Susan’s insurance has increased by $50 per month, Alex has doubled, David too, so too is Mavis. They all were told by their respective insurance company that it is because of the wildfires that took place in Fort McMurray.
Insurance premiums have gone up in Alberta since the UCP Government took over, but that is not the end as there is more to come according to a group of injury lawyers and professionals who spotted leading questions in a recent Alberta Government survey that asked about the right to sue after a crash.
It’s no secret that politicians hide behind panels and committees to make unpopular decisions to shield them from blame in the next election. The Alberta Government has put in place a panel that crafted the survey as part of their community engagement to enable them to make a decision on what the insurance industry through the Insurance Bureau of Canada, considers to be rising claims cost.
As a result of this high payouts from the insurance industry, the government is concerned that insurance companies are in financial distress and it needs to act. In Alberta, victims of a car accident are permitted to sue the responsible party for financial losses and for pain and suffering within strict limits. The Alberta Government says no decision has been made but changes are on the way. However, the group of injury lawyers and professionals we spoke to for this article, those that will be put out of business if their beliefs are true, think the government is looking into “No Fault Insurance” for vehicles as a way out for the insurance companies through the panel that they setup last December.
What actually is “No Fault Insurance” after an accident? In the case of “No Fault Insurance,” an insurance appointed doctor determines your medical treatment, not your family doctor. Insurance doctors determine when you’re fully recovered and ready to go back to work and not your doctor. Insurance company decides how much your vehicle is worth, not a third party. No cash settlement for pain, suffering, and other losses as you cannot pursue any legal action.
Thomas Lukaszuk, the former Deputy Premier of Alberta during the PC days says the insurance companies through the Insurance Bureau of Canada have been lobbying for “No Fault Insurance” unsuccessfully since when they were in government, as well as, during the NDP days. The most the insurance companies got was a strict limit on pay outs.
If “No Fault Insurance” becomes the law of the land, it means poor and middle class people like most of you in our audience who cannot afford to pick up hospital cost and survive with income loss will face tougher times just to go by after an accident, pray you never get into one.
Who are those who need the most support from insurance payouts? The poor!
In a world where a government outsources it’s responsibilities to insurance companies to play the role of the policeman, the prosecutor, the jury, and the judge, is not only dangerous four our poor communities but worthy of note to determine who is on your side and who is on the side of companies whose only interest is to suck you, and suck you dry!
