What insurers pay to repair EVs
September 11, 2023 by David GambrillAlthough electric vehicles in Canada cost an average of $1,328 more to repair than vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICE), EVs are less likely to be written off as a total loss, says a Mitchell report. The cost of the…
How potholes lead to serious brain injuries for e-scooter riders
September 8, 2023 Brittany Sinclair, B.Sc., P.Eng. 30 Forensic EngineeringEditor’s note: This is the second of a two-part series on the biomechanics of rider falls from e-scooters. Part 1 appeared Aug. 25. Road safety is directly linked to maintenance standards. In Ottawa, the city’s recommended maintenance quality standard…
What carriers are offering auto customers seeking lower premiums
September 1, 2023 Philip PoradoCar thefts are way up in Canada and that’s got the attention of property and casualty (P&C) insurers. Thefts have risen particularly fast in the greater Toronto area, Montreal and some other parts of Quebec, noted Paul Gilbody, SVP operations…
Where the burden of proof lies in accident claim adjudications
August 28, 2023 Philip PoradoAn applicant who was able to prove on a balance of probabilities that she should be removed from the minor injury guideline (MIG) because of a psychological impairment is entitled to additional accident benefits, Ontario Licence Appeal Tribunal adjudicator Nick…
Digital-first firms partner on car-share coverage
August 17, 2023 Canadian Underwriter StaffDigital auto and home insurance provider Onlia has partnered with car-subscription service Roam to provide its Ontario customers with personalized rates and a faster checkout when picking up cars. In addition to vehicles, Roam’s pay-as-you-go subscriber plan members are provided…
What’s trending in auto loss combined ratios
August 16, 2023 Philip PoradoSome Canadian auto insurers may be experiencing fewer losses than their U.S. counterparts, a new report from ratings agency Fitch suggested. A mid-year review of U.S. personal auto segment results, based on filings for nine public company insurers that report…
What’s to blame for distracted driving trends?
July 14, 2023 Philip PoradoBrokers hear lots of stories about minor fender-benders that don’t lead to injuries. And some could even be seen as amusing – if they weren’t linked to financial losses for insurers. “We had an incident where someone was trying to…
Why auto insurers are more likely to declare cars totalled
July 7, 2023 Philip PoradoIs that car worth repairing? Given ongoing supply chain disruption and high inflation rates, the answer for insurers may increasingly be ‘no.’ “We see significant increases in rental costs,” said Kumar Siva, senior vice president for third party administration services…
ATV roll-over decision could help insureds who are denied coverage
March 23, 2023 Philip PoradoRecent granting of a plaintiff’s motion for summary judgement against an insurer in an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) overturn accident may make it easier for auto insurance policyholders to access their coverage. Ultimately, the decision may be of future benefit to…
When will self-driving tech consistently prevent crashes?
February 17, 2023 Harrison Griffiths and Hannah Van StaverenOne aim of autonomous driving technology is to take the human element out of the driving ecosystem with an eye toward preventing collisions. But right now, autonomous driving technology can’t guarantee it will detect and react to road hazards earlier…
Is the personal lines hard market abating?
August 4, 2022 by Jason ContantPersonal lines in Canada’s property and casualty insurance industry still appear to be in the grip of a hard market cycle, with both personal auto and property premium rates generally showing high, single-digit rate increases. On average, personal auto quoted…
Intact’s game plan in personal auto
August 2, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoIntact’s personal auto insurance premiums grew by 28% in 2022 Q2, but the company says its auto game plan is “not only pricing-driven,” the CEO reported during Intact’s recent earnings call. “Equally important is how we manage claims and our…