Dylan Kozlick is a trial lawyer with a civil litigation practice focused on personal injury and ICBC claims, disability insurance claims, and estate litigation.
Dylan never acts for insurance companies and instead represents clients who have been injured in motor vehicle collisions, pedestrian accidents, motorcycle accidents, boating accidents, aircraft crashes and hazardous conditions on private or public property. He regularly handles major loss and catastrophic injury cases, including those involving orthopaedic, spinal, neurological, musculoskeletal and whiplash injuries. He also has significant experience in cases involving complex chronic pain and psychological trauma including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety.
Dylan also frequently represents clients who have sustained traumatic brain injuries. Because of his experience in that area, he served on the board of directors of the Nanaimo Brain Injury Society for a number of years, including terms as both President and Vice President. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Comox Valley Healthcare Foundation which raises funds to enhance quality healthcare in our community.
Dylan’s educational background began in the sciences, particularly the study of the human body and injury science. During his undergraduate training at the University of Victoria, he worked as a laboratory instructor in the Human Anatomy course. He then attended an intensive 4-year program at Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in Toronto, a world leader in evidence-based chiropractic education and research, where he graduated with academic and clinical honours. After completing his Doctor of Chiropractic degree and then running a successful chiropractic clinic on Vancouver Island for several years, Dylan suffered an injury which prevented him from continuing his chiropractic practice. During his years as a chiropractor, he treated hundreds of patients for a variety of injuries including whiplash, neck and back pain, shoulder injuries and headaches.
Drawing on his education and experience in evidence-based injury science, his community service experience, and his personal experience with an injury that changed the course of his own life, Dylan has a unique understanding of the challenges faced by injured clients.
After leaving his chiropractic practice due to injury, Dylan attended law school at the University of Victoria where he received a number of academic awards including the Chris Considine Prize in Evidence, the Fasken Martineau DuMoulin Prize in Employment Law, the McCarthy Tetrault LLP Prize in Property, the Alexander Holburn Beaudin & Lang Scholarship and the Arvay Finlay Shield. Since law school, he has practiced exclusively at RLR Lawyers.
In addition to his personal injury work, Dylan assists clients with disputes over wills and other estate matters, including claims on behalf of those who have been unfairly left out of a will by their parent or spouse.
He believes that the best results are achieved through a personalized approach, grounded in a solid understanding of each client’s unique situation. Whether in settlement negotiations, mediations, or in the courtroom at trial, Dylan is a tenacious advocate for the rights of his clients.
Dylan is grateful to have grown up in the beautiful Comox Valley. After the firm opened its Courtenay office location, Dylan returned to his roots and moved back to the Valley. Outside of the office, he enjoys snowboarding, swimming in the local rivers, scuba diving, and boating. He and his wife Laura are the proud parents of two wonderful children.
Cases of Note
Personal Injury / ICBC Claims
- Mills v. Graham, 2019 BCSC 641
Our client was a massage therapist who was injured in a motor vehicle collision which left her limited in her ability to earn income. The defence, however, alleged that there was no loss of her future earning capacity. Despite those arguments, the court awarded damages for our client’s past and future income losses, past and future treatment costs, and non-pecuniary (pain and suffering) damages. - Owen v. Folster, 2018 BCSC 143
Dylan Kozlick joined David Brooks as co-counsel representing a client who sustained a life-changing traumatic brain injury when he fell off his bicycle while trying to avoid a car that pulled out from a stop sign in front of him. ICBC, on behalf of the defendant, denied fault for the accident, alleging that the car did not leave the stop sign and that our client simply fell off his bicycle on his own. The Court held that the defendant driver was 100% responsible for our client’s injuries and awarded $1.181 million in compensation. - Glavica v.Lott, 2014 BCSC 2238
Our client was injured when the defendant driver left a stop sign and drove into her vehicle. ICBC denied fault for the accident on behalf of the defendant, claiming that our client changed lanes into the defendant and was therefore the one to blame for the collision. At trial, the Court found that the defendant was 100% at fault for the collision, resulting in full compensation to our client for her injuries.
Employment Law / Contract Litigation
- McKoryk v. Muir and Muir, 2015 BCPC 82
Our client worked as a subcontractor for the defendants, providing consulting services on various capital projects in remote coastal First Nations communities. After the working relationship broke down, the defendants refused to pay our client for her work on several projects, citing various allegations. The Court ordered the defendants to pay our client for all of the projects as claimed. The defendants ultimately paid the full amount claimed, as well as an additional financial penalty for refusing an offer that our client had made before trial.
Disclaimer: The outcome of every legal proceeding varies according to the facts in individual cases. References to successful case results where the lawyers at RLR have acted for clients are not a guarantee or indicative of future results.
Testimonials
5- Stars – Google Review
You won’t find a better person for the job! Dylan and I worked together for 4 years and he gave it all he had. He has extensive experience with, and clinical knowledge of soft tissue injuries because he was a successful chiropractor before becoming a lawyer. This gives Dylan an unusual edge and deep insight into how devastating such injuries can be to employment, lifestyle, peace of mind and future plans. He has a finely tuned mind that is quick to grasp particulars as well as nuance. Heading into trial it was clear that Dylan had resourcefully built a very sturdy case. It all came together in the courtroom as he articulately presented, supported and defended our position with calm, professional confidence. He made short work of opposing arguments and astutely secured case law precedents to create a dynamic, consolidated close. He is diligent, exceptionally thorough, very focused and works energetically toward one goal – doing his best for you! – Suzannah Mills
Professional Affiliations
- Non-practicing Member, College of Chiropractors of British Columbia
- Member, Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia
- Member, Canadian Bar Association
- Member, Law Society of British Columbia
Education
- Juris Doctor, University of Victoria, 2011
- Doctor of Chiropractic, Magna Cum Laude and with Clinic Honours, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, 2006
Year of Call + Jurisdiction
- 2012, British Columbia
Publications + Presentations
Peer-reviewed Publications
- “Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Legal Standard of Care: Warnings, Predictions, and Interdisciplinary Encounters” (2011) 19 Health Law Journal
- “Pharmaceutical Class Actions and Effective Behaviour Modification: Avoiding Ford Pintos Through Punitive Damages” (2011) 7:2 The Canadian Class Action Review
Community
- Board of Directors, Comox Valley Healthcare Foundation, 2023 to present
- Director and past President, Nanaimo Brain Injury Society, 2014-2019