Topic B.C.
The legal pitfalls of online and over-the-phone insurance applications
July 20, 2021 by Greg MeckbachA property insurer can be stuck paying out on a claim even though the client made a “material omission” on their insurance application, but the industry can mitigate this risk by being especially careful when taking applications over the phone…
How courts have lowered the bar for bad faith claims against insurers
July 15, 2021 by Greg MeckbachA court finding of bad faith can damage a carrier’s reputation and harm its broker relationships, an industry lawyer warned Tuesday. Of particular concern to carriers these days is the fact that the courts are lowering the bar for a…
Wildfire in Lytton, B.C. a ‘wake-up call’ to take precautions: safety board
July 15, 2021 by Camille Bains - THE CANADIAN PRESSA wildfire in Lytton, B.C., during historically high temperatures points to a serious need to prevent similar occurrences, says the chairwoman of the Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the possibility that a freight train could have been linked to…
Regulator orders risk reduction measures for B.C. railways following Lytton fire
July 13, 2021 by Jason ContantFollowing record heat and a wildfire that burned down about 90% of the village of Lytton, B.C., Canada’s transportation regulator has ordered fire monitoring, suppression, and risk reduction measures for railways to protect against wildfire “in the context of extreme…
Why delivery company is liable for damage to parked car
July 9, 2021 by Greg MeckbachIf a commercial auto client is accused of causing damage to a third-party vehicle, the client could be harming its legal position if it fails to produce a statement from its own driver. United Parcel Service Canada Ltd. is on…
B.C. premier says he will lobby PM to enlist military for wildfire prevention duty
July 9, 2021 by Dirk Meissner, The Canadian PressCOQUITLAM, B.C. — British Columbia Premier John Horgan says he will lobby Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to deploy Canada’s military to help clear fire danger zones to prevent future wildfires. Trudeau and Horgan met Thursday with local government and First…
Westland buys two digital brokerages
July 8, 2021 by David GambrillWestland Insurance has acquired two digital brokerages in a move intended to expand its tech offerings to brokers, renters, and homeowners. In the first of two deals announced Thursday, Agile Underwriting Solutions, owned by Westland, has acquired managing general agency…
Lightning sparks new fires as thunderstorms add to danger in B.C.’s Interior
July 6, 2021 by The Canadian PressLYTTON, B.C. — The BC Wildfire Service says 212 wildfires are burning in British Columbia as lightning storms swept over several areas of the province. The wildfire service website shows more than three dozen small fires have been sparked across…
Lytton fire raises questions about possible subrogation
July 5, 2021 by David GambrillAs the British Columbia Wildfire Service works with the RCMP to investigate the cause of a fire last week that burned down 90% of the village of Lytton, preliminary reports that the fire originated in the town — and not…
Evacuation alerts issued for areas near two out-of-control wildfires in B.C. Interior
June 30, 2021 by The Canadian PressThe B.C. Wildfire Service is dealing with two out-of-control blazes in the Interior that have prompted evacuation alerts. The McKay Creek fire was discovered Tuesday burning about 23 kilometres north of Lillooet, and has grown to approximately 50 square kilometres…
Who’s at fault in this duel for street parking?
June 25, 2021 by David GambrillIn a territorial battle for street parking involving sneakiness and deception, a B.C. driver lost his bid to recover his increased auto insurance premium following a minor collision — even though he managed to shift half of the fault over…
Global insurance law firm expands its Canadian presence
June 23, 2021 by David GambrillGlobal insurance law firm Clyde & Co will be entering the B.C. market through a merger with SHK Law Corporation in B.C., effective July 1. The terms of the merger were not disclosed. B.C.’s property and casualty insurance market is…