GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

In the hustle and bustle of today’s modern world, youngsters are always looking for an adrenaline rush. This rush has made extreme sports increasingly popular in this day and age. Due to India’s wide geographical variety, many of these sports are offered in different corners. From exploring the mesmerising aquatic life and corals in Andaman to parasailing in Goa, these sports can push you physically and psychologically out of your comfort zone.

However, checking the coverage offered by your personal accident insurance policy before engaging in such sports is always recommended. This ensures that your insurer provides compensation in case of accidents while participating in adventure sports.

One such extreme sport that is getting increasingly popular among young Indians is powerbocking. This blog will introduce you to powerbocking and the thrill you’ll crave once you indulge in it!

What is powerbocking?

Powerbocking is an extreme sport where players wear jumping stilts and jump to great heights. Jumping stilts are specialised leg attachments containing springs to hoist the person into the air. Jump stilts are very exciting! They enhance your ability to do tricks and flips and help you take greater strides, which makes you run faster. These stilts are called powerbocks after the creator, Alexander Bock, a German inventor who first named them powerskip.

It is a popular sport in urban cities, and finding a surface on which you can go powerbocking is essential. Balance being one of the critical factors affecting this sport, it should not be done on grass or dirt, as the boots have a small surface area on the ground, which may lead to injury. Thus, jumping stilts should ideally be used on asphalt or cement. Since this can result in injury due to the hard nature of the surface, you should be equipped with a personal accident insurance policy that covers such accidents and injuries for your physical and financial safety.

While they may seem unfamiliar in Indian settings, they were recently used in an Indian sporting event. Different interesting videos on social media have always been creating a buzz regarding this sporting activity. With time, this event is expected to observe growth in India too.

● Benefits of powerbocking:
Powerbocking makes you feel superhuman without the same risks as other extreme sports. They are most suitable for people who want to feel like bionic humans from the future without any of the associated perils. It is an exciting offbeat adventure sport that one should surely try.

● Risks associated:
Despite being a reasonably harmless sport where the most significant injury is usually a knee scrape, some people have suffered severe injuries while seeking the thrill of jumping in these devices. For such misadventures, it is always advisable to take an extreme sports insurance policy or a personal accident insurance policy covering medical costs for such injuries.

● Powerbocking competitions:
When it comes to any sport, the main thrill of it is the competition. They bring out the competitiveness of the best players in the world and are incredibly engaging to see. As this is a niche adventure sport, there are fewer worldwide competitions, and the most famous ones are in France. The Riser Winter Cup, held each year in Lille, France is one of the most sought-after competitions for powerbockers.

Have you ever watched videos of Kangaroos jumping and wished you could jump that high or take such great strides? Then powerbocking is the perfect sport for you. Just make sure to take the proper precautions before undertaking this sport. And the first step to your security begins with purchasing personal accident insurance policy.

Click HERE to know more about personal accident insurance policy.

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.

Cars have multiple indicators, all with specific functionalities. These indicators play a significant role in keeping you and your car safe, especially while driving. They exhibit deceleration, assist in showing the vehicle's change in direction and make the car's functionalities accessible. They help avoid collisions with other vehicles, thus protecting you from accidents and damages.

We need to understand car indicators in a better way. Let us discuss car indicators structurally, functionally, and common mistakes that can endanger you.

1. The structure of indicators:
Whether attached at the side, front, or rear of your vehicle, the car indicators on the exterior provide information to other people on the road via signals, thus maintaining a safe distance with other cars and pedestrians. These indicators are responsible for ensuring safety on the road.

Usually, a car's signal light consists of three parts assembled together-bulb holder, housing, and cover lens.

• The housing consists of moulded reflectors.

• The bulb holder places one or more light sources relative to the optical system of the light.

• The cover lens is in charge of the light distribution through patterned structures.

2. The functioning of indicators:
The rear light consists of several functions which work on the same brightness level during the day, fog, or night. But thanks to the Adaptive Signal System, the signal lights in the rear combination lamp can adapt to the weather conditions individually. The light intensity can be varied according to the weather and the visibility conditions.
More LEDs light up with more significant displays. Different braking signals meet their requirements in other ways, such as increased brightness or flash frequency, ensuring convenience.

3. Handling the indicators:
Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) controls the light sources in many vehicles. It has many advantages, one of which is using the same bulbs for different functions. This also increases the service life of the bulbs.

Note: The manufacturer's information and specifications should be strictly complied with while replacing the bulbs in the signal lights. An incorrect bulb replacement can create an issue regarding the light intensity.

4. The faults:
A faulty indicator signal light can be snuffed out before it becomes dangerous. Without a signal, or failing to use your turn signal while turning or changing lanes can cause confusion between you and the other vehicles. It can further lead to severe accidental circumstances.

Improper use of high beams or glare can cause poor visibility of the vehicles coming in your direction, resulting in collisions leading to severe damages. Avoid driving without headlights at night and use high beams only when there is light traffic or absolutely no cars on the road.

