Topic B.C.
U.S. wholesale broker expands into Canada with acquisition of SUM
August 11, 2020 by Jason ContantA United States-based national wholesale insurance broker has acquired Strategic Underwriting Managers, Inc. (SUM), a Canadian managing general agency for property, casualty and other specialty insurance products. Boston-headquartered wholesale broker, program manager, and insurance aggregator One80 Intermediaries announced the acquisition…
This insurer is allowing some COVID-19 support measures to expire
August 10, 2020 by Jason ContantThe Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) announced Friday that three of the temporary measures it introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic are set to expire in the coming weeks. The B.C. Utilities Commission had approved ICBC implementing the…
Wildfire risk is elevated this year. Why the pandemic made it worse
August 7, 2020 by Adam MalikThe central and Pacific coast of British Columbia could see an increased risk of wildfires this year, a new report predicts. And COVID-19 restrictions could make the risk higher, Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty warned in its 2020 Wildfire Report,…
How high cat losses could go this year
August 4, 2020 by Adam MalikAlberta has become the epicentre for cat losses this year as combined insured damage could reach, if not exceed, $2 billion in the province alone after multiple natural catastrophes have hit various regions over a four-month span. The calculations come…
Who’s getting funding for new research in wildfire prediction, responses
July 31, 2020 by THE CANADIAN PRESSKAMLOOPS, B.C. – A university located in the heart of one of British Columbia’s most volatile forest fire regions will lead new research in wildfire prediction, prevention and response. Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops was chosen for the research that…
How B.C. adjusters are preparing for major earthquake
July 29, 2020 by Greg MeckbachWhen the next huge earthquake hits British Columbia, some independent adjusting firms may temporarily re-locate offices inland, perhaps even as far east as Alberta. Kernaghan Adjusters is aiming to be “up and running fairly quickly if we get into an…
Claimant learns the difference between “hit-and-run” and collision damage
July 28, 2020 by David GambrillA driver in B.C. is out $1,777 for incorrectly telling the public auto insurer that damage to his parked vehicle was the result of a “hit-and-run,” as opposed to collision damage. Jiameng Wang took Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC)…
Why a tribunal changed the insurer’s finding of fault in this parking lot claim
July 24, 2020 by David GambrillB.C.’s small claims court recently overturned the public insurer’s assessment of liability in a case in which a driver pulling out of his parking lot space clipped the open door of a car that had just pulled into the space…
A groundwater flood occurs in the basement: Who pays for the carpet?
July 24, 2020 by Greg MeckbachA plumbing firm that failed to cap an old water pipe after helping renovate a basement is on the hook to reimburse the owner for a new carpet after the property suffered flooding. This is the result of a British…
Adjuster reacts to B.C. earthquake
July 24, 2020 by Greg MeckbachThe earthquake earlier this week off the coast of Vancouver Island does not seem to have caused any insured property losses, but the industry is nonetheless encouraging all British Columbians to be prepared in any case for a large disaster.…
What road tests and bookings may look like during the pandemic
July 23, 2020 by David GambrillB.C.’s public insurer is starting to re-book road tests that were interrupted by the pandemic, prioritizing drivers whose Class 5 and 7 road tests were cancelled between Mar. 17 and June 26, 2020. The insurer is reaching out to Class…
Separate quakes hit off B.C. and Alaska, but cause no damage, tsunami
July 22, 2020 by THE CANADIAN PRESSVANCOUVER – A moderate earthquake has occurred off northwest Vancouver Island but emergency officials in British Columbia say it has not produced a tsunami. Earthquakes Canada says the magnitude 5.4 quake struck at 4:33 a.m. and was centred 285 kilometres…