B.C.’s Supreme Court has awarded $2.43 million to a man who suffered multiple injuries in an unsolved hit-and-run incident in Abbotsford.
Jeremy Ranseth claimed damages for injuries suffered in the Dec. 11, 2018 motor vehicle accident. The defendant, ICBC, admitted liability at trial.
He had already suffered serious injuries in a workplace incident before the accident.
“I have no difficulty in finding that Mr. Ranseth’s quality of life was starkly diminished right after the MVA compared to before,” Justice Maegen Giltrow said. “He immediately faced not being able to get out of bed without pain, unable even to let his dogs out without pain.”
Ranseth had enjoyed working with cars and machines, camping, driving his quad and truck on back roads, riding his motorcycle, working on and around his property, being with friends and loved ones, and walking his dogs, Giltrow’s Dec. 16 decision.
The decision noted he had always lived on rural or remote properties.
“Unfortunately, he is now, and has been for several years, severely limited in his ability to do many of the things he enjoys, including work,” Giltrow wrote. “These limitations have arisen first from injuries following a serious workplace accident in November 2016 and subsequently from the vehicle incident.”
The judge said the accident happened before Ranseth was to return to work after the work incident that left him in medical care and rehabilitation for months.
Ranseth was struck while he was driving his truck to meet a friend for coffee in Abbotsford.
A truck ran a stop sign, striking the back of Ranseth’s truck, and sending it spinning off the road. His truck struck an electrical pole so hard that the pole was partially displaced. His truck then landed in a ditch, partially submerged in water.
Firemen helped him out of the vehicle once BC Hydro had shut off the power.
Ranseth’s truck was considered a writeoff.
“The driver of the vehicle that struck Mr. Ranseth has never been identified, despite the efforts of both parties and the RCMP,” Giltrow said.
The judge said Ranseth continues to have medical problems and needs friends to assist him with tasks at home.
“Mr. Ranseth testified that, as of trial, a ‘good day’ for his back pain allows him to take the dogs into the field out back and go for a walk for half an hour,” Giltrow said. “A bad day means he can barely let the dogs out the door.”
While friends also help with housework, Ranseth testified he feels embarrassed by the state of his home.
“He does not invite people over anymore, as he does not want them to see the ‘shambles I live in,’” the judge said.
He suffers from hip, neck and back pain as well as migraines.
Ranseth has also been diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder and difficulties with cognitive function, particularly memory.
“I find that Mr. Ranseth’s dominant source of pain as of the date of trial is lower back and hip pain, both of which were caused solely by the (motor vehicle accident),” the judge said.
“I do not find that Mr. Ranseth’s psychological symptoms are themselves disabling,” she added.
