GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

As a car owner or enthusiast, it's prudent to educate yourself about vehicle parts. The most confusing of them are fenders and bumpers that keep your car safe. You may have heard the term "fender-bender" from drivers when they get into a car accident and wondered, "What does it mean?" Fender and bumper damages refer to physical damages to your cars, such as dents. If you have recently bought a new car, this article will help you understand the difference between these terms.

However, before diving into fender vs. bumper issues in detail, we advise you to buy new car insurance to ensure your vehicle gets adequate protection against accidental damages and a hassle-free repair and servicing.

What is a car fender?
The fender has been a part of automobiles for a long time now. It is the part of the car that covers the wheels. The section where the fender goes is popularly called the "quarter panel." The quarter panel is the rounded corner of the car that protects the wheels.
In older vehicles, the fender used to be more pronounced. Whereas nowadays, with the modernisation of the structural design of cars, fenders have taken a flatter shape, complementing the car's frame.
Car fenders are an essential accessory for your car, as they play a crucial role in keeping the vehicle and its occupants safe. As the car moves, the tires grab and throw anything that comes in its path, such as small rocks, mud, water, etc. Fenders provide resistance against wind and roadside debris while protecting surrounding areas and nearby people from projectiles from your tyres.

What is a car bumper?
A car bumper has a "bumping" function, which means it acts as a protective perimeter to the body of your car and prevents other objects or vehicles from impacting it. In simple words, it reduces the impact of a collision by absorbing minor shocks. You can find bumpers in two places in your car, one in the front and another in the back.
Car bumpers may not prove very beneficial in protecting your vehicle from high-speed crashes, but they are quite valuable for safety during minor accidents. They also serve to protect pedestrians from severe injury in case of a collision.
Just like fenders, bumpers have also reduced in their size. Previously, they were mainly used for decorative purposes, and people came up with new stylistic designs. However, they have gained quite much attention in the automobile industry in recent years. They are no longer considered decorative items but essential for safety purposes. The effectiveness of rear and front bumpers has saved the lives of numerous car accident victims.

Several car owners struggle to understand the parts of their vehicle, making it challenging to communicate with the mechanics about car troubles. However, educating yourself about them can make all the difference when it comes to the proper maintenance of your vehicle.

Similarly, think of investing in the security of your car and buying new car insurance to ease the concerns that can empty your pockets and leave you frustrated. Understand your role as a responsible owner and do whatever is necessary to keep your four-wheeled companion safe.

Click HERE to buy new car insurance with the best benefits.

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.

Of the many injuries we are familiar with, a fracture seems to be the most painful. Not only it is excruciatingly painful, but it also takes a long time to heal. A fracture can slow you down, even for basic day-to-day chores. The healing is given ample time to ensure that the bones are correctly aligned. But having said that, waiting for your fracture to heal can be tedious.

The healing of a fracture covers three main stages: Inflammatory, reparative, and remodelling. During the inflammatory stage, special cells assemble in the injured area and cause redness and swelling. This is an indication to the body to stop using the affected area. The first bridge between the broken bones is made here as a blood clot or hematoma.

During the reparative stage, a soft bone or callus takes the position of the blood clot and holds the broken bones together. This soft callus is not strong enough to handle weight and movement. Over the subsequent weeks, the callus becomes stronger and can handle movement.

During the final stage, the normal bone replaces the callus entirely, and over a few weeks, the bone is back to its original condition.

In this article, we will look at the few things we can do to accelerate the speed of recovery.

1. Restricting movement:

The more the movement, the longer it takes for the bones to heal. To heal properly and quickly, the best method is immobilisation. Castes and plasters are the most common ways of giving your bone the support it requires while also restricting any painful movement.
If the fracture is more severe, the doctors might rely on screws, plates, or wires to keep the bone fragments intact. Always remember to consult a doctor in case of pain or discomfort.

2. Improving food habits:

A weak bone can take longer to heal. Vitamins and minerals are vital components of a healthy body. The essential component for bone development is calcium. Include food items such as milk, cheese, and other dairy products that contain high amounts of calcium that your bones require. For your bones to absorb maximum calcium from these food items, your body also needs Vitamin D. Vitamin D helps the bones effectively absorb the calcium from various food sources.
Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption. People who indulge in these habits experience slower and more painful healing. Avoid food with high sugar and salt content. Excessive sodium or sugar removes calcium from your body and significantly slows down the repair of broken bones.

3. Physical therapy:

Physiotherapy can work wonders for bone repair. Blood flow is an essential part of bone healing. Therapy under the guidance of a physiotherapist can help you regain strength and a greater range of motion. There are also some exercises that you can occasionally do. This ensures that your muscles and bones do not get stiff over time while in a cast.

4. Post care:

After the cast is taken off, try not to test the broken bone. Do not put a lot of pressure on the bone to ensure if your bone has healed or not. As tempting as it may seem, give your bones time to adapt to the surroundings without having external support.

These are a few valuable tips you can follow if you want a faster recovery of broken bones. All the methods mentioned above are simple practices you can incorporate into your daily routine. Healthy eating habits, regular exercising, and timely body check-up are essential to maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle.

This article is also a reminder for you to do your health insurance policy renewal. Accidents can be expensive, with the medical bills skyrocketing. Hence timely health insurance policy renewal is non-negotiable to avoid stress due to health problems.

Click HERE for health insurance policy renewal.

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.

