Claims

“Formal application” for accident benefits not necessary: Ontario Court of Appeal

If a claimant has not submitted an OCF-1 form (Application for Accident Benefits) to an insurer, it does not automatically disqualify them from being considered to have provided a completed application for accident benefits, Ontario’s Court of Appeal ruled. Four people travelling in a car were injured in a car accident in 2006. Francisco Quintera […]

By Canadian Underwriter | August 27, 2010

2 min read

Claims

2010 H1 catastrophe losses surpassed total catastrophe losses in 2009

Catastrophe losses for the first half of 2010 have already exceeded the $5 billion of catastrophe losses reported for the whole of 2009, reports Fitch.Fitch evaluated data from 50 U.S. property/casualty insurers and found that underwriting results took a hit in 2010 H1 as a result of $8.3 billion in catastrophe losses. The figure is […]

By Canadian Underwriter | August 27, 2010

1 min read

Claims

NB’s minor injury cap should be adjusted for inflation: Progressive Conservatives

Should New Brunswick elect a Progressive Conservative government in the coming provincial election, the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) will work with the newly elected government should it fulfill its election promise to review the province’s minor injury cap. IBC believes the cap $2,500 cap on minor injury benefits is working well for New Brunswickers. […]

By Canadian Underwriter | August 26, 2010

1 min read

Claims

‘Shock event’ required to reverse downward reinsurance market trend

A $25 billion loss would stop the global reinsurance market’s downward pricing trend, but an $82 billion loss would be required to turn the market, according to a panel of experts on an AM Best webinar.During the webinar, ‘State of the Global Reinsurance Market: Where the Hot Spots Are and Who’s in Them?’ a panel […]

By Canadian Underwriter | August 25, 2010

2 min read

MPI files suit against “chronic” teenage car thieves

Manitoba Public Insurance has filed a lawsuit against a pair of teenage “chronic” car thieves, dubbed ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ by some local justice officials and media.The suit is a $53,000 statement of claim against a 16-year-old girl and an 18-year-old boy, stemming from an alleged spree of car thefts and vandalism, said MPI spokesperson Brian […]

1 min read

Crown must draw clear link between licence suspension order and offence: Ontario Court of Appeal

The Ontario Court of Appeal has overturned a conviction of driving while disqualified because the Crown failed to link a licence suspension order with the offence that resulted in the suspension.In March 2005, David Suho Chuang was convicted of dangerous driving and received a two-year licence suspension. Once the suspension lapsed, Chuang failed to take […]

1 min read

Canadian Underwriting Services merges with iv3 Solutions

Inspection and loss control provider iv3 Solutions has merged with Canadian Underwriting Services (CUS).The merger creates the second largest provider of unique property information, inspection and loss control services in the Canadian property and casualty industry, with the goal of becoming North America’s largest inspection and property data services company within the next five years, […]

1 min read

Should alcohol interlocks be mandatory when their implementation is problematic?

The trend of making mandatory the use of alcohol interlocks for first-offender intoxicated drivers is emerging in Canadian and U.S. jurisdictions, but the trend is challenged by often-ineffective implementation, according to the Traffic and Injury Research Foundation.In its report The Implementation of Alcohol Interlocks for First Offenders: A Case Study, TIRF examines the state of […]

1 min read

Auto insurance fraud ring in Manitoba draws organized crime charges

Winnipeg police have laid criminal organization charges as part of its ongoing investigation into an auto insurance fraud ring.According to the Winnipeg Sun, this is the first time an auto insurance fraud investigation is believed to have resulted in organized crime charges. In August 2009, a series of arrests were made as a result of […]

1 min read

B.C. Supreme Court awards lawyer about $6 million for future loss of income after nightclub fall

The B.C. Supreme Court has awarded almost $6 million to a woman who suffered a mild brain injury during a fall on the dance floor of a nightclub.Michelle Danicek is a lawyer who was involved in two separate incidents – a fall in a nightclub in April 2001 and a subsequent motor vehicle accident in […]

2 min read