Collisions

Information regarding collisions.

When a Stopped Vehicle Isn't Parked

BC Courts Coat of ArmsA vehicle stopped near an intersection may not be parked. It may be waiting for a pedestrian, another vehicle or some other reason. Lee v. Cheuck, a British Columbia Small Claims Court decision, illustrates why that distinction can matter.

Rear-End Collisions: When Both Drivers Are at Fault

BC Courts Coat of ArmsA rear-end collision usually puts the focus on the driver who struck the vehicle ahead, but that does not necessarily mean the following driver is entirely responsible. A 2009 decision of the British Columbia Supreme Court provides a good example of why both drivers' actions may have to be considered.

Scott v. Erickson: When Headlights Can Mislead Other Drivers

BC Courts Coat of ArmsWhat responsibility does a driver have when stopping a vehicle creates a hazard for other road users? A 2009 decision of the Supreme Court of British Columbia illustrates that complying with a specific traffic rule is not necessarily the end of the matter.

When Two Lanes Become One: Whose Responsibility Is It?

BC Courts Coat of ArmsPassing lanes are designed to help drivers move safely around slower traffic, but problems can arise when a pass is not completed before the lane ends. A BC court case provides an important lesson about cooperation, awareness, and avoiding a collision when two lanes become one.

Can Slowing Down and Moving Over Cause a Crash?

BC Courts Coat of ArmsA BC Supreme Court case considered a rear-end collision that occurred while drivers were complying with BC's Slow Down, Move Over law. The court concluded that complying with the law did not make the following driver negligent when another vehicle made an unsafe last-minute lane change.

Are Minor Crashes the New Acceptable Risk in BC?

Intersection Crash If you bend your fender in British Columbia today, don't expect the police to attend. In fact, police reporting requirements for minor crashes vanished long ago. Unless someone is injured or killed, officers rarely attend the scene.

Preventing Over-Height Commercial Vehicle Collisions in BC

low clearance ahead warning sign for drivers Failing to measure a load properly is an expensive crisis on B.C. highways. About once a month, an over-height vehicle or its load is involved in a collision with an overpass somewhere in British Columbia. According to the Ministry of Transportation and Transit, these preventable infrastructure crashes cause millions of dollars in structural damage, gridlock commuter traffic, and compromise public safety.