ICBC may use private investigators.

If your ICBC claim is viewed as a “large exposure” for ICBC or if the claim is getting close to going to trial, ICBC will often times hire an independent investigator to review your life history and background. This is, of course, a tremendous invasion of your privacy but ICBC has the right to proceed with this investigation.

Often, the investigators will do a neighbourhood canvass. This involves knocking on your neighbours’ doors hoping to find out some piece of helpful information about you (eg. that you are doing some home renovations, yard work or sporting activities).

ICBC often tries to talk to your employer or past employer(s) to find out information that may help them in attacking your credibility or limiting your wage loss claim.

ICBC also looks for lay witnesses that knew you before and after the accident to see if they are individuals who might be sympathetic to ICBC. The best witnesses for ICBC are the ones that say that there has been no change in your lifestyle or behaviour from before the accident, to after the accident.

Although there is no restriction on interviewing witnesses, no witness is required to speak to the ICBC investigator short of a Court Order compelling them to do so. A witness who is willing to answer the questions of the ICBC investigator may wish to have the questions presented in writing and answer in writing, so as to avoid any misinterpretation. This type of request also tends to discourage ICBC investigators, as they seldom wish to conduct interviews in writing.

From your perspective, you do not have to provide any authorization to allow ICBC to do their investigation. Therefore, if you are asked to provide an authorization to allow ICBC to interview a witness, the best thing to do is say “no”. The ICBC investigator is not trying to help you or discover the truth. He/she is looking to find evidence against your case.

In summary, ICBC has a right to investigate backgrounds and often does so in larger cases or cases heading towards trial. There is no obligation on the part of any witness to speak to the ICBC investigator but at the same time, you cannot restrict ICBC from doing this investigation. You do not, in any case, have to authorize the interviews.