Intact sounds alarm on escalating collision repair costs
February 12, 2018 by Greg MeckbachEscalating collision repair costs have commended the attention of Intact Insurance, as company officials continue to express disappointment with the Toronto-based insurer’s financial results in personal auto. Company officials said they had “unsatisfactory” performance in personal auto, with the chief…
Why Intact plans to raise auto insurance premiums
February 12, 2018 by Greg MeckbachIntact Financial Corp. plans to apply nation-wide for rate increases in personal auto, a move to improve the firm’s profitability in personal auto insurance. “In terms of additional rate actions in 2018, we are expecting a further 5% [increase] in…
Will current auto liability regime apply to driverless cars?
February 7, 2018 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorInsurance and traffic laws probably need to change when motorists start sharing the road with driverless cars, a speaker told claims specialists Tuesday. There are now vehicles on the roads with limited self-driving capabilities (as opposed to having no steering…
How lawsuits arising from stolen vehicles could affect drone claims
February 7, 2018 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorLiability risk for operators of unmanned aerial vehicles (commonly known as drones) will be affected by past court rulings concerning parked vehicles, a lawyer suggested Tuesday during a claims conference. And based on precedents set in the vehicle cases, it…
Two minor fender benders lead to $362,000 award for future care
February 6, 2018 by David GambrillA B.C. woman has received a court award for $362,102 in damages after developing a debilitating neck pain following two minor fender benders that occurred three years apart. Even though the court reduced the award from what the injured driver…
Excluded drivers can still claim accident benefits, court rules
February 5, 2018 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorDrivers excluded from coverage on their own policies can still claim accident benefits on the policies of other drivers, as long as they weren’t driving the vehicles from which they were excluded coverage, the Court of Appeal for Ontario ruled…
Insurer must pay $237K in legal costs to elderly woman awarded $20K
February 2, 2018 Colin Perkel - THE CANADIAN PRESSTORONTO – An insurance company that played litigation hardball with an elderly car-accident victim has been ordered to pay $237,000 to cover the legal costs she incurred in winning a $20,000 settlement. In her decision, Ontario Superior Court Justice Mary…
Arbitration filing deadlines trump law clerk “screw-up,” Ontario court rules
January 31, 2018 by David GambrillA law clerk “screw-up” is not an “extraordinary circumstance” that would allow an injured driver to circumvent the time limits for producing expert witnesses and documents in an auto accident benefits arbitration, an Ontario court has ruled. Margaret Cyr and…
Senators urge feds to act on privacy, security issues with automated cars
January 30, 2018 Jordan Press - THE CANADIAN PRESSOTTAWA – The federal Liberal government needs to take the wheel when it comes to the development and testing of self-driving cars on Canadian roads – or risk getting run over by the fast-approaching high-tech revolution, a Senate committee warns.…
When security goes too far
January 29, 2018 The Canadian PressSYDNEY, N.S. – A Nova Scotia judge says it’s not the court’s place to enforce good manners, in ruling on a case that pitted a homeowner’s interests in monitoring her property against her neighbour’s privacy concerns. Provincial court Judge Peter…
Real-time data exchange within reach for first notice of loss
January 25, 2018 by David GambrillThe Toronto Insurance Conference (TIC) has announced the rollout of the Data Exchange Model (Dx) Initiative, a proof of concept for real-time integration between an insurer technology platform and a broker management system (BMS) platform. TIC has partnered with RSA,…
Nova Scotia court dismisses auto liability case — after an 18-year delay
January 22, 2018 by David GambrillWould you be prepared to wait almost two decades to defend your insured policyholder in an uncomplicated auto liability case? One insurer stuck it out for 18 years until finally, on Jan. 19, 2018, the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia…