If you only have minor injuries and your claim is fairly straightforward, there may be little reason to hire a lawyer. Not only will it take longer to settle your claim, but your legal fees will reduce the money you end up with. If you have serious injuries with long-term consequences, though, or several people were injured in the same accident, you should consult a lawyer as soon as possible.

Having a lawyer is essential when liability (or fault) is an issue, especially if you have serious injuries. If your accident involved a hit-and-run driver, hiring the right lawyer early on can make the difference between your claim being rejected or you getting accident benefits and compensation.

If ICBC questions the existence or consequences of your injuries, or your adjuster doesn’t feel they were caused by your accident, you may have to go to court to get accident benefits or damages. A lawyer may be able to prove your injuries were caused by your accident and you have on-going problems due to these injuries.

If you were injured by an impaired driver - or you were impaired yourself – you’ll want a lawyer to represent you. You may also want a lawyer if the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.

You may also want to hire a lawyer if you’re unhappy with your adjuster; you’re not getting accident benefits; or you can’t negotiate a fair settlement

If you were working when your accident happened, a lawyer can advise you on whether to file a claim with ICBC, WorkSafeBC or both. You may need legal advice on various aspects of a WorkSafeBC claim.

You may have trouble proving a claim for past or future income losses, or loss of job opportunities, without a lawyer’s help - especially if you’re self-employed, work on a contract or commission basis, own your own business, or earned high wages prior to your accident. You may be entitled to damages for lost income even if you were unemployed at the time of the accident, but you’ll probably need a lawyer’s help to get this.