Topic Adjusters
Auto insurance: How to handle acid spill claims
May 26, 2022 by Jason ContantInsurers would be well-advised to have experts and claim-handling protocols on hand to identify unique claim situations such as the two sulphuric acid spills in Trail, B.C. several years ago, two forensic engineers say. On Apr. 10 and May 23,…
Emergency alerts when severe weather happens can be improved: Environment Minister
May 26, 2022 by Mia Rabson - THE CANADIAN PRESSOTTAWA – Emergency weather alerts that are broadcast over the mobile network should be improved to make sure they are getting to the right people at the right time, Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said Wednesday. Guilbeault is in Germany for…
How to speed up claims response for NatCats
May 25, 2022 by Yasser Korany, Mario Delorme and Mazen HabashExtreme weather events have become common, some bringing unprecedented levels of destruction to structures and facilities, overwhelming owners, property managers and insurers. In response, nearly all major insurers have created centralized Cat units dedicated to handling claims arising from extreme…
Was derecho storm damage caused by climate change?
May 25, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoThe Long Weekend derecho storm in Ontario and Quebec, which spawned a tornado in Uxbridge, Ont., and resulted in over 1,000 kilometers of damage, is “very difficult” to credit as a climate change event, even though the industry is seeing…
Brokers beware: High inflation may catch up to claims valuation software
May 20, 2022 by Philip PoradoValuation models in software systems used by insurers to calculate replacement and restoration costs for commercial structures must be checked more often when inflation’s running high. That’s because costs for labour, lumber, drywall, concrete and other construction materials can jump…
Crawford exec John Sharoun reflects on his 49-year-long insurance journey
May 18, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoAfter a 49-year-long tenure in the insurance industry, John Sharoun, executive general adjuster and senior consultant at Crawford and Company Canada, is retiring on June 30, 2022. Sharoun fell into the industry between finishing school and looking for a…
Rising lumber, materials costs lead claims professionals to tweak their approach
May 16, 2022 by Philip PoradoWith the inflation rate at a 30-year high, specialists handling home reconstruction claims are making adjustments that reflect surging prices for construction components – including lumber, finishing materials and appliances. What started as supply chain problems, some of which were…
What auto insurers need to deny coverage based on alleged suicide attempt
May 11, 2022 by David GambrillEditor’s Note: This article has been corrected so that all incorrect references to Unica have been replaced with correct references to Optium. Canadian Underwriter apologizes for the error. If an insurer wishes to deny auto coverage to an injured…
Unlicensed adjuster doesn’t fit the ‘expert’ exemption: Regulator
May 9, 2022 by David GambrillManitoba’s insurance regulator fined a former adjuster $500 and ordered him to pay partial investigation costs of $2,500 for acting as an adjustor without a licence and not, as the former adjuster claimed, as an ‘insurance expert’ helping claimants. Kenneth…
Don’t investigate fraud suspicions indefinitely, court tells insurer
May 6, 2022 by David GambrillIf an insurer suspects fraud in a house fire contents claim, it might be better to deny the claim within 60 days, alleging fraud, rather than to prolong the claims investigation indefinitely while asking for documentation from the insured that…
3 lessons about brokers’ obligations to insureds
May 6, 2022 by Harmon C. HaydenA broker has an obligation to help clients understand policy specifics and avoid coverage gaps, and it’s not necessarily going to save them if the client hasn’t reviewed the policy, the British Columbia Court of Appeal found recently in Alvaro…
Insurance investigators: Be on guard when sharing info with police
May 5, 2022 by David GambrillInsurance investigators need to be on their guard about sharing information with police, lest they breach their duty of good faith to their insureds, note lawyers for Borden Ladner Gervais, referencing a 2021 Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench decision. The…