Imagine this: the festive season is in full swing. You enjoy the celebrations, but amidst the joyous chaos, your car gets scratched by a stray firework or dented in a crowded parking lot. What do you do next? Handling festive damage can be stressful, but with the right knowledge about car insurance claims, you can deal with this situation smoothly. Let’s discuss what festive damages car insurance covers and the step-by-step guide to filing a claim for such damages. We will also cover some key points you should know before filing a claim.
Types of festive damages covered by insurance
Here are some of the common scenarios during festivals that your insurer covers:
- Accidents
During festive seasons, road accidents are common. Suppose on Holi’s eve, you are driving back home. The streets are jam-packed with cars honking impatiently and pedestrians crossing recklessly. Suddenly, a motorist, high on alcohol, comes out of nowhere and crashes into your car. In this case, your insurer will take care of the repair and replacement bills.
- Loss by fire
Suppose it is a Diwali night, and you are enjoying the festival with your family by lighting diyas and bursting crackers. Suddenly, a stray rocket from a neighbour’s celebration lands on your parked car and, within minutes, sets it ablaze.
Fire incidents like this are common during Diwali due to overcrowding, improper firecracker handling, and lack of safety measures. Fortunately, the damage is covered if you have a comprehensive car insurance policy. Moreover, with the ‘return to invoice’ add-on, if your car is irreparably damaged, the insurer will compensate you with the original purchase price of your vehicle.
- Third-party liability
During Diwali, the smoke from fireworks often reduces visibility on roads. Imagine you are driving your car at a moderate speed in poor visibility. Suddenly, someone crosses the road directly in front of you, and before you can react, your car hits them. In such a situation, car insurance not only covers the injured person’s medical costs but also compensates for any damage to their property. For instance, if the person crossing the road was on a bicycle and their bicycle got damaged in the accident, the insurance will cover the repair or replacement costs for the bicycle as well.
- Covers theft
Theft incidents increase during festivals. It is Holi, and you visit your friend’s place to play with colours, parking your car by the roadside. A person, completely covered in colours, pretends they have lost their car keys. Taking advantage of the situation, they break the lock and steal your car. In such cases, car insurance proves useful, as it compensates you with your car’s insured declared value (IDV)— the market price minus depreciation.
How to raise a claim for festive damage?
If your vehicle is damaged during the festive season, all you need to do is follow the steps below:
- Step 1: If anyone is injured, seek medical help without delay. If possible, move your vehicle to a secure spot to avoid additional accidents or traffic congestion.
- Step 2: Inform your insurer immediately after your car sustains damage or in the event of third-party liability.
- Step 3: in cases of theft or an accident, lodge an fir at the nearest police station and ask the concerned officer to provide you with a copy of the complaint.
- Step 4: Take clear photographs of the accident or any damage to your vehicle. Capture multiple angles, close-ups, and wider shots to present a complete picture of the incident. These images are crucial evidence during the claims process.
- Step 5: Get your vehicle towed to the nearby network garage for cashless claims. Fill out the claim form and submit the necessary documents and an estimated repair bill.
- Step 6: The insurer will send an inspecting officer to assess the damage. Once they submit their report and the claim executive verifies the details and grants approval, the claim amount will be settled directly with the service centre.
Things to keep in mind when filing car insurance claims during the festive season
Before you proceed with the claim on a car insurance app, it is important to understand that there are certain scenarios in which your application may face rejection. Here are the details:
- If, during the accident on the eve of a festival, you are found driving without a valid licence or are found to be drunk, the insurer won’t accept your claims.
- If you use your private car for commercial purposes, such as using it in your logistics business to deliver goods during a festival, the insurer is not liable to accept claims for vehicle damage.
- If you are using your covered vehicle for racing activities or to carry out any illegal transaction, any damage that it sustains during the course of that event is subject to policy exclusion.
- If your vehicle is found to be driven by a minor or someone declared legally incompetent, regardless of whether it is during a festive period, the insurer won’t pay for damages.
Conclusion
Handling car insurance claims for festive damage requires prompt action, thorough documentation, and clear communication with your insurance provider. By understanding your policy coverage and following the discussed steps, you can ensure a smoother process in case of any unfortunate incidents during festive celebrations.
