26 - Friday, November 3, 1989 - North Shore News A UT OM OT if VY €E S Responsible party pays for claim IN PAST columns, we have outlined various auto insurance coverages available to B.C. motorists. While Third Party Liabili- ty coverage protects you if you vause injury or damage to someone else or their property, Comprehensive or Collisior coverages offer protection in case you are responsible for the cost of repairing damage to your own property. Auto Topic more protection than many people realize. Take a situation that oc- curred on Vancouver Island. A motorist was passing by a trio of pedestrians. Suddenly, one of them jumped, or was pushed or jostled oui into the roadway. The motorist swerved, and Ken Hardie INSURANCE CORPORATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA ‘Responsible’? is a key word, particularly where col- lision coverage is concerned. Most people think of col- lision coverage as something that will pay to repair their own vehicle if, for instance, they back into a telephone pole or hit another vehicle. Drivers make a claim, pay their deductible, and ICBC pays the rest of the repair bill. Of course, everybody knows a collision claim always leads to a ioss of dis- count levels on the claim- rated-scale and a higher in- surance premium at renewal time. Right? No, not always, because collision coverage offers VISTAS PREMIERS in doing so hit a parked vehicle, causing a fair hit of damage. The question facing the ICBC claims adjuster and the owners of the two vehi- cles involved was ‘‘who is responsible (IE: legally liable) for this damage?” When questions such as this one arise, an adjuster must make a decision based on how the courts would likely decide the issue. in this case, the motorist swerved to miss a person suddenly appearing in front of him — not an unreason- able thing to do. Thus, the driver was not responsib!< for the damages caused. Nor, of course, was the owner of the parked vehicle. However, unless it could be proven that the pedestrian caused the accident, both motorists would be respon- sit’: for their own renairs. The owner of the parked vehicle could only claim against the driver’s third party coverage if that person was liable for the damages, which he wasn’t. He didn't purchase collision coverage so he could not claim to ICBC. His only recourse was to pursue a claim against the pedestrian. The driver had collision coverage and was able to make a claim to ICBC. Our Discount Review Committee who studied the details determined that because of the nature of the incident, he would not lose his claim- rated scale discount. Another cxample of how collison coverage offers ex- {ra protection concerns the disastrous accident in Kamloops last Friday. The tractor-trailer unit in- volved in the incidezit was registered in Alberta and in- sured by another insurance company. Ultimately, those who suffered losses in the crash will have to make their claims to that company. in the meantime, ICBC is providing immediate assistance with no-fault wage loss benefits, death and funeral expenses and rehabilitation services. We are also supplying informa- tion on how to make a claim to the other insurance com- pany. WAGONEERS CLEARANCE CHEROKEES FACTORY AUTHORIZED* INVOICE SALE VARA AR * Net of all programs — Prices include freight & P.D.I. You Don't Need To Cross The Bridge To Get The Best! Guaranteed B.C.’s Lowest Prices a NEWS photo A COLLISION almost always corses as a surprise, but don't get caught off guard with inad- equate coverage. Comprehension or collision coverages offer protection in case you sre responsible for the cost of repairing damage to your own property. Those who had collision coverage on their vehicles will be able to process their damage claims through ICBC’s Kamloops Claims Centre. Their vehicles will be repaired or cash settlements will be made without any of 1990 Suzuki the possible delays involved in dealing with the out-of- province insurer. These claims will not result in any loss of claim- rated-scale discounts and ICBC has also waived the deductibles. Be For more information on collision coverage, see your Autoplan Broker. If you have any questions, write tc ICBC Aute Topics, The North Shore News, 1139 Lonsdale Ave, North Vas- couver, 5.C. V7M 2H4. Sidekick JA 4x4 $ *Hardtop extra Dass l 1 y Pus Preant The ultimate Ski Machine available at: 1845 Powell at Victoria Vancouver Call 254-0811 “S minutes from Norn Shore