Court ruling a relief for crash victim at the centre of ICBC suit

KIMBERLEY (NEWS 1130) — It’s been two and a half years since Greg Crowder was cut out of his mangled car and airlifted to the hospital after a crash on the highway.

He and his wife Corinne say the 2017 crash changed both of their lives forever, and a decision in BC Supreme Court today offers a glimmer of hope in what has been a “nerve-wracking” and “never-ending” struggle for him to get the care and compensation he needs.

A BC Supreme Court ruling Thursday found limiting the number of medical experts who can testify in crash-related cases is unconstitutional.

“It’s a good thing,” Greg says. “Hopefully it helps not just me, but other people too.”

The ruling concludes a crucial phase of the case that was launched on Greg’s behalf, and makes it possible for more than three experts to testify.

RELATED: Limiting medical expert testimony in ICBC cases unconstitutional: B.C. Supreme Court

The Crowders say their lawyer is now able to show the court exactly how catastrophic the consequences of the crash have been.

Greg says he goes to physio three times a week. He has been diagnosed with PTSD. He suffers sudden spasms of pain that jolt him awake at night, as well as chronic pain which makes him unsteady on his feet. He now needs a hearing aid and has tinnitus–a constant ringing in his ears. Each of these things has required visits to different specialists and the Crowders say placing a limit on who can speak to the impact of his injuries would mean the court would not get the full picture.

“If they had limited it to three I don’t even know which three [Greg’s lawyer] would have picked,” says Corinne. “We just hope it holds and that they don’t appeal it.”

Attorney General David Eby says he hasn’t decided if this ruling will be challenged.

“Given that other jurisdictions, United Kingdom, Australia have either outright banned adverserial witnesses or limited them to just one, why BC couldn’t do three is difficult to understand.”

He still believes this will lead to faster settlements and heavily reduce ICBC court costs.

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