Image Credit: ADOBE STOCK

A Kamloops man says he is feeling deserted by ICBC after his medical treatment for injuries suffered in an accident were cut off this week despite dealing with chronic pain and reduced movement.

Charlie Meloche was rear-ended last June, leaving him with thoracic spine injuries. ICBC was supporting his treatment until April 13, but he's left without recourse now that those payments stopped due to the insurance agency's no-fault policies.

"It's at the point where people have to pray they don't get into an accident," he said. "There's a good chance they're not going to be covered, they're going to be punished."

He had to get his treatment coverage from ICBC extended twice and the first was just a few months after the collision. Since last summer, he's been regularly seeing a physiotherapist, kinesiologist, doctor and a massage therapist.

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Meloche's last appointment was April 13 and he can't challenge ICBC for more funding after the insurance agency introduced the new Enhanced Care program. The change reduced the court time and settlement payouts ICBC was dealing with, but makes it challenging to seek extra costs for Meloche's ongoing pain.

He was contacted by the No To No Fault campaign to share his story after he approached lawyers to discuss his options, which is why he spoke with iNFOnews.ca.

The campaign was founded by the non-profit Trial Lawyers Association of B.C., in an effort to challenge ICBC's sweeping changes to its compensation model.

Meloche said he doesn't have any expectations the province will change ICBC's policies again to allow litigation, but he would like to see more flexibility in its model.

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"Before there was accountability," he said.

He said the June 2022 collision happened as he was leaving a parking lot in Kamloops. He was shoulder-checking to leave Superstore on Columbia Street, when he was rear-ended by a taxi.

He has intermittent muscle cramps, limited movement and a sharp pain that sometimes moves from his back around to his ribs, depending on the day and his activity. It has improved, however, after ongoing treatment.

His hands would go numb after holding a broom for just two minutes just weeks after the collision, he said, but that no longer happens.

He started going back to some of his hobbies, like snowmobiling and mountain biking, but it's unlikely he can't do so at the same level of intensity he once did.

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"This long weekend, I had some plans but three of the four days, I was curled up on my couch in pain," he said.

He said his doctors believe he can recover most of his movement again with more treatment, but he has stop his weekly rounds and try to recover on his own now that his funding is cut.

The Enhanced Care model was implemented in May 2021. While it limited litigation for people in collisions, it did reduce insurance premiums for BC drivers.

It also guarantees anyone involved in a collision will get benefits, no matter who is responsible.

There are few cases where someone injured in a collision can go to court now in BC, but the ICBC website says an at-fault driver convicted of a criminal charge could find themselves liable through civil court later on.

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