Disproportionate pain and suffering awards for sprains and strains are making insurance unaffordable for everyone.
Regulations that governed awards for minor injuries ultimately impacted every driver. It was where the insurance system saw the largest drain on resources, and also where few consumers actually saw a benefit. This money and resources used in this portion of the system does not go toward helping drivers recover.
In fact, since changes to the Minor Injury Regulation in 2012, costs associated with bodily injury claims increased by 72%, going from an average of $40,439 in 2011 to $70,024 in 2021. Over that time, insurers paid out considerably more in claims, expenses and premium taxes than they collected in earned premiums. As a result, Alberta drivers now pay the second highest auto insurance premiums in Canada.