Topic
Legal
Saskatchewan officials issue 356 tickets during two-day traffic safety blitz
May 27, 2013 by Canadian UnderwriterLaw enforcement officials in Saskatchewan issued a total of 356 tickets for traffic violations, including impaired driving, during a two-day safety blitz earlier this month. On May 8 and 9, officials participated in Operation Overdrive, targeting impaired driving, and a…
Cargo theft on the rise in Canada, U.S.: report
May 24, 2013 by Canadian UnderwriterCargo theft is on the rise in Canada, although the United States remains one of the countries most at risk for that crime, according to a recent report from FreightWatch International. The U.S. reached a new record for cargo theft…
Scottie’s tissue manufacturer appeals to Supreme Court in quest to pursue subrogated claim over warehouse fire
May 24, 2013 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorA Canadian manufacturer of paper towels and personal tissue this week completed its application to the Supreme Court of Canada for leave to appeal a ruling which disallowed a subrogated claim against the operator of a Vancouver area warehouse. Kruger…
Ontario brokers urge young drivers to stay sober this summer, as impaired driving incidents increase
May 23, 2013 by Canadian UnderwriterMore than 90,000 impaired driving incidents were reported by police in 2011 in Canada, up by roughly 3,000 over the year prior, the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario noted this week as part of an ongoing safety campaign aimed especially…
IME companies must focus on client service, diversify in face of regulatory changes
May 22, 2013 by Canadian UnderwriterOngoing regulatory reform, particularly related to Ontario auto insurance, along with general industry consolidation, means Canadian independent medical evaluation companies must diversify their offerings and continue working with stakeholders, a new whitepaper from Cira Medical Services argues. Reforms in 2010…
Ontario Provincial Police lay over 8,000 charges during Victoria Day long weekend
May 21, 2013 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have reported two fatalities over the Victoria Day long weekend, one involving a pedestrian and a distracted driver. A 79-year-old woman was killed after being struck by a driver who was reportedly using a handheld…
Risk management strategies must address “insider threats”: report
May 21, 2013 by Canadian UnderwriterWhile nearly two thirds of Canadian organizations included in a recent survey say they’re prepared to handle “insider threats,” only about one in seven have a specific internal definition of what those threats could be, according to a report from…
Transparency key for brokers to retain customer confidence, keep their brand positive
May 17, 2013 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorProspective insurance clients are becoming more sophisticated, carriers and brokers need to provide full disclosure to their clients and one misstep can ruin your brand, suggests Bob Dempsey, president and chief operating officer of the Guarantee Company of North America.…
Liability claims costs for dog bites on the rise
May 16, 2013 by Canadian UnderwriterClaims costs related to dog bites are on the rise, accounting for a third of homeowners insurance liability claim dollars paid out in 2012, costing more than $489 million, according to the Insurance Information Institute in the United States. The…
U.S. safety board recommends states lower blood alcohol limits
May 15, 2013 by Canadian UnderwriterAn independent federal agency in the United States has issued recommendations for the country to help eliminate impaired driving, including reducing state blood alcohol content levels. On Tuesday, all five members of the National Transportation Safety Board unanimously voted on…
Ontario Court of Appeal upholds environmental cleanup order against City of Kawartha Lakes
May 14, 2013 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Ontario Court of Appeal last week upheld an environmental cleanup order made by provincial officials against a city in 2009 resulting from a spill of furnace oil from a residence whose owners had reached the limits of their insurance…
Ontario appeal court upholds ruling on injured child’s coverage in parent’s uninsured vehicle
May 13, 2013 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorThe Ontario Court of Appeal last week ruled against Economical Insurance in finding that a woman injured 20 years ago as a child in an uninsured vehicle owned by and driven by her father is entitled to benefit from her…