GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

In India, awareness about motor insurance has grown significantly in the last few years. The number of insurance policyholders is slowly but steadily increasing. The increasing means of living and demand for luxury goods to improve convenience are anticipated to keep driving the market for motor insurance. Comprehensive motor insurance consisting of own damages and third-party covers is expected to grow more in the coming future.

Third-party liability insurance is mandatory to protect the driver against legal and accidental liability, financial loss or property damage, and medical expenses he may face after an accident. Despite its advantages, settling claims is a lengthy and costly procedure. The knock-for-knock agreement is a recently introduced aspect of motor insurance to simplify the process and increase the policyholder base and satisfaction.

This blog discusses all you need to know about the knock-for-knock agreement.

The issue before the knock-for-knock agreement:

When an accident happens, the persons involved can contact their insurance companies to compensate the other party for damages. However, this is a lengthy procedure that may sometimes take months to settle with unfavourable conditions. It is also still being determined whether or not the insurer will accept the claim.

In the background of such uncertainties, the affected party has no choice but to file a suit in court, which takes additional time and cost. The knock-for-knock agreement aims to eliminate this waiting period by providing an alternate solution to settle the claim among the parties without the court's involvement.

An alternative approach using a knock-for-knock agreement:

The knock-for-knock agreement is signed by two or more motor insurance companies insuring two or more parties involved in a motor accident. Since these companies are aware of the tedious claim settlement process, they use this alternative agreement and promise to bear the expenses for repairs or damages to their client instead of claiming the amount from the other party. Introduced in 2001 by the General Insurance Council, a motor insurance company doesn't need to sign such an agreement to make the claim process quick.

Advantages of knock-for-knock agreement:

While the concept is simple to understand, here is the summary of the benefits of signing a knock-for-knock agreement:

● Speedy settlement of claims

● Eliminates the need for the involvement of law

● Reduces the expenses required to be borne in case of proving the liability of the third party to derive a settlement from his insurer

Conditions for knock-for-knock agreement:

Three primary conditions are applicable for claims that are admissible under a knock-for-knock agreement.

1. Accidents must occur within geographical boundaries:
The insurance company decides such boundaries before the lodging of the claim. Generally, the limit is considered to be the defined geographical boundaries of India. It is implied that any accident outside the border cannot be admitted as a claim under a knock-for-knock agreement.

2. The claim must be filed as own damages:
Under the agreement, each motor insurance company agrees to compensate its client instead of demanding compensation from the other party. This claim can no longer be filed as third-party damages and is processed as "own damage". Therefore, you must purchase your "own damages" cover, without which you cannot complete this procedure.

3. Limit on the claim amount:
The admissible claim cannot exceed the insured declared value (IDV) previously mentioned in the policy.

The knock-for-knock agreement is a lesser-known aspect of motor insurance that makes claim settlements speedy and inexpensive. It saves the resources of a motor insurance company that agrees to such a contract. Explore this aspect to know more about its seamless benefits before buying motor insurance in India.

Click HERE to buy reliable motor insurance in India.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

A critical safety element that is now standard in all modern vehicles is the anti-lock braking system, or ABS. The ABS is frequently marketed as an efficient breaking mechanism that significantly reduces accident risk by facilitating a good grip over the vehicle. We go over everything you need to know about ABS, including its advantages, how it works, and the several kinds you can find in modern vehicles.

What exactly is "anti-lock braking"?

The name of the technology suggests that when you apply the brakes, ABS keeps the wheels from locking. It shortens the distance you need to stop and lets you move or "steer" the car while the brakes are still on. This way, you can avoid collisions from sudden braking and crash into fellow vehicles or objects.

What is the purpose of ABS?

Irrespective of the car's speed, when you press the brake pedal (without ABS), the wheels lock up because the brake pads make tight contact with the wheel discs and stop the wheels from turning.

The car skids because of its momentum when the wheels stop rotating. As a result, the driver has no control over the wheels. Most frequently, this can result in severe accidents.

What are the main components of ABS?

Speed sensors, valves, a pump, and an ECU comprise most ABS parts.

