How to limit autonomous vehicle liability disputes
September 11, 2018 by Jason ContantLegislation on autonomous vehicles needs to be ironed out well in advance of these vehicles becoming mainstream to prevent insurance payout disputes before an injured party receives compensation, an insurance lawyer said recently. Jonathan Grnak, an insurance lawyer with Danson…
Judges disagree on whether this collision was a ‘true accident’
September 11, 2018 by Greg MeckbachA motorist who is being sued by his passenger after a single-vehicle accident wants his case heard by the Supreme Court of Canada. The issue at hand is whether the single-vehicle crash was a “true accident,” in which nobody can…
Where Canada should look for regulation on autonomous vehicles
September 10, 2018 by Jason ContantCanadian provinces seeking guidance on addressing liability issues of autonomous vehicles could look to the United Kingdom as an example, an insurance lawyer told Canadian Underwriter Friday. The UK has a bill in the reading stages that, if passed, would…
Ontario teachers acquire Kanetix Ltd.
September 4, 2018 by David GambrillOntario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) has agreed to acquire Kanetix Ltd., a digital customer acquisition platform and marketplace providing online quotes for insurance and financial products. Many details about the acquisition are not yet known, and financial terms were not…
IBC’s proposal to prevent carriers from exiting this province’s auto market
September 4, 2018 by David GambrillInsurers in Newfoundland and Labrador are calling on politicians to make structural changes to the province’s auto insurance system, saying their recommendations would better align the province’s auto premiums with those elsewhere in the Atlantic region. Specifically, insurers are calling…
Are consumers warming to telematics?
August 28, 2018 by Jason ContantA new survey for belairdirect has found more than half (53%) of polled Canadians would use an app that tracks their driving habits if it meant having a more personalized auto insurance rating. The finding contrasts recent industry comments and…
When parents give their kids permission to drive: the limit to ‘implied consent’
August 24, 2018 by Greg MeckbachAn Ontario auto insurer went too far in arguing that a motorist gave her son – whose license was suspended – implied permission to drive her vehicle because she left the keys on a hook while she was out of…
Tow referral fee rules ‘hard to monitor and enforce,’ insurer warns
August 23, 2018 by Greg MeckbachAuto insurance providers should remind motorists that in the event of an accident, it is usually the driver – not the tow truck operator – who decides where the car gets towed. Motorists often don’t know what rights they have…
Auto fraud getting worse, insurer says
August 21, 2018 by Greg MeckbachManitoba Public Insurance Corporation (MPI) is reporting an increase in auto insurance fraud, including false claims for income replacement benefits. “Disturbingly, the corporation’s special investigation unit is seeing an increase in fraudulent activity,” the province’s public auto insurer reported Friday.…
Court orders parent to produce underwriting file to prove she denied permission for her child to drive
August 16, 2018 by Greg MeckbachIf a parent does not give permission to a child to drive the car, then if the child gets into a serious accident, a court could order the parent to produce the underwriting file to prove they did not grant…
Tories pledge to work with industry to lower Ontario auto rates
August 15, 2018 by Greg MeckbachOntario’s new finance minister is promising to work with industry to reduce auto insurance rates, but does not want the as-yet-unspecified plan to be a mere “photo opportunity.” Rates have increased for three consecutive quarters, despite several measures over the…
Public insurer proposes major shake-up to auto insurance rating model
August 9, 2018 by David GambrillThe Insurance Corporation of B.C. is proposing a significant shake-up of its auto insurance rating system, introducing a “fair rate” system that would have higher-risk drivers paying higher premiums than lower-risk drivers. “We want to make Basic insurance premiums more…