Regular car maintenance is a worthwhile investment since it allows a vehicle to operate more effectively and safely. Moreover, it helps avoid the need for expensive repairs in the future. Changing the engine oil improves the performance of your engine by spreading heat and keeping an appropriate temperature in the combustion chamber. In addition, you must remember that a well-maintained car helps you secure a car insurance renewal easily with added advantages like no claim bonus.

It is critical to use the proper lubricant for your vehicle to achieve optimal engine performance. There are many types of car engine oils available, and determining which one is best for your car is not an easy task.

How do you know which engine oil is best for your car? Here are the things you must consider.

1. Oil Viscosity:
When it comes to engine lubricant or engine oil, viscosity is a measurement of the thickness of the oil and the resistance to flowing. It is necessary to match the oil viscosity to the ambient temperature since thick oil does not agitate around the engine. Optimal viscous lubricant promotes energy efficiency while also preventing friction between components. Look at the care guide for your car's oil needs.

2. Analyse the previous engine oil's performance:
One of the essential things you should do when changing your engine's oil is to assess how well the prior engine oil performed. Changing your engine oil at specified intervals is vital to ensure smooth performance and safety.
Suppose the previous engine oil was refined, and there was no need for engine maintenance. In that case, you can use the same oil and brand without hesitation. It's best to choose an oil with the same manufacturer certifications as the one specified in your car manual if you can't find the one you need.

3. Type of car you have:
The type of vehicle is the most crucial consideration when selecting engine oil. There are several important factors to consider when buying engine oil for your car, including whether it is old or new, if it runs on gasoline or diesel, and if it has a high-performance engine or not, the brand, the series, and so on.

4. Follow the advice of the manufacturer:
It is suggested to follow the manufacturer's guidelines for engine oil changes in your vehicle. The importance of these guidelines becomes much more apparent when you own a new car that is still covered by the manufacturer's warranty. Use only the engine oil recommended by the manufacturer during this period because using a different oil could invalidate the warranty and affect your car insurance renewal.

5. Environmental factors:
The choice of engine oil is influenced by whether or not the vehicle is subjected to high-temperature conditions. Choosing an engine oil that can handle low and high temperatures is essential when driving in harsh climates.

It is critical to choose the appropriate engine oil for your engine to run at peak performance. Furthermore, the proper engine oil will improve the engine's performance and the car's overall fuel efficiency.

It is highly suggested that car insurance renewal be done before the due date to receive uninterrupted insurance benefits for a prolonged time. So consider these five factors the next time you're shopping for engine oil to get the best results.

Click HERE to get your car insurance renewal done before expiry.

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.

Driving is a predominantly visual activity. Only learning the controls of the car is not enough. Good visualisation is one of the essential skills to develop when driving a car. Although you must concentrate on the road ahead, it is crucial to have a clear view of the sides and back of the car as well. Adjusting the side and rearview mirrors is vital to ensure a well-rounded view while driving.

Further, you should rely on emergency financial help by investing in dependable motor insurance India plans in case of road accidents, as it is always better to be safe than sorry.

All cars have blind spots; therefore, adjusting your rearview and side mirrors to the optimum can ensure maximum visibility and safety on the road. In this article, we tell you how to use your car mirrors efficiently and avoid the chances of accidents while driving.

1. Rearview mirror:
The rearview mirror, positioned next to the driver’s seat slightly above their eye level, is used to see the road behind and if any cars are approaching. The driver must adjust the rearview as per their height and comfort as soon as they get into the driver’s seat.
To adjust the angle of the mirror, sit up straight in a comfortable position, hold your head still, look into the rearview and shift it until the back or rear window is entirely visible in the mirror. Do this to avoid any blind spots. If more than one person is driving the same car, make sure to check the rearview mirror every time you get into the driving seat and readjust it to the best angle, in case it has been shifted as per another driver’s comfort.
When driving at night, flip the tab at the bottom of the rearview mirror that helps dim the light reflected by the headlights of the cars approaching behind you that may strain or blind you. In addition, some advanced car models enter and exit night mode to aid your visualisation.

2. Side mirrors:
Every car has a single side mirror on the left and right sides of the vehicle, respectively. As they are located outside of the car, it can be difficult to manoeuver them from inside. While many modern car models have levers or buttons that help adjust the side mirrors from the inside, some of them may not.
If your car does not have a lever or buttons to adjust the side mirrors, make sure to do so manually, right after you adjust the rearview mirror. Sit upright in the driver’s seat, first glance to one side, and adjust that mirror to an angle that helps reflect the side of the road. Shift it to a wide angle to get a comprehensive view of the side of the road. Repeat the same method for the mirror on the other side. If you have a lever or button inside the car, angle the side mirrors using it. The side mirror should provide a wide sideways view in just a simple glance.
The pro tip is to adjust the side mirrors to an angle that allows you to see right from the side of the road to the very back, including the approaching car, to maintain a safe distance.

Following these few tips to adjust the car mirrors can vastly improve your visualisation and assist you considerably while driving. It leaves very little room for errors or accidents. Apart from angling the mirrors, you must also check the wheel alignment, tyre pressure, oil levels, acceleration, and brake control to ensure safety before hitting the road.

Also, prioritise investing in motor insurance India plans and get the perks of financial coverage in case of loss or damages during accidents. Add value to your possession and get the best returns with assured safety.

Click HERE to know more about motor insurance India plans.

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.