Two-year deadline for Fort McMurray insurance claims extended
May 17, 2018 The Canadian PressFORT MCMURRAY, Alta. – Deadlines have been extended for hundreds of insurance claims that remain unresolved more than two years after a wildfire dubbed “The Beast” tore through Fort McMurray and surrounding areas in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.…
Auto insurer faces lawsuit over credit scores in accident benefits claims
May 16, 2018 by Greg MeckbachA major Ontario auto insurer is facing a lawsuit over allegedly using credit scores in adjusting accident benefits claims. The proposed class-action lawsuit, filed April 10 in Federal Court, is on behalf of all Canadians who made auto claims with…
Insurers investing in AI can boost revenues by double digits: Accenture study
May 10, 2018 by Jason ContantInsurers that invest in artificial intelligence (AI) and human-machine collaboration at the same rate as “top-performing” businesses could, over the next five years, boost their revenues 17% and their employment 7% on average, according to new research by professional services…
Belair court victory exposes how clinics can abuse auto claims system
May 9, 2018 by David GambrillBelair Direct has succeeded in quashing an auto insurance claim that illustrates how rehab and assessment clinics can potentially abuse Ontario’s accident benefits law. In its ruling in Belair Direct Insurance Company v. Green, an accident benefits case, the Ontario…
Simplifying claims involving automated cars
April 26, 2018 by David GambrillCanada’s insurers are developing a framework for insuring automated vehicles that is designed for handling auto claims quickly, regardless of whether tort liability arises from human error or a manufacturing defect in the automated vehicle. “We all know the automated…
Your client is house-sitting when a pipe bursts on their watch. Are they liable for damages?
March 22, 2018 by Greg MeckbachIs your client looking after someone’s home? Be careful: a man describing himself as a “voluntary house-sitter” is now a defendant in a lawsuit arising from a flooded home. The plaintiffs, Jiang Wei and Xiu Qing Hu, filed a lawsuit…
Trojan Horse or Workhorse?
March 16, 2018 Emily Atkins, EditorIs smart automation a boon or bane?
Standards now exist for same-day insurance claims payments
February 15, 2018 by Jason ContantImagine when same-day insurance claims payments are a reality, without the need to overhaul any existing infrastructure. That could become a reality sooner than you think. ISO 20022, an international payments messaging standard that supports electronic payments, is already in…
Christmas claims follies
December 21, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterIn the spirit of the holiday season, insurance companies around the world are sharing their most—and least—common Christmas claims, in the hopes that people keep safe during the festive period. An obvious Yuletide tip would be to keep your lit…
Court upholds fake gun exclusion, but not because they are illegal
December 18, 2017 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorAn Alberta judge has taken a dim view of a mutual insurer’s argument that fake guns made of plastic with bright plugs in the barrels are actually replicas prohibited by federal law and therefore excluded from contents coverage under a…
The $300,000 bed bug risk and other bizarre home fire claims
November 30, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterOfficials in Ohio say a 13-year-old boy trying to kill a bed bug sparked an apartment building fire that displaced eight people and caused $300,000 in damage in Cincinnati, AP reported. Officials say the fire was reported around 11 p.m.…
Hockey Fight in Canada—insuring our national sport
November 24, 2017 David Gambrill, Editor-in-ChiefWhen William Carrier of the Vegas Golden Knights dropped the gloves to fight Michael Liambus of the Anaheim Ducks last Wednesday, hockeyfights.com posted footage of the battle, asked viewers to rate the fight, and logged the event as the 70th…