Chapter 2 Flashcards
Define tort
A legal wrong arising from duty fixed by law. A breach of this duty that causes injury to persons or property is repressible by legal action for damages. Liability for tort involves a private or civil wrong or injury and is distinct from that under contract in that the duty is owned to people generally rather than Tina specified individual
Negligence
Failure to use the degree of care expected from a reasonable and prudent person
Liability insurance
Insurance that agrees to indemnify the insured by law to pay to third parties as damages for bodily injury or damage to property. The maximum amount of insurance provided under a policy of liability insurance.
What is the tort system ?
under tort law, one person a is found at fault due to negligence for damage to person B’s automobile, person b as the third party looks to person a. When person b is responsible for damaging person A’s automobile, person a expects to recover from him or her to the extent of his or her liability.
Why do people purchase liability insurance?
people purchase liability insurance from an insurer for financial protection against the claims of another party, the third party.
Define onus of proof
The burden or responsibility of proof, and is sometimes referred to by its Latin term onus probandi
Define driver’s fault chart
a set of accident scenarios to determine fault reliability between drivers involved in an accident and the compensation payable. It takes into account the highway traffic code and case law
Define precedent
Illegal decision that serves as a basis to resolve subsequent disputes in similar cases
Define direct compensation
in the event of an accident, each insured will obtain compensation from his or her according to the insurance degree of fault for an accident
What is the direct compensation system
direct compensation systems allow people to be compensated by their own insurer for damage caused by a third party. Access to the civil Justice system to recover damages is strictly limited or banned. Ensured cannot claim against third parties or third parties insurers. Their own insurers will am dignify them for the cost of repairs as well as damage to contents carried in the vehicle and its loss of use to the extent that they are not at fault. automobile insurance policies in these systems include direct compensation property damage coverage to provide this compensation.
Define direct compensation property damage
Direct compensation property damage covers damage to, or the loss of use of, and automobile or its contents, to the extent that the driver of the other vehicle was at fault for the accident. It is called direct compensation because even though someone else caused the damage, the insured person collects directly from his or her insurer instead of from the person who caused the accident
Define legal liability
Liability imposed by law on individuals or corporations to pay for harm done to others. Such a law may be the common law statute law or Customs that over a period of time have taken on the same status as law. Legal liability may also be assumed under the terms of contract
List the aims of direct compensation systems and the ultimate aim
Ultimate aim: cost savings that result in lower premiums
Less investigation Less subrogation Less litigation Speedier settlements for insureds Insureds deal only with their own insurer
Define additional insured
a person other than the named insured who is protected by the terms of the policy the additional insured may be named or unnamed
Define minimum limits
The smallest amount of third-party liability insurance that may be purchased in any Canadian jurisdiction
Define priorities of payment
A system that specifies how much of the minimum policy limit will apply to bodily and reclaims and how much will apply to property damage claims in situations where there is not enough insurance to cover all the combined claims
Who is the insured under third party liability coverage under the owner’s policy SPF 1
insured means not only the named insured under the policy, but also anyone who personally drives the automobile or operates a part of it with the insurance consent
What constitutes you to be legally liable for injuries or damage to other persons?
The driver owner must either have deliberately cause the injury or damage or be considered negligent to some degree
the possibilities of being involved in an accident and being found negligent and therefore responsible to third parties are increasing constantly list five main causes of this
The greater numbers of vehicles and drivers on the roads
The continual increase in the number of vehicular accidents
The use of hand held technology and media devices installed in vehicles
The use of automated and unique vehicles
Changes in road infrastructure
List exclusions under third party liability coverage
- Liability imposed on an insured by a workers compensation law
- loss or damage to an employee of an insured who is engaged in operating or repairing the automobile
- damage to property carried in or on the automobile or damage to other property owned, rented by, or in the care, custody, or control of the named insured or other insured persons
- contamination of property being carried
- amounts over the policy limit purchased
Additional coverage available under third party liability coverage require the insurer to do the following:
- pay all costs taxes against the insured and interest on any part of the judgment that is within the limits of the policy after the judgement has been rendered
- reimburse the insured for any outlay for necessary medical aid at the time of the accident causing injury
- investigate, negotiate, and settle claims on behalf of the insured or other insured persons.
- defend the insured and pay the costs of any civil action
- be liable up to the minimum limits prescribed in the province or territory where the accident occured if that limit is higher than the policy limits
- do not defend against a claim that would not be defended if the policy were issued in the province or territory where the accident occured
Ts of the insured under third party liability coverage
The owners policy outlines the following responsibilities for insureds under third party liability coverage:
- Agree to the insurer being appointed as the insureds attorney to conduct civil defense in actions arising out of the ownership use or operation of the automobile
- reimburse the insurer upon demand for any payments it was required by law to make even though it was not otherwise liable for them under this policy this can arise due to absolute liability provisions of the law
Define absolute liability
Liability associated with very dangerous actions often found in cases involving explosives and in many automobile laws. Negligence does not have to be proven
What happens when the insured is sued for greater amounts than their policy limit
The insured May needs to hire a lawyer at their own cost to protect themselves against the additional risk. If a judgment is rendered for the amount greater than their policy limits the insured is responsible for the portion that exceeds policy limits and any post judgment interest on that portion
for example, if the driver is sued for 5 million and the policy limit is only 2 million the driver should hire an attorney since he or she is exposed to a judgment in Access of the policy limit