Author: Courtney Collings

The 2016 Auto Reform and What It Means for You

car accident

In June of 2016, the Government of Ontario implemented an auto insurance reform of which all policyholders should be aware. This reform changes the way your policy responds when it comes to accident benefits claims.

 

What are Accident Benefits?

If you’ve been injured in an auto accident, regardless of who is at fault, the accident benefits portion of your policy will cover expenses not covered by OHIP such as rehabilitation, caregiving and loss of income.

 

What Changed on June 1, 2016?

First, the government has decreased the amount insurance companies can payout in the event of a loss. For example, prior to June 2016, the limits for Medical, Rehabilitation & Attendant Care for non-catastrophic injuries were as follows:

  • Medical & Rehabilitation = $50,000 limit
  • Attendant Care = $36,000 limit

The June 2016 auto reform saw these two limits combined into one lower lump sum:

  • Medical, Rehabilitation & Attendant Care = $65,000 limit

Second, the government has narrowed the definition of a catastrophic injury and changed the guidelines for how doctors classify head injuries. This means it’s more difficult to be classified as a catastrophic injury and therefore harder to access the greater catastrophic injury limits, especially when it comes to head injuries.

 

What Should You Do Now?

The good news is there are now several optional accident benefits coverages that policyholders can purchase in order to off-set the changes made by our Federal Government. Over the next several posts, we’ll be exploring some of the different benefits available for purchase. You can also get more information by visiting our 2016 Auto Reform Information page here: http://lomonteandcollings.ca/2016-auto-reform-information/

In the meantime, it’s important to contact your insurance broker today to review your current accident benefits coverage. Don’t wait until you’ve had an accident to find out you don’t have the coverage you need.

Staff Party at The Kitchen by Food In Motion

cheese platter

Every year on the last Thursday before the holidays, Lomonte & Collings has a staff party. It’s an evening of laughter, eating too much, a few drinks and a particularly vicious gift exchange that involves scheming and thievery to try and steal the most coveted items from coworkers. It’s all very in character with the season.

This year our party was held at The Kitchen by Food in Motion. It’s a flexible full-service catering and event space in Aurora, Ontario. Owners John Cosentino and Danielle Greco have combined their respective skills as chef and nutritionist to create a unique and engaging dining experience.

 

John Cosentino & Danielle Greco

John Cosentino & Danielle Greco of The Kitchen by Food in Motion

 

From the moment you walk in, you can tell this isn’t your typical establishment. The kitchen sort of spills out and blends into the cozy dining area giving guests a front row seat to watch the chefs prepare the dishes. You almost feel like you’re part of the action, as if you’ve been invited into someone’s home to share a meal with them.

The food was incredible and the menu wide ranging. Fresh shucked oysters, cured meats, artisan cheeses, steak Florentine, buffalo cauliflower, fried brussel sprouts, pommes frites, and that’s just to name a few of the dishes we got to try. John and Danielle take great care in curating their menus and use only the freshest ingredients available. After our meal, we had a chance to chat with John and he mentioned his 4 am trip to the Terminal in Toronto to pick up the ingredients for our dinner that night. And here I thought my 6 am wake up time was rough.

Our meal was served family style so everyone got to try a bit of everything. My personal favourite was the buffalo cauliflower and blue cheese, which is saying something because normally, I hate blue cheese. This blue cheese wasn’t overpowering though, it really complemented the kick of the cauliflower. I loved it so much, I kept sneaking pieces from my coworker’s plate when mine was done (sorry, Jeannette!).

Food In Motion does more than just in-house events. They cater, offer take-home meals, and run weekly cooking classes for individuals, businesses and small groups. John and Danielle believe in bringing people together through food and that’s exactly what they did for us. We had a great time trying each dish and discussing our favourites. That is until the secret Santa began. Then all focus was on who had the gift with those grey socks that read “if you can read this, bring me a glass of wine” on the bottom.

You can find Food In Motion at www.foodinmotion.ca or drop them a line at info@foodinmotion.ca. Trust us, your taste buds will thank you.

With that said, we hope all of you had a safe and wonderful holiday season and we look forward to serving all our clients in the New Year. See you in 2017!

 

Lomonte & Collings

We tried to get a group photo with no one blinking, and this was the best we could do. Happy Holidays!

Winter Driving Tips

snowy street

Today is the official first day of winter. I don’t know who decides these things, but it seems to me winter has been lingering about for a couple of weeks now. Seeing as old man winter has officially returned, it seems only fitting to address one of the most dreaded winter activities: driving. Below you’ll find some tips to help you stay safe on the winter roads.

1. Invest in a good set of winter tires.

The rubber used to make winter tires stays softer in chilly temperatures which gives you a better grip on slippery roads.

2. Maintain your vehicle.

Get your breaks, battery and windshield whippers checked. Keep spare windshield washer fluid in your car and try to keep your gas tank at least half full to help prevent freezing gas lines.

3. Be prepared.

Along with the standard ice scraper and a pair of warm winter gloves, it’s a good idea to put together an emergency kit with winter travel in mind. Some useful items to include are:

  • a warm blanket and warm clothes
  • flashlights
  • a shovel
  • a bag of sand to help create friction if you get stuck
  • non-perishable snacks and water
  • some flares
  • booster cables

4. Keep an eye on the weather.

Check the weather reports before embarking on any trips, especially long distance ones. If the driving conditions are poor and you don’t have to travel, it’s best to stay indoors and off the roads.

5. Go slow in snow.

If you do have to drive, give yourself lots of extra time, take it slow and be extra diligent. Remember, even if you can drive well in the snow, that doesn’t mean all the other drivers can.

Spotlight on Special Limits of Insurance

stamp collection

All property insurance policies have certain limitations or exclusions that policyholders need to be aware of. Unfortunately, most policyholders simply skim over their policy and tuck it away in a drawer somewhere.

Now that the holidays are fast approaching, we wanted to bring the “special limits” commonly found in personal property insurance policies to your attention.

What are “Special Limits”?

A “special limit” is the maximum amount that an insurance company will pay in the event of a loss for a specific type of property. Though not an exhaustive list, below are some examples of the types of property that commonly carry special limits are:

  • Jewelry, watches, gems, fur garments and garments trimmed with fur
  • Collections of coins, money, tokens, or stamps
  • Collectibles such as sports cards, sports memorabilia, comic books, etc
  • Silverware, silver-plated ware, gold ware, gold-plated ware and pewter ware
  • Books, tools and instruments pertaining to a business
  • Securities, books of account, deeds, evidences of debt or title, letters of credit, notes other than bank notes, manuscripts, passports, tickets and documents or other evidence to establish ownership or the right to claim a benefit
  • Money, bullion, or cash cards
  • Golf carts, lawn and/or garden tractors including their attachments and accessories
  • Watercraft, their furnishings, equipment, accessories and motors
  • Computer software
  • Antiques
  • Bicycles and related equipment
  • Spare automobile parts

Reviewing your Policy

Each insurer is different. It’s important that you take the time to read through your policy including the actual company wordings. This may seem like a daunting task. The wordings are long with very small print, but its an important exercise that will give you a better understanding of what coverages you have – and you may even discover some coverages you’re missing.

If you do review your policy and find that you want to insure any of the “special limit” items for more than the specified amount, be sure to ask your broker if you can purchase a higher limit by scheduling the item onto your property policy.

As always, if you’re unsure, contact your broker today to find out about the limitation and exclusions on your policy. Don’t wait until there’s been a loss to find out you don’t have the coverage you need.