Can You File a Claim for Bike Insurance Without an Accident?
Can You File a Claim for Bike Insurance Without an Accident?
Published on July 07, 2023. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes
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There are a multitude of reasons to opt for a bike over a car. If you are worried about your carbon footprint, a bike will help you keep your footprint in check. At the same time, you can plan rides with your friends or partners without having to worry much. And most importantly, you can be a part of a bigger community, which allows you to be social with like-minded people. However, a crucial part of owning a bike is getting third party bike insurance, as it is mandated by the law.
Not having insurance for your bike can lead to a lot of potential financial losses. Right from paying a hefty penalty to bearing the cost of repairs or injuries. Leaving your bike uninsured can lead to a lot of headaches.
Once you do purchase a policy, it is important to know when you can and when you cannot claim the insurance. Here is all that you need to know about claims.
Claiming your bike insurance policy
If you have purchased comprehensive bike insurance, knowing its capabilities is essential. It will allow you to claim the policy and avoid any unwanted rejections. Here are the different situations when you can claim the policy.
1. Damage due to natural calamities
Our planet has been going through a lot of climatic changes and an increase in the instances of natural calamities is a testament to the same. It was only recently that a cyclone hit the western part of the country. And there are regular occurrences of cyclones in the eastern belt of India as well. It is only sensible to protect your bike against such natural calamities. Any damage to your bike due to cyclones, floods, earthquakes, lightning, etc. will be covered by the policy.
2. Theft of bike
If you are a bit unfortunate, there can be an attempt to burglary or theft of your bike. This can be a vital protection to have, given that a considerable number of vehicles get stolen in India. If you opt for a comprehensive plan, your insurance provider will compensate you with the IDV or the insured declared value of the bike.
3. Fire
A vehicle catching fire is one of the biggest fears that a lot of owners have. If you do not have a policy and your bike catches fire or explodes, you lose the entire bike. However, a comprehensive plan will make sure that you receive the IDV of the bike as compensation for the fire or explosion. It must be noted that the fire claims will only be settled if they are accidental.
4. Man-made calamities
There are a lot of activities that humans do, which can cause significant damage to properties and vehicles. Some common examples of such activities include riots, strikes, vandalism, etc. If your bike is damaged due to any such instance, your insurance provider has your back.
5. Accidents
Lastly, if your vehicle is involved in an accident, the insurance policy will cover damages to your vehicle. If any other individual or vehicle is injured or damaged, the third party component will cover them.
Common reasons for claim rejections
An important aspect of any insurance policy is both inclusions and exclusions. We have seen the inclusions of a bike insurance policy. However, exclusions are instances, where the insurance provider will not honour the policy. The following are some common examples, where a policy claim can be rejected by the insurance provider.
1. It is completely prohibited to ride under the influence of any intoxicating substances. If you are found to be riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs and meet with an accident, the insurance provider will reject such accidental damage claims.
2. Most insurance providers have a window within which you must inform them about the accident. If you fail to inform them within this period, there is a good chance of them rejecting the claim. As a rule of thumb, you must inform your insurance provider about an accident, within 48 hours of the accident.
3. If your bike is not properly registered with an RTO, your insurance provider can reject any claims for the policy.
4. In the event of an accident, if the insured does not have a valid driving licence, the insurance provider can reject any claims for the policy. The same applies if the driving licence has expired.
5. For owners who have purchased a bike from another individual, it is important to get the insurance transferred within 15 days of the transfer of ownership. Failing to do so will leave you without a valid policy and your insurance provider will reject any claims for the policy during this period.
6. Overloading your bike or riding with three people is strictly prohibited per the rules and regulations. If you have overloaded your bike and meet with an accident, the insurance provider can reject any such claims.
7. While filing for a claim, if you do not disclose accurate information and try to get a higher claim by misinterpreting the facts, it will increase the chances of claim rejection from your insurance provider.
Buying two wheeler insurance online is a preferred mode of purchase for a number of reasons. For starters, it is the more affordable option as you can compare policies from different providers before buying one. Also, it allows you to understand the policy in a bit more detail, which can help you make an informed decision about filing a claim. For example, you can avoid all the exclusions and only file a claim for the situations mentioned above.
Conclusion
Now that we have seen the different conditions, where you can file a claim for your policy, Yes you can claim even if there is no accident. If there are any damages due to natural calamities or fire, you can claim your comprehensive two wheeler insurance policy.
Disclaimer : The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales
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