Some lawyers caution that a recent arbitrator’s ruling out of Ontario in favour of an auto insurer could create problems for plaintiffs and insurers alike since, in some accident benefits claims, treatment plans for neuropsychological assessments are broken down into multiple assessments because of a cap on fees.
Brokers should expect personal automobile insurance to be “much more difficult” for their carriers, while a new definition of catastrophic impairment in Ontario was the most important change the province made effective June, 2016, the president of Intact Insurance suggested…
The Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO) has embarked on a major overhaul of its spot check program with the twin goals of promoting better consumer protection and improved broker risk management, says Norma Hitchlock, RIBO’s outgoing president. While the…
Fairness is still lacking in Ontario’s auto insurance system and a balance needs to be struck between both lower premiums and the right level of benefits, Don Forgeron, president and chief executive officer of Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), said…
A British Columbia court recently ruled against the province’s government-run auto insurer when it found that a man who suffered a spinal injury while moving his all-terrain vehicle from his pickup truck is entitled to accident benefits. Section 96(b)(i) of…
Consumer awareness of auto insurance reforms in Ontario – many of which come into force June 1 – is far from complete, with just four in 10 survey respondents reporting they are aware of the changes. Based on feedback from…
If things unfold as intended, Ontario’s auto insurance reforms should help reduce transaction costs that have long been an issue for the entire system, James Cameron, president of Cameron & Associates, suggested during an industry event Tuesday. “The goal of…
Insurance adjusters will likely need to be re-educated and retrained on new medical terminology when the latest batch of Ontario auto insurance reforms – which include a revised definition catastrophic impairment – comes into force June 1, Laurie Walker, president…
The criteria to obtain a catastrophic impairment designation, in Ontario, will be narrower as of June 1, as the Glasgow Coma Scale will be replaced with the Glasgow Outcome Scale.
In its ruling in Basandra v. Sforza, the Court of Appeal for Ontario upheld decision of a trial judge who reduced a jury’s award, from $105,000 to nil, for past and future attendant care, medical/rehabilitation and housekeeping costs. The decision was made to ensure the plaintiff did not recover from the same losses both from no-fault accident benefits and from a tort award.
As of April 1, the Financial Services Commission of Ontario stopped accepting applications for mediation and arbitration of auto accident benefits insurance claims disputes. That responsibility now rests with the Licence Appeal Tribunal.