Topic Personal Auto
Do you ‘occupy’ a car while hanging onto the window, trying to stop an auto theft?
October 19, 2022 by David GambrillIf you are hanging out the window of your car trying to stop a thief from stealing it, and you are injured while falling from the open window after being dragged for 40 feet, you are not an “occupant” of…
Fiona officially the costliest extreme weather event in Atlantic Canada
October 19, 2022 by Jason ContantHurricane Fiona is the costliest extreme weather event ever recorded in Atlantic Canada, at $660 million in insured damage, according to preliminary estimates from Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ). The long-lived and powerful storm on Sept. 24 is also…
Who has right-of-way in Starbucks’ drive-through free-for-all?
October 18, 2022 by David GambrillA B.C. driver claiming the public auto insurer improperly found him at fault for a collision in a Starbucks’ drive-through has lost his case that he wasn’t at fault because none of the line-up lanes had priority. The Civil Resolution…
Are electric vehicles cheaper to insure?
October 18, 2022 by Jason ContantInsuring an electric vehicle (EV) may be cheaper than a gasoline vehicle, but it depends on a multitude of factors that varies for each consumer and the vehicle they’re comparing, according to rate comparison site RatesDotCa. “Many EVs come with…
Aviva awarded security of costs in case launched by auto warranty seller
October 14, 2022 by David GambrillOntario’s Superior Court has awarded Aviva Canada security of costs of $85,000 in a case in which the insurer has been named in a $5-million lawsuit launched by a warranty provider that has gone out of business. Umbrella Warranty’s claim,…
Why benefits, retirement and wealth planning are now P&C profit centres
October 14, 2022 by Philip PoradoRecent merger deals announced by Canadian commercial P&C brokerages increasingly feature acquisitions of wealth management and employee benefits firms, and this is no accident, brokers tell Canadian Underwriter. This subset of M&A is about P&C brokerages becoming a type of…
Canadian P&C brokerage M&A explodes in late 2022
October 13, 2022 by Jason ContantP&C brokerage merger and acquisition activity in Canada remains strong and healthy, as evidenced by the number of deals announced in just the past couple of weeks. Those deals involve brokerages that include Westland Insurance Group, BrokerLink, Western Financial Group,…
BrokerLink reaches milestone with latest deals
October 12, 2022 by Jason ContantBrokerLink has made its 19th and 20th acquisitions of 2022 with the purchase of two Ontario brokerages. The Intact Financial Corporation subsidiary said L&M Dallaire Insurance Ltd. and Cryderman Insurance Brokers Ltd. joined BrokerLink effective Oct. 1. Both brokerages offer…
Definity acquires majority stake in an Ontario brokerage
October 7, 2022 by Jason ContantDefinity Financial Corporation has increased its ownership interest in Ontario-based brokerage McDougall Insurance from approximately 25% to 75%, “building a broker partnership with proven M&A expertise.” The partnership is for a cash consideration of $217 million (subject to post-closing adjustments),…
Many Canadians are driving more but are they telling their insurers?
October 6, 2022 by Canadian Underwriter StaffInsurers across Canada gave drivers a break on their premiums during pandemic lockdowns to reflect a sharp reduction in the number of kilometres they were driving each month. But, even as 20% of Canadians report they’re driving to work more…
How Hurricane Ian will strain insurers’ capacity
October 3, 2022 by Philip PoradoHurricane Ian’s Florida landfall last week and subsequent return to the Carolinas means it’s shaping up to be one of the costliest storms in U.S. history. But, while the storm that arrived on the heels of Hurricane Fiona caused massive…
What happened to the ‘quiet’ hurricane season?
September 30, 2022 by Jason ContantNot long ago, hurricane season began very quietly with no North Atlantic hurricanes in all of August. But now it appears 2022 could produce a record-breaking hurricane. Property data provider CoreLogic is predicting Hurricane Ian could be the costliest Florida…