PRINCIPLE: When you are injured in a car accident and damages flow from the incident (wage loss and pain/suffering), it is well established law that you have a positive obligation to mitigate (reduce) those damages by doing your best to get better, work hard towards recovery and most importantly follow the reasonable advice of doctors and specialists.
LAW: On January 9, 2014 The Honorable Mr. Justice Kelleher delivered reasons for judgement in a motor vehicle accident case: Maltese v. Pratap. The Court reduced the approximately $400,000 award by 30% to account for the Plaintiff's unwillingness to follow medical advice that he should attend an exercise program with a kinesiologist or personal trainer. This is a big lesson regarding your ICBC case and an easy way to reduce the $ value $ of your claim.
[51] The plaintiff is under a duty to mitigate, that is, to take reasonable
steps to minimize his loss. The defendant bears the onus of proving the
plaintiff could have avoided all or a portion of his loss.
[52]
When doctors recommend treatment and the advice is not followed, the
defendant must prove: first, that the plaintiff acted unreasonably in not
taking the treatment, and second, the extent to which the plaintiff’s damages
would have been reduced. See: Chiu v. Chiu, 2002 BCCA 618 at para. 57;
Janiak v. Ippolito, [1985] 1 S.C.R. 146 at 166-72.
[53]
In Gregory v. Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, 2011
BCCA 144 at para. 56, the Court of Appeal recently wrote:
"I would describe the mitigation test as a
subjective/objective test. That is, whether the reasonable patient, having all
the information at hand that the plaintiff possessed, ought reasonably to have
undergone the recommended treatment. The second aspect of the test is “the
extent, if any, to which the plaintiff’s damages would have been reduced”
by that treatment." [Emphasis in original.]
[54] On the facts of that case, the Court of Appeal found the trial judge
erred in holding there had been a failure to mitigate:
" … The physicians testified only that [cortisone]
was a reasonable treatment to try, and it might afford some relief. In my
view, such an opinion does not meet the threshold for reducing an award as
described in Chiu."
[55]
The facts of this case represent a textbook example of a failure to
mitigate. There is a consensus among the professionals who assessed and
treated the plaintiff that Mr. Maltese needed to undertake a program of
physical rehabilitation and fitness with a kinesiologist or personal trainer.
Their recommendations are remarkably similar. Mr. Maltese has chosen to
ignore them.
[56]
In Latuszek v. Bel-Air Taxi (1992) Limited, 2009 BCSC 798, the
plaintiff’s award for non-pecuniary damages was reduced by 40% for a failure to
mitigate. Madam Justice Stromberg-Stein (as she then was) found that the
plaintiff did not comply with the recommendations for an exercise regime:
"There is a duty at law to take reasonable steps to
minimize your loss, particularly where, as here, conservative treatments have
been recommended. … Dr. Jaworski recommended exercises in the pool and gym and
brisk walking. Mr. Latuszek says he swam once in a while, but he did not go to
the gym or do brisk walking. … Mr. Latuszek does very little regular exercise
of any kind, except once or twice a week. He did not try yoga, massage
therapy, relaxation therapy or the medications as recommended by his psychiatrist.
… [H]e understands that … exercise, may improve, if not cure, his symptoms.
The plaintiff has not prioritized his recovery."
[57]
The plaintiff in that case suffered from more serious physical and
psychological issues than Mr. Maltese’s diagnoses.
[58]
In Abdalle v. British Columbia (Public Safety and Solicitor General),
2012 BCSC 128, the plaintiff was recommended an exercise program, among other
things. At paras. 61-85, Madam Justice Ross found that the failure to become
more active was unreasonable and that it would likely have reduced the effect
of the plaintiff’s injuries. She reduced non-pecuniary damages by a factor of
25%.
[59]
I am satisfied that the first stage of the test in Gregory has
been met: I have no difficulty concluding that Mr. Maltese, having all the
information at hand that he possessed at the time, ought reasonably to have
undergone the recommended treatment of active rehabilitation through a
kinesiologist or personal trainer.
[60]
Among other reasons, Mr. Maltese submitted that because he felt worse
after attending physiotherapy, he made a decision to not pursue an active
rehabilitation program. I cannot accede to this argument. The medical evidence
taken as a whole also establishes that, on a balance of probabilities, there
would have been a significant improvement in the plaintiff’s condition or a reduction
in his damages.
[61]
On such a clear case, a reduction of 30% in the awards for non-pecuniary
damages, wage loss after his return to work and loss of future earning capacity
is appropriate.
LESSON: Attending "active rehabilitation" or an "active exercise program" is an important part of recovery following a car accident. Often, this is best delivered through an experienced professional such as kinesiologist or personal trainer.
A lawyer can help you get coverage through your part 7 accident benefits for an active rehab program with a kinesiologist to help you through your road to recovery. Also, we can help direct you to the best trainers in your area (Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Langley, New Westminster, and the Tri-City area).
Do you have questions about your ICBC injury claim? If so, click here
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Tung (Services provided for ICBC injury claims throughout all of BC)
