Category: Claims

What is product liability, and does your business need it?

If your business makes or sells products via a storefront or e-commerce website, you have a responsibility for the quality and safety of those products. If one of those products causes harm to a customer, or causes property damage, you could find yourself in the middle of an expensive and time-consuming lawsuit. To avoid massive financial hardships, its important to have a product liability policy in place, which can help mitigate the costs associated with lawsuits filed against your company (...)

Parking lot accidents, who’s at fault?

Parking lots present a higher probability of being involved in an accident than other roadways or highways, particularly in winter when the asphalt is covered with ice and snow. The accidents themselves typically aren't severe given that the travel speeds, but it's still important to be extra mindful. It doesn't take a massive accident to cause extensive damage to your vehicle these days. The questions that we always get asked is, who's at fault if more than one vehicle is involved (...)

Increasing Cost of Claims – Top Five Evolving Risks

In 2017 the insurance industry paid out $1.33 billion following a catastrophic event relating to climate change. This is the fifth time in seven years that the industry has paid over $1 billion annually for climate related losses. There are so many factors that contribute to these increasing losses that it's hard to pinpoint one issue. For water, people are finishing their basements more often, and weather events are becoming more frequent, resulting in catastrophic water losses. Thunderstorms with hail is another catastrophic event that can quickly add up, especially when gold ball sized hail is pouring down on a large city center (...)

Prepare your home for another cold winter [Infographic]

It's time to winterize your home! Whether you like it or not, winter is on its way and it will be here before you know it. To ensure you’re prepared for it, you need to take action now, not once we get our first snow storm. The temperature outside now is just right to get the garden and lawn ready for winter, put away your summer tools and get out your snow shovel and other cold weather tools. Winter in Ontario is a time when many of us hibernate from the cold. We enjoy warm fires, comforters, watch Netflix excessively, or just leave the country entirely in the pursuit of warmer climates (...)

What Insurance Do You Need to Organize A Sports Event?

Thinking of organizing your own sports event? It’s a great way to get everyone together, raise money for a charity or even have a bit of fun. If you're new to organizing events, or you don't do this on a full time basis, the world of insurance can be a little confusing. Accidents happen all the time, and sporting events are no exception. Whether you're hosting an event or you're participating in one, a lot could go wrong in a very short period of time. You may or may not be sued, however knowing you are protected from any frivolous or legitimate claims will certainly give you peace at mind (...)

What is “no-fault” Car Insurance?

If you think having “no-fault” car insurance coverage means you’ll never be considered “at fault” for an accident, you’re not alone — that’s a pretty common misconception. But in the insurance world, “no-fault” means something a little different. “No-fault insurance” is the term used to describe the car insurance system that’s in place primarily in Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and PEI. The official name for this coverage is Direct Compensation Property Damage (...)

How will making a claim impact the cost of my home insurance?

Your home insurance policy is there to protect you when you need it most — but you may find yourself wondering what could happen to your premium after you make a claim. As your HMS insurance broker we will provide helpful insight on how your claim will impact your policy, and provide the right course of action to get your home back in the same position it was before. There are a few things to consider before a claim is submitted (...)

Have a plan: safeguarding your home against fire

Your home is your sanctuary, and the place where you should feel the safest. That’s why house fires can have such an emotional impact. They put the health and safety of the people you love at risk, and can destroy a lifetime of memories in mere moments. Preventing fires is easier than you might think, and taking simple precautions can safeguard you and your family. Check out these 7 easy tips to get started (...)

Playing it safe: simple ways to avoid the most common home insurance claims

They say the best way to predict the future is to create it. When it comes to home insurance claims, there is a lot that you can do to stop damage from happening in the first place. Although it may not be possible to avoid damage in every situation, you can certainly play a big role in keeping it to a minimum. Let’s walk through some tips to help you steer clear of costly and inconvenient insurance claims (...)