We had a busy year in 2012, and we’re looking forward to keeping the momentum going this year. Here are just some of the highlights from 2012:

• We were nominated and short-listed for the Business of the Year Award by the Tri Cities Chamber of Commerce.
• We completed a significant organizational restructure to help us more effectively serve our clients.
• We made good progress in our green initiative in pursuit of a paperless office (quite a challenge in our industry!)
• We hosted breakfast with the Attorney General and Doug Horne MLA for Coquitlam-Burke Mountain, and participated in a justice roundtable at the City of Coquitlam.

Last year wasn’t without it’s challenges. Frankly, we were unable to get access to court in the way that we would like to have, but we’re hoping to contribute to shaping some of those issues through the legal reform efforts underway in BC. Thomas Spraggs was appointed as a director to the BC Law Institute, which looks to reform and modernize the law in British Columbia. He was also appointed to the board of Douglas College. You can read some of Thomas’ predictions for the legal industry in 2013 at the Thoughtful Law Blog.

The best part of the year was being in a position to help many, many injured people in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody and beyond get access to the legal help that they need. We’d like to thank all the clients who have chosen the team at Spraggs & Co. to represent them. And we look forward to serving so many more of you in the year ahead.

Happy new year!

At Spraggs & Co. we have had the privilege of serving injured people, and their families, in the Tri-Cities area for almost 40 years. We are thoroughly committed to the area and to representing and advocating for the needs of the people who live, work and play here. It’s great to be recognized for that contribution.

The Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce recently announced nominees for the 2012 Business Excellence Awards. We are delighted that Spraggs & Co. has been nominated for Business of the Year (10-50 Employees) and that Thomas Spraggs has been nominated for the Business Leader of the Year award. Thank you to everyone who has supported us along this journey. We’re looking forward to what the future holds as the Tri-Cities continues to grow and develop.

When Kevin Falcon requested a review of ICBC’s spending, British Columbians glimpsed what goes on behind the closed doors of one of the province’s crown corporations. And it was very enlightening–especially regarding compensation for ICBC executives and managers. We often hear from ICBC about how injured people, or their lawyers, are driving up insurance premiums, but in light of the extraordinary compensation packages being enjoyed by those in the top jobs one can’t help but wonder if ICBC isn’t contributing to rate hikes themselves.

Some ICBC executives have less-than-encouraging attitudes to stewarding public funds, but we can say with some confidence that the people of BC would get a better deal from their involvement in the insurance industry if ICBC made better offers to injured victims. Many people I run into in Coquitlam and the TriCities have been talking about how ‘bloated’ the insurer is — and there’s certainly a difference between a well-run organization and one that has not been made lean by oversight or competition. But it’s the culture of the organization that might be most troubling.

ICBC is about half a billion dollars into a multi-year transformation project. But a better technology platform will only help it more efficiently administer its unfair treatment of injured people. What’s also needed is deep cultural change. The transformation project might be an exercise in ‘doing the thing right’ — but without cultural and philosophical changes required, ICBC will never do the right thing right.

The ICBC Review shows that the insurer has its work cut out for it. There are a whole host of recommendations for it to implement. But I can think of another that will help taxpayers of BC get a better deal as shareholders in the insurance industry: make fair offers to injured victims. Fair offers, like those outcomes we’ve seen demonstrated in common law, would help people get faster, most cost-effective access to the justice they deserve and help to avoid unnecessary delays and court. And that’s better for everyone.

In the meantime, contact Spraggs & Co. to get a fair go.

We don’t often have the chance to get out of the office as we run a busy practice representing people who have been injured in car accidents. But when the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce Spring into Summer Golf Classic rolled by, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to spend time with friends in the local business community.

And while we’re used to winning in the court room—we weren’t prepared for what followed.

Lady luck was smiling at us when David Bernard from Back in Motion Physiotherapy and Dale Kapeluck joined me and my brother Robert, who also works at Spraggs & Co., for our 18-holes at Westwood Plateau. It turns out David and Dale can really play. Needless to say, we won the golf event!

It was a successful day all round: the event was very well-run, and it was excellent to see so many local businesses represented. Our firm has been providing legal services in Port Moody, Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam for more than 35 years, and it was great to see the buzz and enthusiasm amongst business owners in this area.

We’re proud to be part of this community—and to continue to serve people who have been injured in motor vehicle accidents. Contact us if you or someone close to you needs our assistance.

