Auto Repair Perspective: Work For, Not Against
May 1, 2000 John Norris, executive director of the Hamilton District AutobodThe world of repair shops and front-line collision damage appraisers is very different to that of the corporate insurance industry. A closer understanding of the challenges faced by both sides is clearly needed. In fact, with both bodyshops and insurers…
THE AIR OUT OF THE BAG
May 1, 2000 Vikki SpencerAirbags recovered from written-off vehicles will be used for collision repairs in British Columbia, likely before the end of the year, says a researcher at the province’s public insurance organization. The decision follows testing on salvaged airbags conducted by the…
Maximizing Auto Claims
May 1, 2000 Roch Lacroix, vice president of Mitchell International CanadaAuto physical damage claims (APDs) represent a significant portion of claim costs for most insurers dealing in personal lines business. But, should this area of claims management be simply seen as the “dark evil” of being in the business, or…
Coming Events (March 01, 2000)
March 1, 2000 by Canadian UnderwriterAnnouncements in Coming Events are run free of charge as a service to the industry. Items should be submitted by the first of the month prior to the month in which the announcement is to appear. Toronto Insurance Women’s Association:…
Perils of Punitive Awards
March 1, 2000 Bill Blakeney and Anil VarmaConsumer suspicion of insurance companies has reached the point that it is now part of American pop culture to view them as commonplace in the U.S., as are awards of punitive damages.
Catastrophe frequency expected to rise in 2000
February 1, 2000 by Canadian UnderwriterNatural disasters worldwide last year, and the likelihood of a continued increase in catastrophe frequency, are likely to lead to insurance and reinsurance rate increases, industry rater A.M. Best Co. says. According to initial estimates, 52,000 people died worldwide as…
Up In Smoke
February 1, 2000 Sean van Zyl, EditorThe fact that one of Hollywood’s recent creations “The Insider”, which is based on behind-the-scenes dirty tricks employed by opposing parties in the U.S. anti-tobacco wars, achieved such box office success clearly indicates rising public interest in tarring cigarette manufacturers…
Strong Winds are Blowing
January 1, 2000 Paul Kovacs, executive director of the Institute for CatastrophiWith the 1999 hurricane season recently closing with the last minute arrival of Hurricane Lenny causing considerably and unexpected damage in the Caribbean, the timing of the recently jointly held Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR) and Insurance Bureau of…
Political Tremors
January 1, 2000 Sean van Zyl, EditorWelcome to a bright new bushy-tailed beginning of a year, or for that matter a new millennium, depending on your sentimental versus mathematical calculation. And, indeed, it would appear to be a bright year ahead, with fat company surpluses on…
Software standardizes claim costs
January 1, 2000 Michael AndrewsEach year U.S. insureds are involved in about 35 million automobile accidents. The cost to repair these vehicles tops an eye-popping nine billion dollars — more than the combined 1998 net incomes of Microsoft, Sears and Disney. Not surprisingly, automobile…
Toronto City struck down in bodyshop fight
December 1, 1999 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Supreme Court of Ontario has ruled in favour of insurers who mounted a challenge against a City of Toronto bylaw outlawing insurers from directing their insureds to preferred bodyshops. “This is a big victory for the industry and for…
Appraising the rocky shore of risk
November 1, 1999 Michael HlinkaCanadian corporations are facing an increasingly litigious environment resembling that of the U.S., delegates were told at the Canadian Risk & Insurance Management Society conference held recently in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Dubbed “Risk on the Rock”, the conference’s speakers portrayed…