GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

In modern times, uncertainty has become a part and parcel of life. You can take as many precautions as possible but certain unwanted situations can always take place. These situations can be related to your health, your life, or your possessions like car, mobile, house etc. Due to any man-made situations or natural disasters, you can suffer losses on various accounts. In such situations, an insurance policy is something that can reimburse you for the losses suffered to a great extent and reduce the monetary damage.

Although insurance policies cannot prevent the happening of any unfortunate incident, they can help minimize losses suffered due to such incidents. Irrespective of the fact whether you decide to Buy Insurance Policy Online or offline, having an active insurance policy is a must.

Insurance policies are available in various types and categories. The two main categories are life policies and non-life policies. The life policies are the ones that deal with ‘life’ of an individual. On the other hand, the non-life policies are the ones which deal with all other types of mishaps that can occur. These non-life policies are also called general insurance policies.

What are the different types of general insurance policies?

Following are the different types of general insurance policies that are available, whether you buy insurance policy online or offline: -

• Health insurance covers all the expenses related to a person’s health when he/she gets hospitalized due to problems like any illness or any accident. It also covers situations like an annual health checkup, daycare procedure, psychiatric support and other health-related situations. Specific extensions of these insurance policies cover critical illness, maternity-related situations and organ donation. The premium of a health insurance policy is based on the individual’s age, history of the health, any genetic disorders and other cases like that.
• Travel insurance losses suffered while travelling to domestic or international locations are covered by the travel insurance policy. Situations like loss of baggage or passport, hijacking, medical expenses and other travel-related situations that require settlement are covered. Any accidental deaths caused during the travel are also compensated by the insurance policy. Some insurance companies also allow the travel insurance policy to be free of any deductibles. In this situation, the company covers all the expenses.
• Motor insurance has further two types of policies that involve comprehensive and third-party policies. The third-party policy involves the settlement in situations that involve any damage caused to another vehicle or person by your vehicle. The accidental expenses caused by your vehicle are settled by the insurance company. Comprehensive policies also cover the damages caused to your vehicle. It is a policy which encompasses the features of third party policy in it.
• Marine insurance is useful in reimbursing of losses cause to goods that are being transported through cargo ships to national as well as international locations.
• Commercial insurance policies deal with the business-related insurances that involve loss of property, professional liability, marine damage and other such expenses.
• Home insurance the insurance covers the losses related to theft, fire, or other damages caused to your home.
• In case you are interested in buying a general policy, you can do so by contacting any insurance company, or you can even buy insurance policy online. The quotations will be provided to you in both online and offline cases. You can look at it and in case it suits you, you can purchase the respective insurance policy. You must make the premium payment on time to keep the policy active and enjoy its coverage. Any delay in the premium payment beyond the grace period would render the policy ineffective, exposing you to various liabilities and losses.

Traffic rules are meant for your safety, and there should be no arguments against why you should ensure to follow traffic rules while driving or walking on roads. Traffic rules help protect you on the road as well as everyone else driving on the same road. People should know about the basic traffic signs and rules that should be followed while driving any vehicle on roads. People driving bigger vehicles need to be extra careful because of the multiple blind spots that are created by the big size of the vehicle.

Moreover, someone behind any bigger vehicle should also understand that there is limited visibility of the driver, and they should not try to come in the way of such vehicles which can be dangerous for both parties. Prevention is always better than cure but in case any mishappening occurs due to mistakes from either side, there are insurance providers who provide personal accident insurance as well. You can buy Personal Accident Insurance Online from any reputed insurance provider after properly comparing the benefits of all the different policies that are provided by different insurance providers.

Need for following road traffic rules

Government statistics show that more than 400 road accidents occur in India almost every day due to the negligence of the people driving and walking on roads. In many of these accidents, people get injured and in most of them, there are deaths of people involved also while some may escape unhurt. But, if traffic violations had not taken place and people were following the road traffic signs properly, there is a very high chance that the number of accidents will be very less than the current rate of 400 accidents per day.

Such traffic crashes and accidents also affect the Gross Domestic Product of the country, and the impact can be as high as 3% of the GDP. The traffic signs put on roads by the government for the people work to ensure that order ensues on the roads and signs are followed by the people on the roads. These traffic signs if followed properly will greatly help in reducing the accidents that occur daily on Indian roads.

Misconceptions amongst the people are aggravating the problem

There is a large population of India that do not follow traffic rules and is habitual of violating the rules, either due to no knowledge of the signs or even due to some misconceptions. There is a long time misconception in Indian public that it is not necessary to follow traffic signals after 10 PM and you see people racing past signals after 10 PM. This is completely false but people still following such myths is also the reason for many high-speed accidents occurring at night on city roads. People also do not follow one-way road rules and come with their vehicles on the road from either direction. They believe that reversing their vehicle on a one-way road is correct even if they are walking in the opposite direction, but this is completely wrong. You can reverse your vehicle on a one-way road, but you should be moving in the direction in which the road allows movement. These were examples of some common misconceptions among the people in India but there are more, and these myths lead to an increase in accidents on the roads.

