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Your Insurance Shields Your Car from Stray Animals

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Published on November 25, 2020. EST READ TIME: 2 MIN

There a number of problems an Indian car owner faces, but none seem as absurd as stray animals attacking the car while it is stationary or in motion. Those dogs running after your car barking, as if trying to chase it away… they may sound stupid, but such animals have caused a lot of damage. As per a 2018 road accident report, there were 5902 vehicle to animals accidents, out of which 2267 people died and 4917 people were injured.

Then, there is also the problem of pests and rodents infesting cars and damaging its interior, upholstery, electronic and even mechanical components. A car insurance policy is an absolute must for any car owner concerned about animal attacks!

What can animals do to a car made of steel? Apparently, a lot!

Many people have the misconception that the car being made of solid steel will be immune to animal attacks of any kind. Truth is they can do a lot of damage!

• Even a small animal like a dog or cat can shatter glass panes if the car hits it at speed.

• Even the smallest animal can damage important sensors like reversing camera, airbag impact sensor, and cruise control radar mounted in the engine bay or on the car body.

• Big animals like stray cattle can bend and bump plastic bumpers and widow pillar where reinforcement may be uneven.

• Pests and rodents can enter the car, chew away its interiors, cushioning, and even plastics.

• Bird can enter the car from open sunroofs and pick away at seat covers.

Preventing animal attacks always a better choice!

The old analogy of prevention being better than cure applies perfectly to situations involving animals and cars. While a comprehensive car insurance will have you covered in most animal attacks, a few simple precautions will always go a long way in keeping your car safe.

• First, drive carefully. When you are driving in the city, always be ready to stop because stray cattle or smaller animals can jump on the road at any time.

• Second, try to keep your car as clean as possible. This applies particularly to people who eat in cars or have small children that eat in the car. Leaving food crumbs in the car attracts rodents so eat outside and clean the car regularly. Keep a strong air freshener in the car. It will mask the smell of food that may attract animals.

• Third, make sure that the windows and sunroof of the car are always closed. No point, leaving any opening from where animals can enter.

• Fourth, avoid taking pets in cars for long distances and do not leave them unattended in the car.

Getting help from the car insurance company:

If you buy Car insurance policy online, it will come with cover for most, if not all, kinds of animal attacks. If you think you need the insurance to cover damage caused by an animal attack, just give a phone call to the car insurance company. They will promptly send a surveyor and let you know how to get the car fixed.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

This blog has been written by

S. Gopalakrishnan | Motor Insurance Expert | 40+ years of experience in insurance industry

A veteran in insurance industry. S. Gopalakrishnan is a name to reckon with in the field of reinsurance, he has headed the Reinsurance department and has rich experience in other fields of motor insurance. He loves to share his opinion on latest topics in the insurance industry and how he can help people in safeguarding their assets using insurance products.

Mr. S.Gopalakrishnan recommends "HDFC ERGO for your vehicle insurance needs, it has always put customer’s interest at the forefront, with round the clock assistance to deal with emergency breakdown issues and hassle free claims process. You can be assured of complete and reliable guidance through the whole process."

Few other articles:

• Things You Did Not Know Your Car Policy Covers

• Types and Kinds of Car Insurance Policies

• Various Add-on Covers for Your Car Insurance Policy

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