News
Manitoba uses $1 million seized from criminals for new RCMP safety initiatives
June 6, 2013 by Canadian UnderwriterManitoba’s provincial government is using about $1 million seized through criminal property forfeitures to fund new safety and victim support initiatives within the RCMP, including more computer messaging signs to alert drivers to hazards. The province will also fund five…
Ontario court to order insurer to defend personal injury lawsuit arising from doughnut shop fight
June 6, 2013 by Canadian UnderwriterAn Ontario Court plans to order Economical Insurance to defend a lawsuit against a policyholder for personal injuries allegedly resulting from a fight over a spot in line at a Tim Horton’s east of Toronto. The Economical policyholder was convicted…
Supreme Court to consider appeal from municipality sued under Saskatchewan no-fault auto insurance law
June 5, 2013 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Supreme Court of Canada has scheduled for next Monday an oral hearing on an application for leave to appeal a ruling that allows an auto accident victim from Saskatchewan with no-fault injury insurance to sue. One issue in the…
XL Group creates new reinsurance division for emerging markets
June 5, 2013 by Canadian UnderwriterXL Group plc (NYSE: XL) has created a new reinsurance division focused on emerging markets. The new Reinsurance Global Emerging Markets unit will be led by Philippe Rochaix, who was already in charge of the Latin America Reinsurance operations for…
Ontario Trial Lawyers Association elects new president
June 5, 2013 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Ontario Trial Lawyers Association has elected Toronto personal injury lawyer Charles Gluckstein as its new president for 2013-14. Gluckstein has served on the association’s board of directors since 2001 and has been on its executive committee for the past…
May marked by major storms in U.S., causing $4 billion in insured losses
June 5, 2013 by Canadian UnderwriterSevere windstorm events in the United States in May, including the tornado that devastated Moore, Okla., will likely have insurers paying out a minimum of $4 billion, according to Impact Forecasting’s latest monthly global catastrophe recap report. The EF-5 tornado…
Appeal court overrules jury verdict in personal injury lawsuit against Ontario bar for over-serving alcohol to driver
June 5, 2013 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Ontario Court of Appeal last week overruled part of the verdict of a lawsuit against a bar that served alcohol to a driver who crashed his car and the injured plaintiff. Kyle McLean was a passenger in a vehicle…
SGI launching telematics pilot program for motorcycle riders
June 4, 2013 by Canadian UnderwriterSaskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) is looking for a vendor to supply telematics technology for motorcycles for a planned pilot program. The insurer issued an Advance Contract Award Notice through SaskTenders on Tuesday looking for a vendor that can help shape…
Estimated 38,000 motor vehicle-related deaths occurred in U.S. last year
June 4, 2013 by Canadian UnderwriterA preliminary projection from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests that about 38,080 people were killed in motor vehicle collisions in the United States last year. That would be an increase of about 5.3% over 2011, which had 32,367…
Floods reach record high levels in parts of central Europe: AIR Worldwide
June 4, 2013 by Canadian UnderwriterSevere flooding in central Europe has caused thousands to evacuate their homes and disruptions to infrastructure, particularly in Germany, according to AIR Worldwide. Heavy rains over the past several weeks have caused that the catastrophe modeller says are the worst…
Insured losses from Texas hail storm to reach $400 million
June 4, 2013 by Canadian UnderwriterInsured losses from a May 28 hail storm in Texas are now estimated to reach $400 million, the Insurance Council of Texas said on Monday. An estimated 35,000 vehicles and thousands of homes were damaged in the storm, which struck…
Three-day commercial road safety blitz launches throughout North America
June 4, 2013 by Canadian UnderwriterA major commercial road safety blitz event began Tuesday, with 10,000 federal, state, provincial and local inspectors participating across North America. The 72-hour blitz, Roadcheck 2013, is spearheaded by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, and is taking place across 1,500…