Data shows severe weather, not injuries, behind spike used to justify Alberta's no-fault auto insurance move: lawyers group

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNewsLocal NewsPolitics Data shows severe weather, not injuries, behind spike used to justify Alberta's no-fault auto insurance move: lawyers group Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association says new system will leave injured Albertans at the mercy of the insurance companies Author of the article: By Jonny Wakefield Published Sep 21, 2026 4 minute read Join the conversation A woman and her son survey the damage after a hail storm tore through Calgary in August 2024. A lawyers' group says new data show a spike in insurance payouts was a result of the 2024 storm, not "out of control" injury claims cited by the Alberta government in its shift to no-fault auto insurance. Jim Wells/Postmedia Article content Newly released data show severe storms — not ballooning injury costs — were behind the spike in claims Alberta’s United Conservative government is using to justify the switch to no-fault auto insurance, a lawyers’ group says. Article content Last week, the Alberta Auto Insurance Rate Board (AIRB) released a pair of reports stating 88 per cent of drivers will see a reduction in premiums under the UCP’s no-fault-style Care-First system, which takes effect Jan. 1. Article content Article content Article content The Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association (ACTLA), however, says the reports undermine claims that no-fault insurance — which will restrict the ability of injured motorists to sue in court — is needed to address “out of control” injury costs that are allegedly driving up premiums and forcing insurance companies out of the Alberta market. Article content Headline News Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content ACTLA said the AIRB data show claim costs across all coverages fell “sharply” between 2024 and 2025, from $1,825 to $1,398. The 2024 “spike” was primarily due to a massive Calgary hail storm that caused billions in damage, ACTLA said. Article content “Albertans are being told that their rights must be taken away to control costs — yet the AIRB’s own data shows those costs are going down,” ACTLA chair Laura Comfort said in a Monday news release. “Care-First would strip injured people of the ability to seek fair compensation, while insurers continue to raise…