Speed sensors:
These sensors are important to keep track of the wheels' speed.
Valves:
In the brake line, some valves regulate the pressure on the brakes.
Pumps:
When brakes are used, hydraulic fluid-filled pumps pressure the brake callipers or drums.
Electronic Control Unit (ECU):
In response to the signals from the speed sensors, the ECU acts as the command centre of all the processing.

How is ABS used?

When you use the brakes on a car with ABS, the speed sensors track how slowly the wheels turn. Brakes deliver a signal to the electric control unit when they are about to stop rotating. Using valves and pumps, the ECU removes some of the brake pads from the wheels, allowing them to continue spinning. When you apply heavy brakes, ABS enables the wheels to continue turning, giving you control over the car.

Without ABS, when you hit the brakes, the wheels would stop or lock up immediately, causing the car to slide. In this situation, the vehicle would skid and travel a fair distance. It would be challenging to turn your vehicle because the wheels were locked. ABS helps you slow down efficiently, deploy uniform braking, and quickly control your car and avoid it from spinning.

ABS benefits:

● Uneven tyre wear is avoided because the wheels don't lock up when the automobile is stopped.

● The Traction Control System (TCS) and ABS share specific fundamental architectures, which facilitate TCS installation on vehicles in manufacturing facilities.

● You may steer the automobile around obstacles when braking hard, which can reduce brake pad and brake disc wear.

● Minimises the risk of severe accidents due to sudden braking and enhances the car's stability post-braking.

When the brakes are applied hard at high speeds, ABS keeps the wheels from locking up, which makes it much less likely that a deadly accident will happen. The effectiveness of the anti-lock braking system has been demonstrated everywhere. Anti-lock brake systems are now so critical to safety that the Indian government has made them a requirement.

Safety is paramount, and braking is a crucial part of vehicle safety. It's also a good idea to get online motor insurance to upgrade the security of the vehicle and the owner. Motor insurance covers car owners' liabilities and protects them from damage to their cars and any legal obligations they may face. Browse through different options and opt for online motor insurance with the best premium and benefits that suit your needs.

Click HERE to buy online motor insurance.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Most households should foresee drainage issues. We can only hope that the drains in our homes are in good condition because they are out of our sight. But several early indicators alert us to a drainage issue. If left unattended, these drainage concerns put people at risk and give rise to crises like safety, health, and financial problems when dealing with poor drainage conditions.

Seven typical drainage issues have been discovered to guarantee a flawless drainage system by sorting these issues:

1. Even with safety precautions, a clog in the drain system is unavoidable, and people flush many things down into the drain. Although it might begin as a slow-moving drain, it could eventually worsen and end up blocked. It is crucial to try an at-home fix for a blockage as soon as it gets noticed.

2. The installation, regular cleaning, and maintenance of gutters and downspouts are essential for the exteriors of dwellings. Numerous issues have arisen when several people take responsibility for their work independently. Both insufficient pipe installation and a lack of plumbing experience are the leading causes. If pipes aren't put in the right way, they can cause plumbing issues, broken tubes, and other property damage, along with the improper passage of sewage.

3. Drain pipes are subjected to a lot of wear and tear, resulting in fractures or cracks that cause the pipes to have open joints. Water leaks from these cracks could result in serious issues in the neighbourhood and even structural damage. Another indication of leaks and an excess of moisture is the development of mould. Pest infestations that enter through pipeline cracks are another issue about pipe breaking and leakage. Fortunately, one can easily fix these problems with prompt diagnosis.

4. With the right slope, water will flow away from the house. It has a big effect on the slope of the land so that the drainage moves away from buildings, especially in places that need to be paved, like parking lots and driveways. Sometimes, the builder might get this wrong and let water seep in or get stuck in the structure, damaging the walls.

5. The growth of plants can be dangerous to plumbing. In the trenches built around pipes and drains, tree roots can obstruct or destroy pipework as they develop and spread. They can enter the drainage system through openings, mainly already-damaged joints. They usually leave a mess of odours and have significant health risks.

6. Heavy rain or storms and the debris they leave behind can cause clogs, floods, or overflows in the drainage system if not appropriately covered.

