Keyword
Auto
Intact loses court battle over voiding auto policy for misrepresentation
September 26, 2019 by Greg MeckbachIf an Ontario auto insurer discovers a client made a material misrepresentation or non-disclosure in its application, could the insurer treat the policy as invalid to begin with? Not now. Or at least, not if the fact situation is the…
‘Boilerplate’ reasons for denying auto claims don’t cut it: Court
September 25, 2019 by Greg MeckbachOntario’s Divisional Court ruled this week against Aviva Canada, which wants to challenge a Licence Appeal Tribunal ruling in favour of an auto accident benefits claimant. The case involves how Aviva denied the claim, which was to check a box…
Why 24-hour driving bans have lawyers arguing in this province
September 18, 2019 by Greg MeckbachDespite a “poorly-worded” section of the British Columbia Motor Vehicle Act, a 24-hour driving prohibition against a suspected impaired driver has been restored in a recent appeal court ruling. In July of 2017, Patrick George Franlin Evans was told by…
Why insurers say auto premiums could come down
September 18, 2019 by Greg MeckbachAuto premiums in Canada rose more than 10% last year as loss ratios continue to climb, but some carriers are thinking about what to do if auto revenues come back down, an industry watcher suggests. “Some companies have indicated to…
Judge in Calgary drunk driving case worried about attitude to impaired driving
September 16, 2019 THE CANADIAN PRESSCALGARY – A Calgary judge who has ordered a lengthy prison term for a woman convicted in a drunk-driving crash that killed a young man says Canadians are not getting the message about the dangers of driving impaired. Court of…
Ontario auto changes could be ‘slow to implement’
September 12, 2019 by Greg MeckbachOntario may have a new auto insurance regulator, but don’t expect conditions in that market to improve overnight, A.M. Best Company Inc. suggested in a report released Thursday. “Measures to improve market and competitive conditions will likely be slow to…
The place where insurers are seeking double-digit auto rate increases
September 10, 2019 by Greg MeckbachAuto insurers asking for double-digit increases from New Brunswick’s regulator could face some hard questions during hearings this fall. “Some of the companies have been asking for a big increase” and will not necessarily be approved for the increases they…
Now that Alberta’s cap is gone, what next?
September 4, 2019 by Greg MeckbachGiving Alberta’s auto insurance regulator discretion in allowing rate increases of over 5% is good news for the industry, but more needs to be done to address claims costs, the Insurance Bureau of Canada warns. In 2017, the province’s regulator…
Tesla Autopilot let driver rely too much on automation: Investigator
September 4, 2019 Tom Krisher - THE ASSOCIATED PRESSDETROIT – A government investigation has found that a design flaw in Tesla’s Autopilot semi-autonomous driving system and driver inattention combined to cause a Model S electric car to slam into a firetruck parked along a California freeway. The National…
Alberta axes 5% cap on auto rate hikes
September 3, 2019 by Greg MeckbachThe 5% ceiling on Alberta auto rate increases is history, but that does not mean the sky is the limit. “Allowing [the 5%] limitation to expire is necessary to ensure a sustainable industry that can best serve the needs of…
Watch out for these ‘nefarious’ ways of eating brokers’ lunch
August 28, 2019 by Greg MeckbachBrokers could be in for a nasty surprise if the concept of bundling auto insurance with vehicle lease or purchases catches on in Canada, a Symposium West speaker warned last week. An auto manufacturer is “not a traditional competitor” in…
Insurers spar after passenger grabs steering wheel, causing accident
August 22, 2019 by Greg MeckbachShould a motorist be liable if a front-seat passenger deliberately grabbed the wheel and took control, causing an accident? Insurers debate this, but judges say a client in this situation should not be liable. In McKay v. Park, released Monday,…