West Vancouver storefront crash victim fighting for compensation

A woman who was injured when a car slammed through the front of a liquor store has not been able to work since the accident. She is frustrated by how her case has been handled. Joe Sadowski reports.

By Joe Sadowski and Charles Brockman

An employee at a West Vancouver BC Liquor Store has been unable to work since a driver crashed through the storefront and struck her while working last fall.

The West Vancouver Police Department (WVPD) previously shared officers were called to the scene at the Caulfeild Shopping Centre around 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 11, 2024, after an SUV smashed through from the parking lot outside.

At the time, police said one person was taken to hospital with “minor injuries.” But for Olena Zavozina, the incident was anything but “minor.”

“It was just big ‘boom.’ Like something exploded. And I just remember it was like one second — something, pushed me on my back. I flew over to the cash register and fell down on the floor. And the smell was not good, like a smell of gas or something. I was in shock. It was very scary,” said Zavozina.

She detailed what happened after the life-changing moment.

“[The] ambulance took me to hospital. I started to feel the pain. I saw the bruises on my leg, and it was painful, [for] my whole body. For my back, legs, shoulder blades and neck. My arms, because when I landed, I injured my arms too,” said Zavozina.

But that was only the beginning of her troubles.

Zavozina, who immigrated to Canada from Ukraine in 2022, has few supports to begin with in her new home. Then she was told she couldn’t claim compensation through ICBC, because she wasn’t on the road when she was struck by the driver.

Instead, her case was taken on by WorkSafeBC. Zavozina claims she has not since been properly compensated.

“But I did not injure myself at work. It was nothing related to my work duties, it was outside. And I think I need to be compensated for what happened,” she explained.

In a statement to CityNews, WorkSafeBC says it remains fully committed to supporting her — in accordance with the law and WorkSafeBC’s policies.

“Further treatment and planning will be made after her return-to-work assessment,” WorkSafeBC said.


Remnants of a vehicle crash through a BC Liquor Store location window
(Submitted to CityNews)
Remnants of a vehicle crash through a BC Liquor Store location window
(Submitted to CityNews)

Following the incident, Zavozina received short-term wage-loss benefits for 10 weeks at 90 per cent of her normal pay, plus coverage for her medical appointments. After the 10 weeks, still unable to work, she was told by her case manager that she was being shifted to an even lower rate.

“It’s not enough for living. It covers my rent, which is expensive, and I just have a little bit amount for my survival. And I asked [my case manager], ‘How can I survive?’ But she said, ‘If you need more money, just go back to work.'”

By the recommendation of her doctor, Zavozina will remain off work until the end of February, when her physical injuries will be reassessed. But there may be no recovery from her financial injuries.

“I’m nothing here. No one takes care of me. I’m alone with my troubles,” Zavozina said.

The driver of the vehicle that crashed into the liquor store did not face charges, and police said it was an unfortunate case of driver error.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today