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On September 30, 2010, the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board is holding a hearing to “examine the effect, if any, of Minor Injury Cap Reform on the Automobile Insurance Industry in Nova Scotia.”
The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board regulates the automobile insurance industry in Nova Scotia. One of the functions of the Review Board is to allow or deny auto insurance rate increases proposed by insurance companies. This purpose of this hearing is for the Review Board to hear evidence on what impact, if any, the Minor Injury Regulations have had on insurance company profits and insurance “claims costs”.
The Review Board has issue a Public Notice of the Hearing. Anyone is entitled to attend the hearing and anyone can make submissions. The conditions for making oral and written submissions are set out in the Public Notice.
Earlier this year the NDP government made changes to Nova Scotia’s Minor Injury Regulations, including 1) redefining “Minor Injury” to only include “Sprains, Strains and Whiplash” and 2) raising the Minor Injury Cap from $2,500 to $7,500. After the changes came in, the insurance industry said would likely result in higher auto insurance premiums for consumers. Critics of the insurance industry, have accused them of cooking the books, to hide or explain away billions of dollar profits made after the original $2,500 Cap took effect in November 2003.
David Brannen is a personal injury lawyer from Halifax, Nova Scotia who practices exclusively in the areas of personal injury and insurance cases. 
