Ontario auto insurance rates increased in last quarter of 2017
January 12, 2018 Allison Jones - THE CANADIAN PRESSTORONTO – Auto insurance rates in Ontario increased in the last quarter of 2017, putting the Liberal government further away from its promise to cut rates by 15 per cent. Fourth quarter numbers released today by the Financial Services Commission…
Canadians show disconnect on distracted driving
December 29, 2017 by David GambrillDistracted driving is getting worse, Canadians say, even as the laws are tightening and public education campaigns are in full gear. More than four out of five Canadians (83%) believe texting while driving is a bigger problem today than it…
Regulator weighs in on disputed ridesharing claims
December 20, 2017 David Gambrill, Editor-in-ChiefDisputes among Ontario auto insurers, arising from collisions involving vehicles used for multiple ridesharing providers, will likely be handled in the same way insurers handle priority disputes in accident benefits claims, Ontario’s insurance regulator told Canadian Underwriter Wednesday. Aviva Canada…
Driver convicted of failing to yield awarded $151,000 in legal costs
December 19, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterA driver convicted of failing to yield the right of way after turning into the path of a different vehicle has nonetheless collected $30,000 from the other motorist and was awarded an additional $151,000 in legal costs. In Duncan v.…
Unidentified car claim: Court seeks ‘science’ in expert report
December 18, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Supreme Court of British Columbia has tossed out the report of a forensic engineer, which supported the public insurer’s position in an unidentified car case, saying the report relied too heavily on expert opinion and not enough on “science.”…
Court clarifies confusion around “involvement” of unidentified car
December 15, 2017 David Gambrill, Editor-in-ChiefOntario’s Court of Appeal has rejected a claim for excess coverage against State Farm Mutual Insurance Company, reconciling a jury’s seemingly contradictory answers to questions about the “involvement” of an unidentified driver. Carlota Montepeque was driving two passengers in her…
Trial lawyers doubt standard treatment plans will help auto insurers
December 15, 2017 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorOntario’s call for standard treatment plans in auto accident benefits might well do the opposite of what was intended — increase claims disputes and provide no benefit to insurers, personal injury lawyers say. In his Fair Auto Insurance Plan, released…
‘Weak safety culture’ led to sinking of cargo vessel
December 13, 2017 Jason Dearen - THE ASSOCIATED PRESSA “weak safety culture” was partly to blame for the fatal sinking of the 790-foot cargo vessel El Faro, the United States National Transportation Safety Board announced Tuesday. Safety management systems are also a major issue in Canada’s maritime sector,…
How Aviva will cover Lyft in Canada
December 12, 2017 David Gambrill, Editor-in-ChiefAviva Canada will be the official commercial automobile insurance provider for the California-based ride-sharing program Lyft, which is anticipated to start operations in Canada this month. Aviva will cover Lyft through a commercial insurance fleet policy. Coverage and limits vary,…
Resisting auto accident cash settlements in Ontario could escalate disputes: Lawyer
December 12, 2017 by Greg MeckbachOntario auto insurance changes announced last week are “unlikely” to reduce disputes over accident benefits claims, an insurance defence lawyer predicts, but brokers and insurers agree the provincial government is moving in the right direction. Finance Minister Charles Sousa’s Dec.…
Does a winter tire discount get drivers to install winter tires?
December 11, 2017 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorOntario’s mandatory auto insurance discount for winter tires has not been in place long enough to figure out whether it reduces insured losses, but one safety expert compares winter tire skeptics to flat-earthers. The Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO)…
The insurance industry’s challenge in recruiting forensic engineers
December 8, 2017 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorThe challenge for the property and casualty insurance industry in recruiting young engineers is that engineers generally want to make things instead of figuring out why things crashed or burned. “We have had a challenging time servicing our clients in…