Recurring back pain and auto liability: how this court applied the two-year limit
March 12, 2019 by David GambrillIf an injured cyclist in an auto liability action declares feeling better after treatment, takes a year off work, and then feels debilitating back pain after returning to work three years after the accident, does the two-year statute of limitations…
How RSA plans to shore up its personal lines results in Canada
March 11, 2019 by David GambrillExpect RSA in Canada to take remedial underwriting actions in its personal lines portfolio – including auto rate increases of between 3% and 16%, and potentially selected broker cancellations – in order to shore up results after a tough year…
Wildfire catastrophe models need improvement: Reinsurer
March 8, 2019 by Greg MeckbachThe world’s second-largest reinsurer is looking for partners in the artificial intelligence space to help the reinsurer get a better idea of how much insured damage future wildfires could cause. Swiss Re is working with the Massachusetts Institute of technology…
Fatal fire damages Abbotsford, B.C. apartment building
March 7, 2019 by Greg MeckbachABBOTSFORD, B.C. – The BC Coroners Service confirms one person has died in an apartment fire in Abbotsford. Coroners service spokesman Andy Watson says a woman in her 60s died in the blaze that broke out about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.…
Early storm warning for insurers: $40 million for January storm in eastern Canada
March 6, 2019 by Jason ContantA winter storm in late January that brought snowfall, freezing rain, rain and strong winds to eastern Canada caused over $39 million in insured damage, according to Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ). Most of the damage occurred on Jan.…
What lies behind the unexpected Alberta quake
March 6, 2019 by Jason ContantPerhaps the largest-ever earthquake to hit a section of central Alberta caused no immediate reports of damage, but knocked out power for more than 4,000 customers. Could fracking be the culprit? In this case, Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) is probing…
This province seeks insurers’ input on joint and several liability reform
March 5, 2019 by Greg MeckbachThe Ontario government wants to hear from insurance companies on the controversial joint and several liability rule, which some say is unfair to deep pockets defendants. “What we are looking for is consultation with the lawyers, the insurance industry, et…
How this city is mitigating autonomous vehicle risk
March 5, 2019 Ramesh Santanam - THE ASSOCIATED PRESSPITTSBURGH – Companies testing autonomous vehicles in Pittsburgh will have to immediately report crashes resulting in any injuries as part of new guidelines announced Monday intended to boost public confidence in the testing after a deadly accident in Arizona last…
How to save insurers $1.3 billion a year on claims administration
March 4, 2019 by Greg MeckbachArtificial intelligence will become a “big time saver” for claims adjusters and will eventually allow the industry to save billions a year in costs, one researcher says. For auto claims, insurers are already using AI to make recommendations on whether…
This province could see major spring flooding
March 1, 2019 by Jason ContantTen years after serious flooding in much of the southern part of Manitoba, there is again a high risk of major spring flooding in the province’s Red River Valley region. “Early forecasting data shows that we expect to see major…
These three work tasks make the most sense to automate
February 26, 2019 by Jason ContantIf you’re looking to automate at your brokerage or insurance company, scrutinize specific tasks, not entire jobs, recommends a blog from Harvard Business Review. There are three fundamental work characteristics that lend themselves to automation: Repetitive vs. variable work –…
Your landlord agrees to insure the property. Why the landlord can still subrogate against you
February 25, 2019 by Greg MeckbachA Thunder Bay restaurant operator has lost its bid to block an insurer from filing a subrogated claim arising from a fire. The Supreme Court of Canada announced Feb. 21 it will not hear an appeal from the Sushi Station…