What’s keeping claims pros up at night?
October 16, 2019 by Adam MalikTalent shortage and keeping pace with change are two of the top issues facing claims professionals over the next three to five years, but that’s just the start of their concerns. Meeting policyholders’ service level expectations and the volatility of…
The critical piece of mapping out the claims process
September 16, 2019 by Greg MeckbachInsurance providers who are paying for consultants to help change claims processes may be missing a piece of the puzzle. “There are a lot of vendors who would like to spend a lot of time with you,” said Erin Fischer,…
Judges & insurers disagree: Who really rented this truck?
September 13, 2019 by Greg MeckbachA 2018 Ontario court ruling in favour of Wawanesa, arising from a collision involving a truck rented to deliver furniture, has been overturned on appeal. On Oct. 29, 2010, Hy Kiet Liu was in a vehicle that was rear-ended by…
You can’t teach claims adjusters this skill
September 11, 2019 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorAs the chief claims officer for Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company, Erin Fischer hears one question all the time. “The Number 1 question I get is: Do you need to hire claims people who are technical experts?’” Fischer said Wednesday. Although…
One auto insurance discount that’s disappearing
July 16, 2019 by Greg MeckbachDiscounts on auto insurance for clients with an autonomous emergency braking system could get harder to find. In Nova Scotia, Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company offers a 15% discount for vehicles with a model year of 2010 or higher that have…
Where Canada’s largest mutual is putting its new Winnipeg headquarters
June 19, 2019 by Greg MeckbachFour years from now, all of Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company’s Winnipeg workers should be in a new office building. Wawanesa announced June 13 it will have a new North American headquarters at the southwest corner of Carlton Street and Graham…
Top court sides with insurer in unidentified vehicle coverage dispute
March 14, 2019 by Greg MeckbachA Supreme Court of Canada decision released today means Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company does not have to cover a claimant who says he drove off the road to avoid an oncoming vehicle. Andrew Funk was injured after he drove his…
A driver is convicted of assault after a collision. Is the vehicle’s owner vicariously liable for the crash?
February 13, 2019 by Greg MeckbachThe registered owner of a pickup truck could be held liable for injuries to an accident victim even though the at-fault driver of the pickup truck was convicted of assault as a result of a collision, the Court of Appeal…
Customer retention advice for brokers from Wawanesa
January 30, 2019 by Greg MeckbachEvery time a client submits a claim to their carrier, you as the broker need to follow up with a phone call, suggests Carol Jardine, president of the Canadian property and casualty operations of Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company. “I would…
Why it’s not so easy for an insurer to go direct
January 21, 2019 by Greg MeckbachWawanesa’s decision to write insurance in Canada through brokers only came as a shock to some consultants. “If you talk to the consultants down on Adelaide Street [in Toronto] in their big offices, what are they going to tell an…
Auto insurers’ bitter costs dispute draws rebuke from judge
November 29, 2018 by David GambrillA bitter cost dispute between two auto insurers over an abandoned court action has led to a rebuke from a judge, who ordered Wawanesa to pay Dominion its legal fees. In doing so, Ontario Superior Court Justice Darla A. Wilson…
A ‘lessee’ is not necessarily the person who paid for the rented vehicle
October 2, 2018 by David GambrillA “lessee” under Ontario’s Insurance Act is the person whom the rental company would sue to enforce the rental contract, a court reaffirmed Monday. In Aviva v. Wawanesa, the Ontario Superior Court decided a recent priority dispute between insurers. The…