Topic
Adjusters
Rising lumber, materials costs lead claims professionals to tweak their approach
May 16, 2022 Philip PoradoWith the inflation rate at a 30-year high, specialists handling home reconstruction claims are making adjustments that reflect surging prices for construction components – including lumber, finishing materials and appliances. What started as supply chain problems, some of which were…
What auto insurers need to deny coverage based on alleged suicide attempt
May 11, 2022 by David GambrillEditor’s Note: This article has been corrected so that all incorrect references to Unica have been replaced with correct references to Optium. Canadian Underwriter apologizes for the error. If an insurer wishes to deny auto coverage to an injured…
Unlicensed adjuster doesn’t fit the ‘expert’ exemption: Regulator
May 9, 2022 by David GambrillManitoba’s insurance regulator fined a former adjuster $500 and ordered him to pay partial investigation costs of $2,500 for acting as an adjustor without a licence and not, as the former adjuster claimed, as an ‘insurance expert’ helping claimants. Kenneth…
Don’t investigate fraud suspicions indefinitely, court tells insurer
May 6, 2022 by David GambrillIf an insurer suspects fraud in a house fire contents claim, it might be better to deny the claim within 60 days, alleging fraud, rather than to prolong the claims investigation indefinitely while asking for documentation from the insured that…
3 lessons about brokers’ obligations to insureds
May 6, 2022 Harmon C. HaydenA broker has an obligation to help clients understand policy specifics and avoid coverage gaps, and it’s not necessarily going to save them if the client hasn’t reviewed the policy, the British Columbia Court of Appeal found recently in Alvaro…
Insurance investigators: Be on guard when sharing info with police
May 5, 2022 by David GambrillInsurance investigators need to be on their guard about sharing information with police, lest they breach their duty of good faith to their insureds, note lawyers for Borden Ladner Gervais, referencing a 2021 Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench decision. The…
Leaving hibernation: What’s next for P&C industry?
April 21, 2022 by David GambrillLook for Canada’s P&C industry to fine-tune the hybrid workplace model over the next six months, as the country starts to ease pandemic restrictions, industry execs say. The tinkering will involve achieving the best balance between meeting in person with…
Ukraine war insured losses could outstrip 9-11
April 20, 2022 Philip PoradoWhen adjusters are finally able to assess the damage stemming from the war in Ukraine, costs may exceed the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks as the largest industry-wide insured loss, across all classes of business, in history, said a specialty…
How Canada’s P&C industry feels about COVID safety in their offices
March 30, 2022 by David GambrillMore than seven out of 10 Canadian P&C industry professionals feel protected from COVID in their new hybrid office arrangements, according to an online poll conducted this week by Canadian Underwriter. Over 650 P&C professionals answered CU‘s survey, including brokers,…
From nukes to export tangles, war shows need for custom covers
March 23, 2022 Philip PoradoClients needing war, political violence or terrorism insurance may need to seek bespoke covers, noted a recent Ukraine technical update from claims manager Crawford. “The purpose of a political violence policy is to dovetail with the commercial property policy and…
Hybrid workplaces: 5 emerging trends
March 18, 2022 by David GambrillCOVID-19 has changed workers’ expectations, although it’s not clear yet whether company executives see this new emphasis on personal well-being and remote flexibility as “a temporary pendulum swing, or the beginning of our new normal,” writes Jared Spataro, corporate vice…
A new way for insurers to handle construction delays and cost overruns
March 17, 2022 Jonathan E. McNattySince 2016, the federal government’s slated nearly $100 billion to support development of transit extensions, shipping port improvements, affordable housing and more. When private-sector construction slowed in March 2020, federal infrastructure building quickly filled the gap. And, throughout 2021, both…