Thomas Spraggs

Christmas is just around the corner and the employees of Spraggs & Co. are gearing up to help Santa out this holiday season. This year Spraggs & Co. is donating to the Be a Santa to a Senior program and the SHARE Toy Bank at Coquitlam Town Centre

The Be a Santa to a Senior program identifies isolated seniors who might not otherwise receive gifts this holiday season. These seniors are asked to write a wish-list of the things they would like for Christmas. The wish-lists get displayed at local businesses for anyone to choose and purchase the items on the list.

Martin & Dorothy have been good this year!

The gifts are stored and wrapped by Be a Santa to a Senior volunteers and are delivered in-person to the senior’s place of residence or care facility. This year Spraggs & Co. is sponsoring the wish-lists of three seniors in our local community.

The SHARE Toy Bank provides Christmas gifts for Tri-Cities kids in need. Last year, more than 2200 local children received a gift from the toy bank! This year the employees from Spraggs & Co. will be donating toys to the SHARE Toy Bank at Coquitlam Centre to provide a Merry Christmas for the kids in our community.

The start of the gift pile at Spraggs & Co

We challenge all other law firms, local businesses, and individuals to get into the spirit of giving this Christmas! If you would like to donate to the Be a Santa to a Senior program or the SHARE Toy Bank, you still have time! For more information please visit www.beasantatoasenior.com or http://coquitlamcentre.com/events/share-toy-bank-gift-wrap.

Happy Holidays!
Thomas Spraggs

Many people who have been in a car accident are unsure if they should call a personal injury lawyer. Why not call us on 604.464.3333 for a free, no-obligation consultation and find out if we can assist with your unique situation?

Generally, the more serious your injuries are and the greater their impact on your life, the greater the need for you to seek legal advice from an experienced Coquitlam personal injury lawyer.

For more than 35 years, Spraggs & Co. has helped injured people to get access to the justice they deserve. Our team of lawyers, claims specialists, legal assistants and investigators work with our clients to navigate the legal issues they confront.

It can be daunting to deal with an insurance company like ICBC on your own. Our team of lawyers can provide you with helpful advice and purse appropriate compensation for your injuries—whether that’s through settlement or through the courts.

At Spraggs & Co. we are proud of the role we play in the community, and that’s reflected in our client-focused approach to legal services. We were named one of the best law firms in the TriCities by the Coquitlam Now Reader’s Choice Awards.

If you’ve been injured in an accident you may be entitled to compensation that is designed to put you back into the position you would have otherwise enjoyed if the accident hadn’t happened. Tom Spraggs and his team of skilled lawyers will serve your best interests to make sure that you receive fair compensation for your claim. Contact us before you speak with an ICBC adjuster.

Spraggs & Co is a Coquitlam personal injury law firm that restricts its practice to helping injured people get access to the legal help they need. We will never work for an insurance company like ICBC. If you or someone close to you has been injured contact us at 604.464.3333 for a no-obligation consultation.

Thomas Spraggs

A natural question that many of our clients ask is: “What is my claim worth?” There are several factors that determine the compensation to which an injured person is entitled. A skilled personal injury lawyer can help you understand the process, provide advice on the specifics of your claim and fight for the justice that you deserve.

If you have been injured in a car accident or suffered some other kind of injury you may be entitled to compensation. A number of factors affect the potential value of your claim and in the eyes of the law your claim is unique.

There is no replica of your experience and of the specific factors that contributed to your injury. It’s impossible to put an exact price on a claim without first seeing how long it takes for someone to recover from their injury.

As a client of Spraggs & Co. we perform a comprehensive legal analysis of the factors at play in your claim. We refer to relevant case law and precedents to develop a ball-park range of the potential value of your claim. We can hone this estimate with a medical prognosis.

Depending on the nature and severity of your claim, most doctors are reluctant to provide a prognosis for at least 12 to 18 months. Most injures have not settled before that time frame: sometimes injury symptoms will subside only to flare-up or return when you think they may have been resolved. At other times you may be left in a weakened condition that leaves you more susceptible to future injury.

At Spraggs & Co. we restrict our practice to helping injured people get access to justice. Since 1971 we have helped thousands of injured people get fair compensation for their injuries. Our team of skilled lawyers can help you navigate the claims process to get justice.

Contact us at 604.464.3333 for a free no-obligation consultation to discuss your unique circumstances. The exact value of your claim is as unique as your circumstances and your road to recovery. Talk to us before you speak to ICBC.

Thomas Spraggs