It is necessary to train the people what different traffic signs and signals mean and what you should do when you see one of these signs. Campaigns should be undertaken by the government to train people on how to drive their vehicles properly on the road without causing a nuisance to others. Additionally, one must purchase personal accident insurance online or offline, as preferable, to get protection in case of such incidents.

Insurance provides the safety net required to protect the financial integrity of your personal and professional needs. If you are in the business of sending or receiving physical goods from one destination to another, insuring your goods and business interests inevitably becomes your priority. 

Therefore, the simple answer to whether or not you need marine insurance is 'yes'. Read along to understand why that is so: 

What is marine insurance?

‘Marine’ insurance is a colloquially used term for any kind of transport insurance, not just restricted to waterways. Whether your cargo or goods are moving over land, railways, or a combination of multiple transport modes, marine insurance provides cover for any loss or damage to your goods while in transit from source to the point of delivery.

Marine insurance can be purchased by sellers, buyers, and even financiers of the goods. So, whether you’re a small trader, moving materials interstate or a manufacturer sourcing raw materials or a large import/export house, marine insurance can protect your stock against any unforeseen eventualities.

Why marine insurance?

Depending on the mode of transport, distance, size, and value, your cargo could take days or months to get from one point to another. In the interim period, your goods are at the risk of damage due to accidents, improper packaging/ storage, seepage of water, mishandling by personnel and natural disasters such as floods, fire, and storms. They could also be lost due to theft, piracy, or be lost at sea. The carrier, in most cases, cannot be held liable for any damage or loss either. Hence, it becomes imperative to opt for additional security.

All natural calamities and human errors can be covered by marine insurance. There are various types of policies such as valued, unvalued, floating, time, voyage, etc. that you can choose from basis your needs, irrespective of whether the cargo is moving for domestic trade or across international waters.

Magma HDI, for example, provides comprehensive coverage through its Marine Cargo Open Insurance Policy. Whether you are sending a small parcel via airmail or a huge consignment via cargo, Magma HDI has your peace of mind covered.

In some instances, taking marine insurance may be obligatory basis the terms of the shipping or business contract. This helps bring in clarity over service delivery and safeguards the interest of all parties. 

Alternatively, the insurance helps you gain a lot more control over the jurisdiction and language if in case the need for a claim arises. Imagine dealing with an insurer based out of Japan speaking a language alien to you while you are trying to get the information and paperwork through. It can be both time-consuming and exasperating.

In conclusion, marine insurance is extremely pocket-friendly. The premium depends on the value of the goods and the mode of transport. For a fraction of the cost of the shipment, you can secure your peace of mind. In case the need for a claim arises, a dependable insurer like us is just a phone call away.

With the continuous rise in international trade, the volume of marine cargo is also increasing. Marine cargo has always been and will be an important component of international trade. With more and more businesses opting to transport their goods through marine cargo, the market is on the rise for shipping companies. This increase in business also increases the importance of having a comprehensive marine cargo insurance policy.

Irrespective of the fact how simple you might think a marine cargo insurance policy is, several claims get rejected every year due to one reason or another. You must, therefore, immediately take the necessary steps to ensure that your insurance claim does not meet the same fate.

Here is a list of the events when your marine cargo insurance claim can get rejected and how you can avoid them.

• 1. Insurance policy is not proper: - Not all marine cargo insurance policies cover for all types of damages. This is why you must have a comprehensive marine cargo insurance policy. If your policy does not cover the damage for which you have filed a claim, your claim will get rejected. Moreover, any changes in the constitution of your assignment or cargo might also lead to this rejection. You must, therefore, review for policy periodically and get it updated as and when required.
• 2. Mistakes in filing the claim: - Whether you have failed to file your claim within the requisite period or have filled the claim form incorrectly or have filed a claim under a wrong policy, the marine insurance companies will not hesitate in rejecting your application. Even, if they do not dismiss the claim outright, they might delay it for many days. Therefore, you must give this responsibility to an expert who has successfully filed such claims in the past. 
• 3. Mishandling of goods: - If you have not packed the goods correctly or your personnel has been mishandling them, then the insurance claims filed thereon will be rejected by the insurer. You must, therefore, ensure proper packaging and careful handling of the goods on your vessel. 
• 4. Perishable Goods: - Even if your insurance policy specifies that losses suffered due to delays will be compensated, it does not cover damages caused to goods of perishable nature. You must, therefore, check with your insurance company if such goods are covered under the policy or not, before accepting them. 
• 5. Negligent Maintenance: - If you have not been paying attention to the maintenance of your vessel, marine insurance companies will certainly reject your claim. As your vessel will be plying in rough waters as well, so the chances of it suffering from damages are very high. These damages must be repaired as soon as possible to ensure the safety of the personnel as well as the cargo. You must, therefore, ensure that your vessel undergoes regular maintenance and follows safety and standard operating procedures. You should also keep a log of the repair and maintenance work carried out on the vessel, as it will help with your claim later on.

You must therefore carefully assess your needs, discuss them with your marine insurance company and only then subscribe to a comprehensive marine cargo insurance policy that caters to all your requirements.