1. Home
2. Blogs

Effects of Delayed Two Wheeler Insurance Claim

• 
• 
• 
• 0
• 0

Rahul is a biker at  heart and has taken countless road trips on his bike. Needless to say, he spends a hefty amount on maintaining his bike as well as on insuring it. He ensured that the renewals are always paid on time and that the necessary documentation is in place.

So, when his bike skid and met with an accident due to heavy rain, he was sure that the insurance company will pay for all the damages incurred. However, he was shocked when his claim was rejected by the insurance company.

Where did Rahul go wrong? Like a lot of people, he too assumed that he can file a claim whenever he wants. But in reality, every insurance company follows a timeline within which the insured person has to intimate the company about the loss and file the claim. In fact, delay in insurance filing is one of the most common reasons for claim rejection

Why So Many People Delay Claim Filing?

Most insurance companies prefer that they be informed about the incident within 24 hours of its occurance. However, a lot of people miss this window because they are not aware of it. At the time of buying the insurance, people are concerned about the premium and the coverage but not many people bother to go through the process or timeline of filing claims.

In some cases, the delay is caused due to genuine cases such as the insurer (or a family member) is genuinely injured and they could not manage to inform the company. In such cases, if you present your case with proofs, facts and details, the company often considers it and makes an exception.

Why Delay in Insurance Filings is Not Entertained by Insurance Company?

There are practical reasons why insurance companies are against late filing.  Mainly because if a given time window expires, the insurance company will not be able to properly gauge the extent of damages. Also, they might not be able to contact any witness or involvethe third party.

Apart from that, if there is no fixed timeline then things may go haywire. As a company, they need to follow a process, gauge their liabilities in a given time frame and make provisions for it.

And lastly, the number of fake claims made are way higher in case of a delayed claim. It is because the insured person takes the time to build a case and plant evidence to prove it.

Conclusion

In order to avoid delay in claim payment or claim rejection, it is in the best interest of both the insured and the insurers that the claim for bike accidents or bike theft are made on time. Undue and unwarranted delays can only complicate things. If at all, you are not in a condition to intimate the insurance company immediately after an accident, inform them at the earliest along with genuine reasons for the delay and submit proof regarding the same.

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

How to change two-wheeler insurance policy details?

Do’s and Don’ts When Buying Bike Insurance Plans Online

Opt For These 5 Add On Covers for Motor Insurance along with Comprehensive Benefits

---

• 
• 
• 
•