International Accident

If you have been involved in an international accident, you may be eligible for compensation through both the motorist’s insurance and ICBC. Before traveling out of BC, it is important to check with the province or US state you are visiting as there may be requirements to register your vehicle there. Also, if you are travelling on business, it may be necessary to add to your insurance coverage to ensure you will be covered in case of an accident. Notably, ICBC does not extend their coverage to Mexico, so do not drive there without first securing appropriate additional insurance.

In general, if you are vacationing in another province or in the USA, your ICBC insurance will cover you while driving. This can be especially important if you are involved in an accident caused by a motorist with minimal insurance. For example, in Washington, drivers may have only $25,000 of insurance. If the expenses and missed work from the accident are worth more than this, you still have access to up to $1,000,000 through ICBC’s Underinsured Motorist Protection (UMP) (or more if you have purchased additional coverage). This protection may be available even if you are a passenger or pedestrian struck by a vehicle.

These cases can be complex as you may need to name both the driver and ICBC when you make your claim. Before having access to UMP, you will need to take all possible steps to recover directly from the driver. It may also be necessary to make the claim in the state or province where the accident occurred.

Generally, if you are driving elsewhere in Canada or in the United States while on vacation, your ICBC Autoplan insurance will provide at least some coverage. However it is important to get legal advice as soon as possible. If you have been involved in an automobile accident outside of BC, contact the personal injury lawyers at John Mickelson Law at 604-684-0040. Our team of experienced lawyers in Vancouver and Surrey will help ensure you receive full compensation for your injuries.

Go back to Blog