A woman from BC says she was about to visit the family on Saturday night when she was hit by a driver at an intersection in Vancouver.
At the time, Gauthier was driving on 12th Avenue near Commercial Drive.
“Boom, I was hit in the back and hit my head on the steering wheel,” said Gauthier, who is six months pregnant with her first child. “It was pretty scary.”
Gauthier says she had blurred vision and felt dizzy and confused. She was taken to hospital and said she suffered a minor concussion. The baby was not injured.
The 34-year-old woman says her car is badly damaged and may not be able to drive. Worse, she says ICBC can hold her financially responsible for the damage.
“Depending on your insurance coverage, you may have zero percent coverage, even if it’s not your fault,” Gauthier said.
Gauthier told CTV News that she has always had coverage for hitting and running. However, she renewed her insurance last year without reviewing ICBC’s changes to its basic coverage police, which no longer cover impact and running damage unless the driver purchases additional collision coverage or impact and running coverage.
So now, in order to receive financial compensation, Gauthier says he will have to track down the driver he claims crashed into her from behind before fleeing the scene.
“It’s up to me to find this license plate so I hope I don’t lose thousands of dollars and my only car,” she said.
Gauthier watched a video of the driver leaving the scene and shared his story online, hoping to find the culprit. She has received hundreds of messages, including advice and guidance on how to resolve the case.
“It was a really beautiful moment for the community, even though it’s a really nasty situation,” she said.
She says she has been in contact with Vancouver police, but understands that minor beatings may not be their top priority.
“I really don’t believe the Vancouver police have the resources and the time to put this important thing to me,” she said.
But Gauthier will not leave his mission soon.
“I am determined to do my best. “I would hate it not to be allowed, just because I haven’t tried,” she said.
Gauthier says he hopes at least that her story serves as a warning story for British Colombians to double-check their insurance coverage. CTV News contacted the Vancouver Police Department for an update on the case, but has not yet responded.
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