7. Flooding can put pressure on pipes and can damage the ground. An inadequate drainage system or pipes is another sign of outdoor flooding.

8. Assume your house is next door to your neighbour's. Even if you take all the proper steps, there is still a chance that water from your neighbours' properties will cause damage to your property. It can occur because of a flood on their land or simply because your property is lower than theirs. To prevent water runoff from the neighbours, you must take the appropriate actions and ask for effective waterproofing of the floor.

These problems show how important it is to keep up with drainage system maintenance to avoid extreme issues. Even though most drainage problems aren't evident at first glance, the above points will help you figure out what's wrong and how to fix it.

Conduct periodic inspections of your house's drainage system and look for damages in the pipes, sinks, or ducts. Immediately call the experts to fix it before the issue becomes severe. Ensure regular cleaning of the drains to avoid clogging and unwanted growth of plants. To deal with other problems related to the well-being of your home, like protection from damages to belongings due to natural calamities and other issues like riots, invest in a reliable home insurance India policy. This will provide you with optimum coverage for your home financial support by compensating for the damages caused.

Click HERE to buy home insurance India.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Who does not love to travel in the winter season? The chilly weather with snow-clad mountains or the cool climate on the beaches and plains can be delightful and welcoming. Taking advantage of the pleasant climate and an ideal season to travel, numerous tourists plan family holidays and group tours to explore the best winter destinations in India. But the idea of winter travel reminds us of the arduous task of carrying thick, heavy, woollen clothing.

Are you planning a family trip or a solo adventure this winter? Here are a few effective winter travel tips for enjoying a memorable trip.

1. Plan in advance:
Winter travel in December and January coincides with Christmas and New Year vacations in schools and holidays in offices. Hence, there is usually a lot of crowd at popular vacation spots and heavy bookings on flights, trains, and hotels.
Hence, you should always plan your winter trip well in advance. Book your travel tickets and accommodations as early as possible so that you don’t have to cancel your trip at the last moment due to the unavailability of travel tickets or rooms in good hotels.
Even if you can get flight tickets and good accommodation at the last moment, you will have to pay exorbitant rates. So why not plan in advance, save money and make your trip memorable?

2. Check your flight and train departure:
Always check the timings of your flight or train departure in the winter season before leaving home. They are usually delayed and are sometimes even cancelled due to heavy fog and low visibility. Keep an alternate route or service in mind in case of any cancellations. This will ensure that your travel plan gets successful.

3. Travel light:
You will wonder how we can travel light with bulky woollen clothes, especially if we are visiting some cold place or a hill station. It is possible by following some simple tips. Wear your most bulky jacket, sweater, shrug, or scarf on the day you have to travel. This will mean you will not have to pack them inside your bags. Also, wear your heavy boots and pack your lighter shoes or slip-on in your bag.
Do not pack multiple t-shirts, tops, or jeans with you. Repeat them. What you wear on the top is only visible in winter. Keep changing your jacket, shrug, or coat, and no one will know you are repeating your dresses! Also, buy woollen clothes of superior quality so that you don’t need multiple layers of clothing to keep you warm. Carry thermal innerwear of good quality as they are light and warm.

4. Rent travel gear:
You don’t need to carry your travel gear everywhere you travel in winter. For example, if you want to ski in the snow, you can rent all the essential gear, including snow boots and overcoats, from the resort you are staying in.

5. Medication:
The cold season brings many ailments, such as flu or fever, nasal congestion, cough, etc. Always carry appropriate medication, especially when travelling with kids and the elderly. Also, use small cases for carrying your cold cream and moisturiser so they only take up a little space.

Make your winter trip special and memorable by following the above travel ideas. Another important tip is to go for your true companion that will never leave your side, i.e., travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against trip cancellations, lost baggage, damage to your luggage, etc. You can take an annual plan to cover all your trips or insure only a particular trip.

Insurance will also offer coverage in case of any medical emergency and assistance arising during your trip. Make your life secure and tension-free by choosing a wide variety of general insurance policies. Moreover, buy online general insurance from the ease of your home with a few clicks, additional benefits, and the best premium rates. We wish you a happy winter!

Click HERE to buy online general insurance before planning your winter travel trip.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.