Lawyer Preetika Brar Returns To Surrey To Serve Her Community For All Their ICBC Needs

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Former ICBC Defence Lawyer, Preetka Brar, returned to Surrey to serve the Indo-Canadian community with their ICBC injury claims.

Why did you leave teaching to pursue law?

The only limits you have are the limits you believe.  Teaching came naturally to me and I was ready for the next challenge. As a Grade 7 teacher, I was enriching the young minds of future generations whereas a lawyer I am utilizing my legal knowledge to advocate for my clients. I believe that in today’s world one can have multiple careers in their lifetime.

Why personal injury law?

As the eldest of four children I had the responsibility to assist my disabled father with his insurance claim applications and his denial letters.  I was frustrated with the process and the imbalance of power. Dealing directly with ICBC is stressful for injured persons and it is important to level the playing field by hiring a lawyer.  At Brar Law we are on your side and deal with ICBC for you.

Why did you decide to go from representing the Plaintiff to representing the Defendant?

Knowledge is power.  I was practicing exclusively in the area of ICBC personal injury claims for injured victims in the lower mainland for several years when I had the opportunity to work at one the top insurance Defence firms in Canada. I took the leap of faith and embraced the journey of working on the Defence side to learn how ICBC managed litigated files.  This was a strategic career move.

Now that you have worked on both sides, the injured persons and ICBC, why did you choose to come back to helping the injured persons?

Since I have worked on both sides, I have a strong foundation to help my injured clients. My mission is to help my community and that gives me personal satisfaction. Brar Law is a personal injury firm where we specialize in ICBC injury claims and we act only for injured persons.

How do ensure you provide exceptional service to your clients?

At Brar Law, our mission is to provide exceptional service to our community and successfully obtain a higher settlement from ICBC in a timely manner for our injured clients. I meet with each client personally and update them periodically on the status of their claim. The process for many injured clients is daunting and my goal is to work as a team.

If you hire a lawyer to handle your ICBC claim does it takes years to settle?

Not necessarily.  Every claim is different and the length of time it takes to settle with ICBC is dependent on the circumstance of the file.  The claim is settled when all parties can come to a resolution and a very high percentage of claims settle out of court.

What are things people tend to not know about ICBC?

When you call ICBC, everything you are saying is being typed/recorded which can later be used to limit or deny your claim.  One should keep in mind,  ICBC wants to settle injury claims for a lesser amount and in a shorter time period while minimizing your injuries. That is not in your best interest. ICBC states their goal is to pay all claims fairly, the important question is what is fair?  By taking the proper steps, you can protect your legal rights and maximize the amount of your claim.

Helpful Tips:

  • Consult a personal injury lawyer before speaking to ICBC
  • If you are injured see your family doctor or walk in clinic as soon as possible and follow what the doctor is advising you to do, such as physiotherapy treatment
  • Do not sign ICBC documents such as statement, authorizations, or settlement release until you fully understand what you are signing.  If you are unsure consult a personal injury lawyer

Education

Bachelor of Laws, University of Alberta, 2006

Bachelor of Education (Intermediate), University of British Columbia, 1997

Bachelor of Arts (Sociology), University of British Columbia, 1994