Mumbai: This happens only in India. Coconuts falling on unsuspecting cars, stray dogs crushing vehicles, angry peacocks pecking at their reflection and stressed elephants taking out their anger on cars: these are some of the motor accident claims that will cause insurers headaches and perhaps laughter in 2023. While this may be considered unique to the Indian market, it could have been made into any funny-fail video: A buyer inadvertently drives a car through the showroom window!
Insurers said the most common accident claims arise from being hit from behind by another vehicle. This is followed by frontal collisions and then hit-and-run cases. Claims for collision with a stationary object or parked vehicle are relatively infrequent but form part of the mainstream claims. Falling branches are also on the list.
While insurers pay out thousands in claims for accidental damage caused by collision claims, there are also some out-of-pocket claims involving animals. Human-elephant conflict is seen in many states: claims of ‘jumbo’ damage come from Assam, West Bengal, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. As per year end round-up by new age insurer go pointsThe company has paid out more than 20 claims where elephants were the primary cause of damage.
Stray dogs are another growing concern for insurers. Just one area – Indiranagar According to the private insurer, 110 cases of vehicles being damaged by stray animals were reported in Lucknow.
“There have been many cases of dogs damaging cars. What is unusual is the frequency of claims coming from a specific area within the city, underscoring the problem of stray dogs,” said Ishwar NarayananChief Operating Officer of Go Digit, who said the number of coconut casualties is also increasing.
Although public sector insurance companies do not maintain a database of claims due to accidents, an official of a public sector insurance company said that angry peacocks have been pecking at their reflection on the car and causing damage. Another case was of a car being irretrievably lost in a ditch at a construction site and had to be settled as a constructive total loss.
Bajaj Allianz General Insurance It also had its fair share of animal-related claims last year. “Instances have been seen where buffaloes and goats have caused damage to cars. Additionally, there have been cases of monkeys dropping objects on cars, resulting in damage. In a rare incident, a car buyer was driving through the showroom glass,” a company spokesperson said.
Insurers said the most common accident claims arise from being hit from behind by another vehicle. This is followed by frontal collisions and then hit-and-run cases. Claims for collision with a stationary object or parked vehicle are relatively infrequent but form part of the mainstream claims. Falling branches are also on the list.
While insurers pay out thousands in claims for accidental damage caused by collision claims, there are also some out-of-pocket claims involving animals. Human-elephant conflict is seen in many states: claims of ‘jumbo’ damage come from Assam, West Bengal, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. As per year end round-up by new age insurer go pointsThe company has paid out more than 20 claims where elephants were the primary cause of damage.
Stray dogs are another growing concern for insurers. Just one area – Indiranagar According to the private insurer, 110 cases of vehicles being damaged by stray animals were reported in Lucknow.
“There have been many cases of dogs damaging cars. What is unusual is the frequency of claims coming from a specific area within the city, underscoring the problem of stray dogs,” said Ishwar NarayananChief Operating Officer of Go Digit, who said the number of coconut casualties is also increasing.
Although public sector insurance companies do not maintain a database of claims due to accidents, an official of a public sector insurance company said that angry peacocks have been pecking at their reflection on the car and causing damage. Another case was of a car being irretrievably lost in a ditch at a construction site and had to be settled as a constructive total loss.
Bajaj Allianz General Insurance It also had its fair share of animal-related claims last year. “Instances have been seen where buffaloes and goats have caused damage to cars. Additionally, there have been cases of monkeys dropping objects on cars, resulting in damage. In a rare incident, a car buyer was driving through the showroom glass,” a company spokesperson said.
