Insurance News - Friday, May 10, 2013

Here are the leading auto insurance headlines from ONTARIO AUTO INSURANCE TOPICS ON TWITTER for Friday, May 10, 2013:

• A National Safety Council study indicates that cell phone use in fatal crashes in the U.S. often goes unreported because drivers are reluctant to admit to distracted driving.
• The Ontario Court of Appeal has ruled against the city of Hamilton over their refusal to participate in mediation under s.258.6 of Insurance Act in relations to an auto insurance claim.
• Changes are coming to the New Brunswick auto insurance system.  On July 1 the cap on damages for minor injuries goes up to $7,500 and a new minor injury definition becomes effective. The definition is very similar to the Ontario definition. 
• Perhaps this time New York will make some progress on anti-fraud measures.  The state Senate approved 3 anti-fraud bills. One make it a crime to stage accident, another makes it illegal to act as a runner for a staged accident and the third bill allows insurers to retroactively cancel policies taken out by people who commit auto fraud. 
• A study by the Candrive Research Network suggests that the less confident seniors are driving, the less they drive and the more their skills deteriorate.
• Premier Wynne has rejected the NDP’s demand for a one-year time frame for auto insurance cuts, suggesting that they could lead to a possible availability crisis.