The claimants were out for a walk with their spouses when a member of their group, a close relative, was struck by a motor vehicle in a pedestrian accident. The claimants, who were uninsured, applied for accident benefits under the driver’s policy, claiming emotional shock and psychological distress. Adjudicator Norris had previously ruled that the claimants did not meet the definition of an “insured person” in section 3(1) of the SABS, and therefore had no entitlement to accident benefits under the driver’s policy. The claimants requested Reconsideration of the decision. The claimants alleged that Adjudicator Norris erred in fact or law by failing to recognize the broad, consumer-protecting threshold of section 3(1). Adjudicator Norris disagreed, noting that while protections did exist, the claimants had no relation to the named insured (driver) as required by law to claim benefits, and as unfortunate as the event may have been, they were not entitled to claim accident benefits from the insured driver. The request for reconsideration was denied.
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