How to Claim Two Wheeler Insurance After Accident?

1. If anyone is injured in the accident, you should call an ambulance for medical assistance.
2. You should also ensure that you do not make any statements on admission of fault to the police, witnesses, the other affected party, or insurance adjusters. Irrespective of whether the accident was caused by you or not, you should not be taking ownership for the mishap.
3. Make a note of the names and contact details of the other party and witnesses.
4. Get a clear idea of how the accident took place. If possible, take photographs of the accident scene and note down any other information that seems relevant to you.

Contacting your Insurer

After the accident, without too much of delay, you should contact your insurance provider and inform them about the mishap.

1. You should provide as much information as possible to the insurer, including the police incident number. You should also of the other affected party, and the names and contact details of the witnesses.

1. You should ensure that you do not admit any fault, as this could prove to be detrimental in the claim settlement process.
2. If you intend to make a claim, your insurance company may ask an assessor to identify the extent of damage and the associated costs. You could take the bike to an authorised garage for the assessment. In case you choose to get the repair work done at a garage of your choice, you may have difficulty in getting a reimbursement for the entire amount.

Fault Assessment

If the other driver was completely responsible for the accident, your insurance provider may work directly with his/her insurer for the damage expenses.

1. If the damages incurred by your vehicle exceed the limits mentioned in the policy, then your insurer may offer you an amount for the vehicle, less any deductibles. If you are unable to agree on a figure as write-off, you should consider consulting a lawyer.
2. It is a good practise to carefully review the accident report generated by your insurer, and their fault assessment documents. This information is usually available online, or can be procured upon request. In case you feel that your insurance company is assigning you the fault of the mishap improperly, you can raise an objection with the insurer and request for a re-assessment. If the insurance provider refuses to honour this, you may contact a lawyer.

Property Damage

Insurance companies generally have a network of authorised garages where the repair work after accidents will be done in a reliable and cost-effective manner. You can choose to get your vehicle repaired at such a garage, and avail the benefits of claim settlement without having to bear the cost of the repairs upfront.

1. Network garages also have close ties with the insurer, and you will be free from the hassles of claim settlement when you get the repair work done there. You will be required to only bear the cost of excesses and depreciation on the vehicle.
2. You may also be provided a replacement bike by the insurer in the interim.
3. If you are involved in an accident with an uninsured vehicle, you can raise a claim from your insurer in case you have comprehensive coverage. But you should note that you will lose the NCB benefit on your policy in the claim process.

Physical Injuries

In the event of an accident, if you have suffered injuries, you can avail the reimbursement of your hospitalisation bills. This is included as part of the coverage of a comprehensive two-wheeler insurance policy. If the injury is significant, you may be liable to additional entitlements such as compensation for permanent disability, damages for suffering, etc.

Settlement Agreement with Third-Party

You should ensure that you do not get into any agreements with the party affected by the accident.

1. By settling the matter for cash or getting into an agreement, you could be forfeiting any future claims against that individual.
2. Your policy may even be voided if you make undisclosed deals in association with accidents.
3. The safest way to deal with an accident is to report the incident to the police, inform the insurer, and wait for the completion of their investigation. In case of any disputes, you may consult a lawyer.

In summary, it is advisable to be covered by a comprehensive two-wheeler insurance policy, so that you can avail maximum protection for your vehicle. You should also read through your policy documents in an elaborate manner so that you are aware of the inclusions and exclusions, and would be better prepared in the unforeseen event of an accident.