Getting into an accident can be frustrating as it can leave you feeling confused and angry. While the government does offer coverage to the victims, whether or not you would get coverage for the car or not would be unclear. Finding your car damaged while it is parked or otherwise can take away your peace of mind, leaving you frustrated in financial loss. Read on to know all about hit and run accident coverage in car insurance.
Hit and run can be defined as a situation where the driver who is at fault runs away from the accident scenario without providing his contact details. Few of the examples of hit and run accident cases include:
Lets understand this with the below example
For instance, you park your car outside a cinema hall and when you return back you see a big dent on the bumper. It can be heartbreaking and also lead to financial loss.
In case if your car has been hit then the below scenarios may occur
For instance, your vehicle which is parked accidentally gets damaged as it is hit by another vehicle. In this case, the driver at fault waits for you and is ready to offer coverage for the damages caused.
In this case, the process of filing a car insurance claim gets easier as you have to directly file a third party claim under that person’s motor insurance.
A vehicle hits your car and the driver runs away from the accident spot, without leaving his contact details. In this case, it can be difficult for you to find the driver and you may have to pay for the damages out of your own pocket. If you are able to find the offender then you can claim under his insurance, but if not then you will have to get the car repaired on your own and pay for the expenses.
In case your vehicle has been hit by someone else then ideally the offender should leave his or her car details to compensate you for the damages caused. But often that is not the case as you may not be able to find the person responsible for damaging your car.
However, it is best to stay calm in such sitautions. Here is what you should do in case your car has been damaged.
If you find your car has been damaged and you find that the offender has shared his contact details then you can easily get in touch with the person at fault by contacting them. In case if you see that the car which has damaged your vehicle is fleeing from the accident spot then you can note down the vehicle’s registration number and its model instead of chasing them.
In case you see that your vehicle has been damaged, you should start looking for witnesses. In case you manage to find any, then take down their details and ask them about the description of the incident and the vehicle that damaged your car. Check if the witnesses are willing to testify against the offender.
The first thing you need to do after you see that your car has been damaged is to call the police and report the matter immediately. After the FIR has been filed, the police will start the investigation and the details of the driver who fled from the spot can be availed.
Apart from calling the police immediately, inform your insurance company. Once the insurer has been informed, you can raise the claim to get the damages covered.
Near the accident spot, look for security cameras. Most malls and shopping markets today have cameras that help you find the details of the car that hit the vehicles. In case it is a parking space without any security cameras, then look for shops and residences nearby to find out the details of the accident.
No matter how stressed you are, don’t miss out on taking pictures of the accident spot as it will act as an evidence of the accident caused. Providing pictures, details of the witness and other accident related details will help you get your claim approved by the insurer.
If you are unable to identify the driver who hit your vehicle, you can try and get their information from your insurance company and proceed with filing the claim under their motor policy. You can also avail compensation through legal process.
As per the Motor Vehicles Act, the government provides the below compensation to the victims of hit and run cases.
Hit and run accident that results in death- Rs. 25,00
In case if anyone is seriously hurt in case of an accident- Rs. 12, 500
The victim of the accident should make an application at the taluka of the area addressing the claim enquiry officer
An investigation will be carried out and a report along with the post mortem report of injury certificate will be shared with the claims settlement commissioner
The deputy commissioner or district collector will process the claim and make the payment within 15 days from the date of receipt
Sanction order will be shared to the office of the insurer
Claims for accident cases will be made from the solatium fund consolidated by the general insurance industry in India
Administration of claim is managed by New India Assurance Co.LTD
Parked car accidents happen quite often and can take away your peace of mind if you don’t know how to deal with the situation. Hence, it is best to buy comprehensive insurance cover to get coverage against own damages and third party damages.
This type of car insurance provides coverage to third party life and property and does not cover the insured vehicle
This type of car insurance provides coverage to your vehicle as well as third party and property
This type of insurance provides coverage for your car’s damages and losses including events caused due to man made, natural calamities, and theft.
Yes, you can raise a claim if someone damages your parked car. However, it can only be done in case of comprehensive insurance cover
Filing a claim for hit and run damage is similar to filing the same for car damage. Reimbursement or cashless can be availed depending on where the car is parked
Since the hit and run car claim can affect your NCB, it can lead to an increase in insurance premium
Yes, if you have a comprehensive car insurance, you can get covered in case your car is hit in a parking lot
Yes, if you have comprehensive coverage, your parked car on the street is covered
Inform your insurance company immediately, report the incident at the nearest police station and look for contact details of the person who hit your car
Inform your insurance company immediately, report the incident at the nearest police station and look for contact details of the person who hit your car
Call on the details mentioned in the note and file a claim under their third party insurance cover
Yes, your insurance premium will rise if you file a claim under your policy in case you do not have the details of the driver who damaged your car.
In case you hit the parked car, contact the vehicle owner and file a claim under your insurance policy