Now that we have discussed car indicators in detail, a wise option would be to understand how unprecedented circumstances can endanger your car's safety and efficiency. To further protect your vehicle, you can research multiple insurance options that provide all possible features required by you. And once you finalise, buy motor insurance online to avoid all the outdoors hassle and add value to your valuable possession.

Click HERE to know more about how you can buy motor insurance online

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.

Car insurance might include many technical languages that can be difficult to grasp or make sense of. One such concept that might perplex people is "total loss." If you are involved in an unfortunate event where your vehicle sustains significant damage, this is referred to as ‘Total Loss’ in insurance jargon.

This is a tragic situation, and you must follow particular procedures to submit an insurance claim. In case of a total loss, the cost of restoring and repairing your car exceeds 75% of the insured declared value (IDV). Let us learn more about this term, what it means, and some other areas of motor insurance linked to it.

Total loss in car insurance:

When the calculated cost of repairing a damaged vehicle exceeds the car's actual cash worth, the automobile is considered a "total loss." Such a claim differs from other small claims since it requires more work. When an automobile is deemed a total loss by its insurance company, it is referred to as a totalled car.

Total loss can be caused by two means:

• Car getting stolen

• Car getting wrecked beyond repair in an accident

Furthermore, a constructive total loss occurs when the anticipated cost to repair or replace the insured vehicle exceeds its real market worth. Constructive total loss is so severe that it is cheaper and wiser to purchase a new car instead. This is mainly because there is little likelihood of returning the vehicle to its previous condition.

What to do if you suffer a total loss?

You have the option of selling the remaining pieces of your wrecked vehicle to a scrap dealer. Some components are recyclable, while others are not. The scrap trader will separate these pieces and recycle them for other purposes.

The next important step is to cancel your RC certificate at your closest RTO office. It is your responsibility to comply within a 14-day grace time to submit a notification to the RTO office. When you cancel your registration, you provide a guarantee that the same registration will not go to anyone else.

The next move would be to submit a Total Loss claim. When you submit a claim, the insurance provider is only obligated to pay the IDV. If you already have the ‘Return to Invoice add-on’ on your coverage, the motor insurance provider is obligated to pay the entire amount of the car invoice. This add-on allows you to acquire the total value of the vehicle rather than just the insured declared value.

For those who are newly purchasing car insurance, do not sleep on the Return to Invoice add-on. This is something that will ultimately work in your favour. Things are always uncertain when you're on the road, so be responsible and do not travel without car insurance. Take serious responsibility for protecting your possessions and make wise investments in security that will reap you good benefits at the hour of need. Watch out for your car insurance renewal dates and always renew them beforehand.

To get a car insurance renewal, click HERE .

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.

Riding a two-wheeler with an attached sidecar is a rarity these days. However, this combination is a classic. Besides giving your two-wheeler a quirky look, attaching a sidecar increases efficiency and enhances the functionalities of your vehicle. But a two-wheeler with an attached sidecar comes with its own challenges.

Adding a sidecar makes your vehicle transition from a two-wheeler to a three-wheeler. So, it would be best to adapt to the dynamics and difficulties of riding a three-wheeler to prevent road accidents and ensure safety.

Let’s discuss the best tips to ride a two-wheeler with an attached sidecar to help you overcome the obstacles you might face:

1. Although it is challenging to drive in a straight path as the wheels are fitted in three odd planes, keep a firm grip on the handlebars and put the required effort to ride in a straight line. You will need to constantly pull the handlebars and manoeuvre them accordingly to avoid any collisions on the road.

2. A bike with an attached sidecar moves differently when turned. In case of a left turn, permit the wheel on the rear end to spin slower than the sidecar wheel as you release the throttle. This will help you control the vehicle better.
In case of a right turn, allow the wheel on the rear end to spin faster than the sidecar’s wheel as you open the throttle. All in all, modulating the throttle will help you achieve better control of your two-wheeler.

3. Your sidecar has brakes. To use the front brake, you need to use the right-hand lever on your bike. If the sidecar has brakes on the rear end, you can use the right foot lever. To stop your motorcycle, you need to apply both brakes. In case of an emergency, apply the front brake.

4. Many sidecars have the provision of a steering wheel and an option to switch to the two-wheel-drive model. But make sure that you only use the two-wheel-drive function in emergencies (for example, if your motorcycle is stuck on a loose or slippery surface). Engaging the two-wheel-drive on a firm surface causes both sidecar’s and bike’s wheels to spin at the same speed, thus creating a risk of disbalancing the vehicle while making a turn.

5. Practice makes you perfect. The same applies when you learn the dynamics of riding a two-wheeler with an attached sidecar. Practising regularly in a safe environment with and without a pillion rider will help you learn efficiently. Take things at your own pace, don’t rush, and see the positive outcomes.

Sidecars ensure convenience and even allow families to spend quality time together. Now that we’ve shared the best tips to ride a two-wheeler with an attached sidecar, it is a wise thought to think about how to keep your two-wheeler safe on the roads. Along with taking good care of your bike, purchasing a bike insurance is your solution to safeguard your bike from unprecedented damages.

Click HERE to know more about bike 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.