If a car is parked in the forest, is it fraud?
March 20, 2018 by Jason ContantOut of sight, out of mind? That expression could be used to describe a recent Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) fraud case in which a hunter, deep in the backwoods of the Interlake, was amazed to come across a car in…
Uber suspends testing of automated cars after pedestrian killed
March 19, 2018 by David GambrillUber has suspended all testing of its self-driving cars after an Uber car in autonomous mode reportedly struck and killed a woman in Phoenix, Arizona. Uber suspended its testing of autonomous vehicles in Toronto, Phoenix, Pittsburgh and Arizona after a…
Zombies on the sidewalk
March 19, 2018 Adam Campbell, senior associate, human factors, 30 Forensic EngineeringThe science behind ‘Zombie Laws’ and their potential effect on the litigation of pedestrian collisions
A novel way to produce receipts unravels a bogus $25,000 jewelry claim
March 15, 2018 by David GambrillProcessing a property theft claim? Check your claimant’s receipts carefully. Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) announced Thursday that it busted a $25,000 insurance scam last year for stolen jewelry by uncovering a handy-dandy – if illegal — online fake receipt generator.…
Should body shops be allowed to pay referral fees to towing firms?
March 15, 2018 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorA recent Aviva Canada auto repair fraud investigation raises the question of whether body shops should be allowed pay referral fees to tow truck operators. CSN, which has more than 335 collision repair centres in Canada, does not give referral…
Winter tire assessments needed for school buses: train crash investigator
March 15, 2018 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorWinter tires were not installed on the rear of a school bus that was destroyed after being stuck crossing a railway track in slippery conditions, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada said in a recent report. A bus was picking…
New discount proposed for claimants who use insurers’ accredited body shops
March 13, 2018 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorIn the wake of an undercover investigation that allegedly caught collision repair centres deliberately damaging vehicles, Aviva Canada is pushing for discounts for vehicle owners who agree to use an insurer’s accredited body shop. Such a discount would require a…
Aviva Canada says Ontario auto fraud has gotten worse
March 13, 2018 by Greg MeckbachCanada’s second-largest insurer has issued a loud and clear warning about the pervasiveness of auto insurance fraud. “The system is more broken than it was in 2012,” Gordon Rasbach, vice president of fraud management at Aviva Canada, said Monday in…
How mobile apps can help expedite total loss appraisals
March 7, 2018 by Jason ContantMobile apps that allow policyholders to upload photos of damaged vehicles from auto accidents can help speed up the claims process, particularly for those involved in a total loss, the president of the Canadian Independent Adjusters Association (CIAA) said on…
Numbers don’t show that safety technology leads to lower repair costs
February 25, 2018 by Jason ContantIt’s a common thing to hear in Canada’s P&C insurance industry: Although auto repair costs will increase in the short term because of advanced safety technologies installed in today’s vehicles, over the long haul, the frequency of incidents should decrease…
How a new breed of car repair technician can drive down insurers’ repair costs
February 21, 2018 by Jason ContantNewer technology in vehicles is creating the need for a different skill set in collision repair facilities, something that could ultimately affect vehicle repair times for insurers. “This technology that is in the car now from a safety perspective brings…
Why it costs more to fix your insured’s car (Hint: it’s not just the gadgets)
February 20, 2018 by Jason ContantAddressing the entire vehicle safety system after an auto collision, and not just one component like a sensor, may be contributing to longer auto repair times and higher costs for insurers, Mitchell International said Thursday. Jerry Gastineau, content manager with…