Keyword
Ontario
What Santa delivered to Ontario auto insurers
December 23, 2019 by Greg MeckbachSugar plums are likely dancing in the heads of at least some Ontario auto underwriters as a result of a series of developments over the past year. When the government released its budget this past April, it included a bunch…
The hidden cost of Ontario auto accident injuries
December 16, 2019 by Greg MeckbachMore than half a million Ontarians receive some form of government disability support and an advocate for claimants suggests many of these are caused by motor vehicle accident injuries. “At the end of the day, unpaid claimants don’t just go…
Why thousands of unsafe commercial vehicles remain on Ontario roads
December 6, 2019 by Greg MeckbachMore than half of Ontario’s commercial vehicle carriers have not been inspected by the province’s transportation ministry in the past two years, and the number of vehicles inspected each year has dropped big-time. These were among the findings in the…
Pilot project will see e-scooters on Ontario roadways
November 27, 2019 The Canadian PressTORONTO – Ontario is starting a five-year pilot project beginning Jan. 1 to allow e-scooters on roads. The two-wheeled, motorized vehicles are currently illegal to operate anywhere in the province other than on private property. The pilot will let municipalities…
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…
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…
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,…
How old Ontario auto cat claims affect Intact’s bottom line
July 31, 2019 by Greg MeckbachCanada’s largest P&C insurer has been taken by surprise by the number of old Ontario auto claims in which accident victims are trying to get benefits for catastrophic impairment. Ontario changed its catastrophic impairment definition for accidents occurring on or…
Top court cuts down “apples” approach to tort award reduction
July 11, 2019 by Greg MeckbachAdjusters and insurance defence lawyers who think the “apples-to-apples” approach to deducting future no-fault benefits from tort awards is rotten will likely find relief in a Supreme Court of Canada ruling released Thursday. Canada’s top court announced July 11 it…
Does anyone still believe that $200,000 is enough auto liability coverage?
July 8, 2019 by Greg MeckbachAlthough Ontario motorists can legally put their vehicles on the road with as little as $200,000 in liability coverage, brokers likely wouldn’t want one of those motorists for a client. “There is no way you can justify why you sold…
How budget cuts will affect flood risk mitigation
June 5, 2019 by Greg MeckbachFlood risk mitigation in Ontario could start to depend a lot more on the willingness of corporations and individuals to donate money to the conservation authorities. “The conservation authorities are going to have to make a better case for outreach…