What Actually Happens at an Examination for Discovery in a BC Lawsuit

Posted on by Graham Taylor Posted in Personal InjuryTagged ,

If you have started a lawsuit in BC for a personal injury, a denied long-term disability or other denied insurance claim, an employment law matter, or any other civil dispute, you will almost certainly have to attend an examination for discovery. Most clients have never been examined under oath before. The process is uncomfortable, exhausting, and consequential and it can be helpful to have a better understanding of the process before you have to participate in one.

What an Examination for Discovery Is

An examination for discovery is a formal pre-trial proceeding where one party’s lawyer questions another party (or a representative of a corporate party) under oath. In BC Supreme Court, discoveries are governed by Rule 7-2 of the British Columbia Supreme Court Civil Rules.

The purpose of discovery is threefold. First, to find out what evidence the other side has and what their witnesses will … Continue reading

Fire, Flood, and Water Damage Injuries in BC: When Property Damage Becomes a Personal Injury Claim

Posted on by Ben Tarnow Posted in Personal Injury ClaimsTagged ,

A fire, flood, burst pipe, water leak, or other property damage event can turn someone’s life upside down almost immediately. In the first few days, most people are focused on practical issues such as where they will live, whether the building is safe, what repairs are needed, whether insurance will respond, and how quickly they can get back to normal.

But property damage can also cause injuries.

A person may be hurt escaping a fire, exposed to smoke, injured because of unsafe flooring after a leak, affected by mold after water damage, or hurt during emergency repairs or cleanup. In those situations, the legal issue may not be limited to the damaged property. There may also be a personal injury claim.

Property Damage and Personal Injury Are Different Legal Issues

A property damage claim and a personal injury claim are related, but they are not the same thing.

A property … Continue reading

Psychological Injury Claims in British Columbia: What You Need to Prove and Why Claims Get Denied

Posted on by Brian Jacobson Posted in Personal Injury, Psychological InjuryTagged , ,

Psychological injuries can be just as serious as physical injuries after an accident. In British Columbia, a person injured in a dog attack, slip and fall, assault, or other traumatic incident may be left dealing with PTSD, anxiety, depression, panic symptoms, sleep disruption, cognitive difficulties, and major changes in mood, relationships, and work capacity. These claims are real, but they are often denied or minimized because the injuries are less visible than fractures, scans, or surgical findings.

That does not mean British Columbia law treats psychological harm as less important. The Supreme Court of Canada has confirmed that mental injury is compensable in negligence cases. A plaintiff does not have to prove a formally diagnosed “recognized psychiatric illness” as a strict legal precondition to recovery. What the law requires is proof of a serious and prolonged mental disturbance that rises above the ordinary anxieties, annoyances, and emotional upset … Continue reading

Vancouver World Cup Visitor Injury Claims: Injured While Visiting Vancouver for the FIFA World Cup 2026? Know Your Rights

Posted on by David Goldberg Posted in Food Poisoning, Accidents on City/Municipal Property, Personal Injury, Slip and Fall Accidents, Negligent Allergies/Anaphylactic Shock

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will bring thousands of visitors to Vancouver, with seven matches at BC Place between June 13 and July 7, 2026, and the FIFA Fan Festival at Hastings Park/PNE from June 11 to July 19, 2026. With large crowds expected at stadiums, fan zones, transit stations, hotels, restaurants, bars, sidewalks, and public spaces, preventable injuries can happen when reasonable safety steps are missed.

If you are injured while visiting Vancouver for the World Cup, you may have a claim under British Columbia law. Whether the injury happened at a venue, hotel, restaurant, bar, public sidewalk, transit station, or temporary event space, acting quickly can protect both your health and your legal options.

What kinds of injuries happen at large events like the World Cup?

Major events create crowded, fast-moving environments where hazards can develop quickly. Not every injury leads to a claim, but where … Continue reading

Denied Long-Term Disability in Vancouver? Common Reasons and What to Do Next

Posted on by David Goldberg Posted in Insurance DenialTagged , ,

A long-term disability (LTD) denial can feel overwhelming. For many people in Vancouver and across British Columbia, LTD benefits are supposed to provide financial stability when illness or injury makes work impossible. When an insurer cuts off payments or refuses a claim, the impact can be immediate: lost income, stress about bills, pressure from an employer, and uncertainty about what happens next. The legal situation is also serious because disability insurance disputes are contract claims, and deadlines can matter. In British Columbia, the basic limitation period is generally two years from the date a claim is discovered, subject to the facts of the case and the applicable policy wording.

One of the first things to understand is that an LTD denial is not the same thing as a court finding that you are not disabled. It is the insurer’s position based on the information it says it has at the … Continue reading