information that may be used by ICBC to justify paying out a lower value for your claim, including information regarding whether you may have been partially at fault for your injuries, for instance through not wearing a seatbelt, and any pre-existing injuries you may have suffered from at the time of the accident. Information that you reveal in these interviews may be used by ICBC in court, and can severely undermine the value of your claim.
If you do speak to an ICBC adjuster you should be prepared. Any inconsistencies in the information you give in the interview can then be used by ICBC to dispute the accuracy of your court testimony on this issue and challenge the value of your claim. Contacting the various medical offices that you have visited in advance of the first meeting with an adjuster is a good idea. That way you can be sure to give the adjuster correct information about visits to your doctor, chiropractor, or physiotherapist. The ICBC adjuster will likely prepare a statement for you to sign based on the information that you report. It is important to remember that you do not have a duty to provide ICBC a signed statement, and generally you should not do so. All that is required is that you provide ICBC a written statement describing the accident and your injuries within 30 days of the accident if you are applying for Part 7 (no fault) benefits.
You need to prepare for the interview with the ICBC adjuster. If you do not prepare for the meeting you could undermine your claim. Ultimately, the best way to protect your claimant is to contact and speak to a personal injury or ICBC lawyer before any interview with an adjuster.