Topic Adjusters
Evacuation orders and alerts drop in B.C. as number of wildfires holds steady
August 25, 2021 by The Canadian PressVANCOUVER – Emergency Management BC says about 3,700 properties were on evacuation order on Wednesday, down from nearly 8,200 a week ago. A news release says nearly 11,300 properties were on evacuation alert – which means people must be ready…
3 things that can reduce risk of property cat loss recurrence: Aviva Canada CEO
August 24, 2021 by Greg MeckbachFire resistant cement board siding, hail-resilient asphalt shingles and backwater valves are among the measures property owners can implement now to protect their assets from climate-related disasters, Aviva Canada CEO Jason Storah suggested Tuesday. “We have enough scientific data to…
Supreme Court of Canada won’t reverse this municipal liability finding
August 17, 2021 by Greg MeckbachAn August 12 Supreme Court of Canada decision means a Toronto-area municipality remains not liable for an electric shock suffered by a teenager at a public sports field. Zoe Onley was 18 when she was placing soccer on a wet…
How this year’s B.C. wildfire season compares to previous years
August 10, 2021 by Jason ContantIt looks like this year’s wildfire season in British Columbia could be one for the record books. Between Apr. 1 and Aug. 9 of this year, the province saw 1,456 wildfires and nearly 650,000 hectares of area burned. This compares…
The claims impact of the B.C. wildfires
August 5, 2021 by Jason ContantWildfires raging across British Columbia have resulted in a lot of additional living expenses (ALE) claims, a property restoration firm told Canadian Underwriter Wednesday. “There’s just a lot of increases on the ALE [claims],” Shane Swinson, senior vice president, insurance…
Why this towing company is on the hook for $2,000 in damages
August 3, 2021 by Greg MeckbachIf your client dings another vehicle and informally offers $500 to the driver of the other vehicle, this does not limit your client’s liability to $500. This is one lesson from a British Columbia civil resolution tribunal ruling released last…
McLarens acquires MGB Claims Consultants
August 3, 2021 by Greg MeckbachCanadian adjusting firm MGB Claims Consultants Inc. has been acquired by McLarens, a Norcross, Ga.-based insurance service provider. The financial terms of the deal, announced Tuesday, were not disclosed. Shawn Malik, James Giffen and Shawn Burnett – who founded MGB…
Severe drought expected to cost Alberta $1 billion in insurance payouts
July 23, 2021 by Jason ContantCrop insurance payouts in Alberta will likely reach about $1 billion later this year due to hot, dry weather that is contributing to severe drought conditions, Alberta’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry said Thursday. “This year’s crop insurance claims will…
Supreme Court of Canada sides with city over release for ‘claims of any kind or nature whatsoever’
July 23, 2021 by Greg MeckbachAs the late singer Prince said, forever is a mighty long time. While his 1984 tune “Let’s Go Crazy” is not about tort claims, a Supreme Court of Canada decision released Friday should serve as a reminder of the significance…
Why your clients should do an inspection before buying a home
July 21, 2021 by Greg MeckbachA couple who discovered a leaking bathtub after moving into their new home cannot get compensation from the sellers. A “reasonable inspection” would have revealed a water problem before Tyler and Keva Luscombe bought their home in 2020, the British…
Get ready for hundreds of claims from Barrie twister
July 21, 2021 by Greg MeckbachThe industry will probably see well over 200 claims from the July 15 tornado that hit Barrie, Ont., says a wind damage expert who has looked at the affected area. “I expect the total number of damaged houses was about…
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…