Many of us don’t realize that people with disabilities still face a huge number of accessibility barriers on a daily basis. You may not think twice about grabbing a coffee or going to the office. But did you know that the most significant barriers that people with any kind of mobility issue face are those in the built environment: schools, retail stores, community centres, etc? Basically the places where we live, work and play.
http://www.rickhansen.com/
The Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario (IBAO) revealed that only 42% of auto insurance customers in Ontario are aware of reforms that will be taking effect on June 1, 2016.
In Economical v. Fairview Assessment Centre, the insurer claimed fraud and misrepresentation against an assessment centre and various (alleged) treatment providers associated with the clinic (more information about the case’s background is available here). In the action, the insurer sought production of medical documentation containing personal health information of certain non-party SABS claimants.
http://www.insblogs.com/auto/
The only people who asked for these changes were the car insurance companies and their lobbyist group in order to save them MONEY. These changes aren’t about you ,the consumer. They aren’t about protecting the public. They’re about making MONEY for those large, multi-national corporations who provide insurance services in Ontario.
The only way to protect yourself and your family from these devastating changes is to purchase optional accident benefits. The government and the insurance industry are trumpeting the changes as “good news for consumers” because “consumers will have more choice.” However, most people do not realize the importance of accident benefits and will go with the cheapest premium available. They only realize the mistake that they have made when they or a loved one is seriously injured. By that point in time it is too late.
http://www.pialaw.ca/blog/
That said, just 42% of the consumers polled are aware of the upcoming changes. Add to that that “less than one in five can cite specific changes within the legislation. Not surprisingly, virtually all respondents are in favour of insurers not being able to increase rates for minor accidents,” states the survey report, IBAO 2016 Consumer Survey.
IBAO Consumer Survey http://www.ibao.org/wp-content
On April, 1, 2016, Ontario’s Licence Appeal Tribunal’s (LAT) Automobile Accident Benefits Service (AABS) was officially open for business. After 26 years, the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO)’s Dispute Resolution Group stopped accepted new applications. The transfer of responsibility has created considerable apprehension among its users. FSCO was flooded with new applications in the weeks leading up to April 1st. For many, it’s a matter of ‘better the devil you know.’ What will this change mean for stakeholders? Will it really be different?
http://williehandler.blogspot.
In the case of Lica v. Dhaliwal, 2015 ONSC 3888, the off-coverage insurer was required to answer questions posed by the Plaintiff by way of written interrogatories and subject to the potential need for further input from the Court with respect to issues of relevance, prejudice and privilege. In the case of Prentzas v. Rivera, 2015 ONSC 5867, the insurer was required to produce documentation, including portions of the broker’s file, the insurance application, the insurer’s notes on issuing and cancelling the policy, correspondence regarding the policy and its cancellation, and underwriting guidelines regarding cancellation.