Top 3 measures to mitigate home flood risk
September 7, 2018 by Greg MeckbachYour book of business could have lower water losses if you give homeowner clients just three pieces of advice. First, homeowners should figure out whether their home actually has a backwater valve, said Cheryl Evans, director of the home flood…
Cannabis legalization raises questions on host liability
September 5, 2018 by Greg MeckbachThe legalization of marijuana next month leaves some key questions for commercial clients who serve alcohol. “What if an individual comes in already smelling of marijuana and the bartender is unsure what their level of impairment is?” asked Mouna Hanna, …
How carriers envision the future of independent claims adjusters
September 4, 2018 by Greg MeckbachDespite increased costs of outsourcing claims adjustment, an extreme wind event this past May serves as a reminder that insurers will continue to need independent claims adjusters and brokers should be prepared to field calls from claimants. The future of…
The absurd effect of commerce law on claims adjusting
September 1, 2018 by Greg MeckbachIt is easier for Canadian insurance companies to bring in adjusters from the United States than to move Canadian adjusters from one province to another, due in part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), speakers said at the…
How these independent claims adjusters lost their jobs
August 30, 2018 by Greg MeckbachSome employees of Canadian independent adjusting firms have been shown the door due to bad behaviour that the #MeToo movement is bringing to the forefront, company CEOs said at the recent Canadian Claims Summit. In terms of harassment in the…
How cannabis legalization could re-word home insurance policies
August 29, 2018 by Greg MeckbachIf carriers do what one insurance defence lawyer advises, your clients could get new exclusionary language in their home insurance policies as a result of cannabis legalization. Insurers who are concerned about the risk of fire and burglary arising from…
The trade-off to using artificial intelligence to speed up claims
August 29, 2018 by Greg MeckbachCanadian insurers wanting to handle claims like Lemonade are going to have to accept some trade-offs, a Claims Summit speaker said Tuesday. New York City-based Lemonade Insurance Company uses artificial intelligence and says it can handle some claims in three…
Humans required to train AI to assess images for damage losses
August 22, 2018 by Greg MeckbachClaims adjusters could soon have part of their work replaced by software that looks at photos and decides whether property is damaged, but there is still a need for humans in the process, one researcher predicts. When properties are damaged…
Beleaguered industry faces prospect of more flood damage in Ontario
August 21, 2018 by David GambrillMost of Ontario is under a severe weather warning Tuesday, once again threatening flood damage in a province where insurers have already paid approximately $800 million for natural catastrophe damages. This cumulative total for the year in Ontario does not…
Top 10 broker gaffes
August 16, 2018 by Jason ContantMajor infractions committed by Quebec insurance brokers include acting dishonestly, negligently, or not acting with competence and professional integrity, says the disciplinary committee of the Chambre de l’assurance de dommages (ChAD), the province’s self-regulatory body for brokers, agents and claims adjusters.…
Claims adjuster fined $4,000 for failing to properly inform insured about coverage
July 25, 2018 by Jason ContantA Quebec claims adjuster has been fined $4,000 for failing to inform an insured about an insurance carrier’s rights under the insurance policy, and for not promptly responding to emails from the insurer. Philippe Morin was charged with two counts…
How drone technology is transforming roofing claims
July 19, 2018 by Jason ContantWith the increasing number of catastrophes across the country, there is general consensus in the industry that resources are stretched thin. “The industry has a finite number of roofing companies, adjusters and estimators and to gear up to handle many…