30 —- Friday, October 2, 1992 ~- North Shore News

Skyrocketing whipiash claims
draw response from Autoplan

IN HER August news con-
ference, ICBC president
Robyn Allan outlined new
programs to address the
cost of whiplash injury
claims. AutoTopics con-
tinues with the text of her
comments.

Ken
Hardie

' AUTOTOPIC

**ICBC’s claims settlement phi-
losophy is to ensure that all set-
tlements are fair and reasonable.
‘Where there is real, identifiable,
objective evidence of an injury,
the job of quantifying it can be
relatively straightforward.

“ft is difficult in the case of
whiplash injuries because the ex-
tent of the injury is very hard to
measure. What concerns us is the
fact that most people who wrench
their backs or necks skiing or

. moving things around the house ©

will recover and get back to nor-
mal quickly.

_GM Saturn
celebrates
first year

ON THE eve of the first Cana-
dian birthday of the acclaimed

_Saturn car, General Motors direc- -
_tor’ of advertising Dave Parks

spoke of. the past year.

“Tt has been a very exciting
year for all of us,”’ said Parks.
“As of June 30, just eight months
after cur launch, we were third in
‘sales per dealer behind Acura and
Honda, among imports.”’

In the latest J.D. Power and
Associates customer | satisfaction
survey, Saturn was third in the
rankings. .

“Not bad for the new kid on
the block,”’ Parks remarked.

From the very beginning of the
project in 1982, GM’s goal has

_ been to create an affordable and

' innovative North American vehicle
as an alternative to the small im-
ports. All indications from its first
year on the market indicate that
GM has succeded.

Sales figures show that over
12,000 Saturns were sold in the 12
months to Oct. 3, through the
combined Saturn-Saab-Isuzu
dealer network.

Saturn prides itself on being ‘'a
different kind of company”’ build-
ing ‘‘a different kind of car’. To
celebrate their first year of opera-
tion, they are throwing ‘‘a dif-
ferent kind of party’? tomorrow,
Saturday, Oct. 3.

“Its a great opportunity for our
dealers to thank our current cus-
tomers and welcome new ones,’’
Park said.

Dealers will use the party as an
opportunity to showcase the new
1993 models, including the latest
addition to the Saturn family, the
SW wagon.

Satura Corporation, an in-
dependent subsidiary of GM, is
based in Spring Hill, Tenessee,
and in Troy, Michigan. There are
68 Saturn dealers across Canada,
including Morrey Saturn Saab
Isuzu, 4451 Lougheed Hwy., Bur-
naby B.C.

“However, some who suffer the
exact same injuries in a car acci-
dent will immediately come to
ICBC looking for money. In ex-
treme cases, lawyers become in-
volved, numerous medical pro-
cedures take place, but the person
may not really get better until they
get their settlement cheque.

“These whiplash injuries repre-
sem a staggering 70% of all bodi-
ly injury claims currently teing
made to ICBC.

“To put this in perspective, 10
years ago, injury represented 48%
of ICBC’s total claims payouts ...
amounting to $291 million. Last
year, they represented 60% ... a
tota! of $903 million! Whiplash

claims account for most of this
increase.

“Obviously, this is one issue
that requires ICBC’s approach to
be both firm and fair.

“Our goal is to ensure that
those who suffer injuries receive
every dollar of compensation they
deserve ... but not a dollar more.
ICBC will vigorously resist at-
tempts to inflate the value of these
whiplash claims.”’

Allan also spoke about a related
issue — whiplash claims from ac-
cidents involving little or no dam-
age to the vehicles involved. The
final installment of her Aug. 12
news conference remarks will ap-
pear next week.

Centennial theatre hosts
NV collector car auction.

CAR ENTHUSIASTS and
dreamers alike will be on hand
this weekend at Centennial
Theatre in North Vancouver to
take part in the Autociassic
Coliector Car Auction.

Over 100 collector cars,
automobile art and automobilia
wilt be only a raised hand,
eyebrow or bidding fan away
for those fortunate few that
can drive out of the weekend in
a truly classic set of wheels.

The event kicks off tomor-
row morning at 10 a.m.
Schedule highlights: Saturday,
Oct. 3: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: con-
signed cars received , registered
and documented in the tent

behind the theatre — your car
must be received before 2 p.m.
to be included: in the Preview
and Show; 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.:
Auction Preview and Show in
the Centennial Theatre parking
lot — open to the public; 7
p.m. to 9 p.m.: Invitation only
“Bidders and Sellers’? recep- -
tion and art show in the theatre
lobby. © =

Sunday, Oct. 4: 9 a.m. to 10
a.m.: Auction preview of cars,
art and automobilia; 10 a.m. to
Ii a.m.: Art and automobilia ~
sale; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: The
car sale.

For more information about
the events call 983-2662. -

You can earn between
$50-$100 per month .

delivering

the North

Shore News either Sundays, Wednesdays or
Fridays. There ave no collections so it leaves.
you plenty of time to do the things you want. ~

NO COLLECTIONS

DELIVER AFTERNOONS WEDNESDAY AND
FRIDAY, AND UP TO 1i:00 A.M. ON

SUNDAYS ,

v~ MONTHLY CARRIER NEWSLETTER

~ MONTHLY PRIZES

- CARRIER SPECIAL EVENTS
- ONE, TWO OR THREE DAYS PER WEEK

CALL 986-1337 FOR
AVAILABLE ROUTES

TIE VORCE OF MONTH AND WEST ANCOUVER

‘north shore |