Insurance Claims Procedure by ITGI

Some important points, which would help you in the claims procedure

• The loss or damage should be reported to the insurer immediately.
• On receipt of claim intimation, the insurer will forward a claim form.
• Submit the completed claim form along with an estimate of the loss to the insurer. It is preferable to submit an itemized estimate with separate values.
• The insurer will arrange for inspection of the damaged items to assess the loss. In case of major losses, a specialist-licensed surveyor is deputed.
• The insured has to provide the required documents to substantiate the extent of loss.
• In case the cause of loss is not established, it is for the insured to prove that the loss or damage has occurred due to an insured peril.

In view of varied nature of policies, certain points distinct to individual policies, in addition to the above, are listed below. Always remember some important points before buy motor insurance.

Motor vehicle (Private & two wheelers) claims

• Notice of an accident (not necessarily a claim) involving third parties should be reported to the insurers.
• The insured may be interested to pay compensation without going into whether he is liable to pay or not. It is therefore an express condition of the policy that no claim should be admitted or a compromise arrived at, without the approval of the insurers.
• In case of major claims, the insurers may be willing to defend criminal case against the driver also on the basis of which compensation claims may be decided in the civil courts.
• Every accident involving third parties is required to be reported to police. M.V.Act provides that a third party victim can proceed against the insurers directly. If the alleged accident is not reported to the insurers, the insurers can consider this as violation of policy condition. In such circumstances, even if insurers are required to pay compensation by a court of law, they have an option of recovering such claim amounts from the insured for violation of specific policy condition.

• Steps to be taken in case of an accident:

• Notice of accident should be filed with ITGI's toll free number 1800 103 5499
• If damage is a major one, the accident may be reported before the vehicle is removed from the spot so that the insurers can arrange for spot inspection of damage.
• The vehicle may then be moved to a workshop, preferably to authorized workshop, for estimation of repair charges.
• On receipt of completed claim form and estimate of repairs the insurers will arrange detailed inspection of damage and cost of repairs will be ascertained.