New risks arising from Canadian arctic shipping
July 17, 2018 by Greg MeckbachAs shrinking arctic ice opens up of new shipping routes through Canada’s Arctic Archipelago, this presents challenges for risk managers and insurers, Allianz Global Corporate and Specialty suggests in a report scheduled for release Wednesday. “Arctic ice has been thinning and…
What the court said about a family law approach to “spouse” in auto AB claim
July 11, 2018 by David GambrillThe meaning of the term “spouse” under the Family Law Act is not applicable when determining eligibility for accident benefits under an auto insurance policy, an Ontario court has ruled in a priority dispute between insurers. In Royal & Sun…
Parents of Humboldt Broncos player killed in crash sue truck driver, bus maker
July 10, 2018 THE CANADIAN PRESSREGINA – The family of one of the Humboldt Broncos players killed in a highway crash has filed a lawsuit alleging a semi-truck driver with inadequate training failed to stop at a flashing stop sign at a rural intersection hidden…
How this insurer fared against a drunk driver’s “regurgitation” defence
July 10, 2018 by David GambrillAfter a drunk driver regurgitates alcohol from the stomach to the mouth, taking a breathalyzer test just seconds shy of a 15-minute wait period doesn’t necessarily render the test invalid, a B.C. court has found. In reaching its conclusion, the…
Truck driver criminally charged in Humboldt Broncos bus crash
July 7, 2018 Dean Bennett - THE CANADIAN PRESSThe driver of a transport truck faces 29 criminal charges in a fatal collision that killed 16 people, including 10 players, with the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team. Thirteen other players were injured. RCMP say Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, 29, is…
Novel concept of ‘impaired by distraction’ quashed by Supreme Court of Canada
July 4, 2018 by Greg MeckbachDriving while engrossed in a heated conversation may be a form of distraction, but is not a form of impairment, the Supreme Court of Canada suggested in a divided ruling released Friday. In May 2013, a toddler died after an…
Insurance lawyer questions whether LAT has ‘appearance’ of fairness
June 26, 2018 by Greg MeckbachAn anonymous letter about how an auto injury claim was handled by the Ontario License Appeal Tribunal raises “concerns” about the LAT decision-making process, an insurance lawyer warns. Anonymous evidence should generally not be given any weight in court proceedings,…
Court ruling calls independence of auto claims dispute arbitrators into question
June 22, 2018 by Greg MeckbachThe Ontario Licence Appeal Tribunal’s first ruling on whether an auto accident claimant is catastrophically impaired has been quashed by a three-judge Divisional Court panel. The decision-making process at LAT “creates a reasonable apprehension of lack of independence” on the…
Public insurer requests modest rate increase
June 22, 2018 by Jason ContantManitoba Public Insurance (MPI) has requested a 2.2% overall rate increase for the 2019-20 insurance year in its general rate application (GRA), filed with the provincial Public Utilities Board. If approved, the average passenger vehicle owner will pay about $27…
Human driver distracted before fatal autonomous Uber crash
June 22, 2018 Tom Krisher and Jacques Billeaud - THE ASSOCIATED PRESSPHOENIX – The human backup driver in an autonomous Uber SUV was streaming the television show “The Voice” and looking downward just before fatally striking a pedestrian in suburban Phoenix, according to a police report. The 300-page report released Thursday…
Chris Giffin sells interest in 30 Forensic Engineering, stepping down as CEO
June 18, 2018 by Jason Contant30 Forensic Engineering’s senior leadership team has acquired the firm, the company formerly known as Giffin Koerth announced Monday. As part of the “evolution and growth strategy of the organization,” founding partner Chris Giffin has agreed to sell his interest in…
The untapped potential of telematics in auto claims
June 12, 2018 by Greg MeckbachTelematics, which records data on vehicle behaviour, is used now mainly for underwriting, but the technology can also provide a treasure trove of information for claims adjusters, one vendor suggests. Auto insurance claims adjusters could potentially use telematics to determine…