Carrying a certificate of insurance while driving your vehicle in India is mandatory. It serves as evidence of insurance and complies with the legal requirements. While driving a car, if you encounter an accident, you immediately notify your car insurance company and follow the required procedure to claim the insurance. Working with your insurer after the accident ensures your claim gets adequately settled. Comparing the premium amounts of different car insurance policies from various insurance companies will help you make an informed decision. Experts suggest that many individuals in India settle for small cover owing to high premiums. In the event of an accident, it can seem confusing and challenging to accomplish the insurance claim process. The present article will guide you on all the steps required to follow and aspects to be aware of to successfully make an insurance claim for a car for accidental damages.
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Process To Follow To Make A Car Insurance Claim For Accidental Damages
Key steps involved in the car insurance claim process for accidental damages are described below:
Notify Your Insurance Provider
In a car accident, you should first call your car insurance company to notify them about the accident. Provide them with all the necessary details about the damages to the car. Remember not to conceal any information; otherwise, it may be problematic when settling claims.
File an FIR
The next step is to immediately inform the police regarding the accident and file a First Information Report (FIR). FIR is mandatory in cases like road accidents, theft, and fire. You must file an FIR if a third party is involved in a particular accident. You don’t need to file an FIR if your car has encountered minor scratches and dents.
Gather Evidences
It is one of the most essential steps in the car insurance process for a claim. Remember to take clear and enough pictures of the damages and places where signs of accidents are apparent. The photographs must portray damages so the insurance company can inspect the physical damages and settle the claim accordingly. Moreover, you must provide details of the vehicle of the third party involved in the accident.
Vehicle Inspection
The insurance provider will appoint a surveyor to evaluate the damage to your car. The surveyor will create a report, which will be sent to you and the insurance provider. The details mentioned in this report will indicate that the car has to be sent to a garage for repair.
The final report from the surveyor will allow your insurance provider to settle claims for accidental damage. Depending on which option you have selected, the claim can be settled either cashless or as a reimbursement. Never tow the car yourself; otherwise, it may be damaged further.
Submission of Necessary Documents
For the claim process, the car insurance company needs certain documents. The list of documents you will need is mentioned in a later section of this article. Make sure to submit these documents promptly for a hassle-free claim process. After you submit the claim form and necessary documents, the insurance company estimates the coverage (based on the accidental damage).
Get The Car Repaired
The repair process begins after the insurance claim for a car gets approved. You can take your car for repair to the garage/authorized repair workshop yourself or ask your insurance provider to repair it. The car insurance company will reimburse you for the repair expense or provide a settlement (if total loss is declared for your car).
Claim Settlement
The claim settlement process begins after you submit the necessary documents and the surveyor submits the final report to your insurance provider. In the case of a cashless settlement option, the repair costs get settled with the network garage. If you have chosen the reimbursement settlement option, the claim settlement happens after you submit the repair amount receipts to the insurance provider.
Review Your Car Insurance Policy
You must be thoroughly familiar with accidental insurance claim for a car and the coverage. Specifically, you must understand your deductibles, coverage limits, and the No Claim Bonus (NCB). The corresponding knowledge will help you estimate the amount you can claim.
Go through your car insurance policy to be familiar with these terms:
Coverage Limits: They denote the maximum amount your insurance provider will pay for vehicle damage or physical injury.
Deductibles: The amounts you should pay out of pocket before receiving the insurance coverage are called deductibles.
No Claim Bonus (NCB): It indicates the discount you get on your premium for every claim-free year. Note that these discounts are applicable on renewal of the policy. They range from 20% to 50% based on your car type and the number of claim-free years.
Documents Required
You must prepare the following documents to ensure a smooth car accident claim process.
- Proof of Insurance (cover note or copy of policy document)
- FIR copy (applicable in cases like physical injury, third-party damage, and death)
- Duly filled and signed claim form
- Copy of Registration Certificate (RC) of the car
- Copy of the driver’s driving license
- Tax Receipt
- Repair estimate
- Original payment receipt
- Revenue Stamp
- Vehicle inspection address (if the car is not serviced at the nearest garage)
- Medical receipts (applicable if it’s a physical injury)
- Engine number and chassis number
- Date, time, and location of the accident
- The Kilometer reading of the car
Precautions To Take For A Smooth Claim Process
You must exercise some precautions as you encounter an accident. It can be challenging, but staying aware of the precautions will make the car accident claim process smooth and effective.
Make Sure To File The Claim Timely
Your car insurance policy helps cover the financial liabilities of damages caused to your car and the third party. If you don’t file a claim within the prescribed time frame, your insurance provider may disapprove the claim. Consequently, you will have to face a significant expense.
Don’t Run Away
Many individuals run away out of fear when they meet with a car accident. It is recommended that the situation be dealt with confidently. If you run away, you will be deemed suspicious, and your insurance claim process will become problematic. Running away may lead to legal consequences and significant expenses based on the accident’s severity. Hence, you must stay calm and politely deal with your insurance provider.
Ensure Clear Communication
You must not argue with the third party. Carefully handle the situation and ensure a practical and transparent discussion with them.
Conclusion
You must provide correct details to ensure hassle-free progress of your car accident claim process and avoid issues later. Remember to review all the insurance policy details before filing the claim. Timely submitting all the required documents will result in a smooth reimbursement process. Communicating with your insurer will eliminate confusion and guarantee a hassle-free experience. Following the steps outlined above will help you explore the maximum possible benefits of your car insurance policy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What process takes place after you file the insurance claim for your car?
Once you have informed your insurer, they will commence the claim settlement process. They will first appoint a surveyor to examine the damages. The car insurance company will settle the claim if it conforms to the norms of your policy.
How many times can an individual claim car insurance?
As per the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), an individual can make a car insurance claim any number of times.
Why is the vehicle survey process essential to file an insurance claim for accidental damage?
The surveyor needs to inspect the damages caused in your car and accordingly proceed with your car accident claim process. Many insurance providers support e-inspection to make the process faster. You can consult your insurer to understand this and ensure a smooth claim process.
What happens if I don’t inform the insurance provider about the car’s accidental damage within the stipulated time?
If you fail to notify your insurance provider about the car’s accidental damage, your claim can be rejected, as per their terms and conditions.