Claims

The untapped potential of telematics in auto claims

Telematics, which records data on vehicle behaviour, is used now mainly for underwriting, but the technology can also provide a treasure trove of information for claims adjusters, one vendor suggests. Auto insurance claims adjusters could potentially use telematics to determine how many passengers were in a vehicle that was involved in a collision and whether […]

By Greg Meckbach | June 12, 2018

2 min read

Claims

The new threat facing Fort McMurray (and other parts of Western Canada)

With hundreds of claims from the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire still unresolved as of late last month, Alberta residents could be forgiven for still worrying about wildfire risks in their own backyard. The Canadian Press recently reported that as of May 10, some 900 insurance claims were outstanding. Alberta’s Minister of Finance and president of […]

By Jason Contant | June 12, 2018

3 min read

Claims

Will top court give waivers a sporting chance?

Why the fate of insuring sports and recreational facilities hangs in the balance

June 11, 2018

1 min read

Claims

Crews fight hotspots, flare ups in large fire

COLE HARBOUR, N.S. – Fire flared up again near a popular hiking trail in Cole Harbour, N.S., as crews continued to try to put out hotspots and quench the remnants of a large blaze that forced the evacuation of dozens of people. Deputy fire Chief Roy Hollett said there were several flare-ups early Monday that […]

By Jason Contant | June 11, 2018

2 min read

Good news from Supreme Court for auto liability insurers

An auto bodily injury ruling described as favourable to insurers is now officially in the books, as the Supreme Court of Canada rejected leave to appeal Thursday. The initial Court of Appeal for Ontario ruling, which now stands, was “very positive for defendants and insurers” because it “reduces the likelihood of plaintiffs receiving double recovery […]

2 min read

Lac-Mégantic residents seek economic and moral damages

MONTREAL – A new group of mostly Lac-Megantic residents is seeking authorization from Quebec Superior Court to sue for economic and moral damages worth upwards of $5 million relating to the Lac-Megantic rail tragedy in 2013. Train engineer Tom Harding, Canadian Pacific Railway and Montreal, Maine & Atlantic, the defunct railway company at the heart […]

2 min read

Broker fined after backdated coverage confusion

A veteran Manitoba broker who had no binding authority was fined $2,500 by the provincial regulator for confirming a client’s coverage before he had even sent an application to the insurer, apparently on the assumption that the insurer would backdate coverage. “Council believes it is not the usual practice of property insurers to backdate coverage,” […]

3 min read

More hurricanes, or just better detection?

Is the number of Canadian hurricanes getting larger, or are we just better at detecting them? Bob Robichaud, warning preparedness meteorologist with the Canadian Hurricane Centre (CHC), raised the question during a webinar on the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR)’s 2018 annual hurricane season forecast. He was responding to a question by ICLR research […]

4 min read

Workers comp bars Ontario auto accident victim from suing in bizarre double-crash

In an auto accident claim involving back-to-back crashes, a woman who lost both her legs after being hit by a car is barred from suing the driver because the car that had carried her to the scene of the accident was driven by her employer. “The circumstances of this particular case are unique, if not […]

2 min read