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News ClaimsClaims CanadaRestorationRisk

Why your clients’ basements will probably leak eventually

July 7, 2021 by Greg Meckbach

Homeowner clients are battling the elements just by living below the ground floor, and so they will need to act quickly if they notice water pooling in their basement, a building supply vendor suggests. “Creating a comfortable living space in

News ClaimsClaims CanadaEngineeringInsuranceRestorationRisk

5 reasons why fire sprinklers fail, and what your clients can do about it

July 6, 2021 by Greg Meckbach

Building renovations are among five common reasons for fire sprinkler failure, according to Diana Rodriguez-Zaba, a partner for ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba, in a recent article on TheBigRedGuide.com. Typical renovation incidents that can cause failure include collisions with construction equipment,

News ClaimsClaims CanadaLegislation / RegulationRiskTechnology

These highway features may encourage distracted driving

June 25, 2021 by Greg Meckbach

Medians and wide shoulders on highways could encourage distracted driving by giving drivers a false sense of security, transportation researchers suggest in a recent paper. “The combination and presence of a shoulder, median, higher speed limit, and extra lanes could

News CatastrophesClaimsInsuranceRisk

UFO sightings: Are your clients covered for an alien invasion?

June 24, 2021 by David Gambrill

Recent talk about UFOs during the pandemic has caused the most conspiratorial among us to wonder if Canada’s property and casualty insurance industry is prepared for the most secretive of risks: An alien invasion of Earth. Film footage has emerged

News BrokersInsuranceRisk

Two things you need to explain to your clients

June 16, 2021 by David Gambrill

Risk and insurance professionals need to address two common client misunderstandings about how the property and casualty insurance industry works, a risk professional suggested to Canadian Underwriter Tuesday. First, clients may not fully understand the interconnectedness of the P&C industry,

News AdjustersBrokersInsuranceRisk

Forget data: The case for going with your gut instinct

June 8, 2021 by David Gambrill

Data analysis may be held up as the gold standard for making sound business decisions. But a recent study suggests gut instinct — when backed up by simple decision aids — may actually be better in situations of high uncertainty.

News Climate ChangeInsuranceRisk

How P&C insurers are using their muscle to reduce carbon

June 2, 2021 by David Gambrill

Global P&C insurers are not only setting ambitious carbon reduction targets for themselves, but they are also using their investment clout to restrict cover for high polluters in the oil and gas sectors, a commentary released by DBRS Morningstar Wednesday

News ClaimsClaims CanadaConstructionRisk

A drastic (but effective) way to keep water out of the basement  

June 2, 2021 by Greg Meckbach

A foundation membrane could cost a homeowner client $15,000, and it is probably not something your clients should try installing themselves, but it is “often the most effective method” of waterproofing a basement, a Bobvila.com author suggests. A foundation membrane

News BrokersClaimsCommercial LinesInsuranceMarkets / CoveragesRisk

Are your condo clients covered for ‘special assessment’ costs?

June 2, 2021 by David Gambrill

In an age when a condo corporation’s insurance may not provide enough coverage for an insured loss, brokers can help their clients by advising condo unit owners about the merits of special assessment insurance, one lawyer suggests. “It is important

News InsuranceLegalRisk

Should insurers (and others) be banned from making cyber ransom payments?

May 30, 2021 by David Gambrill

Editor’s Note: A previous verison of this article incorrectly stated that a cyberattack against AXA had happened after AXA’s announcement that it was suspecnding insurance coverage in France for ransomeware extortion payments. In fact, as per a Financial Times report

News ClaimsClaims CanadaEngineeringMGAsRisk

Pollution coverage gaps your clients may not know about

May 21, 2021 by Greg Meckbach

The cost of cleaning up after spills of petroleum, oil, or other contaminants may not be covered under your client’s liability or property policy, a managing general agent warns. Many clients are exposed to pollution risk but are not necessarily

News ClaimsInsuranceLegalLegislation / RegulationRisk

How these auto reforms could reduce liability exposure for hospitality clients

May 10, 2021 by David Gambrill

B.C.’s move towards a form of no-fault auto insurance could wind up reducing liability exposure for commercial insureds in the hospitality and other high-risk sectors, according to a recent blog by Borden Ladner Gervais LLP. The province’s no-fault amendments came