6 Things to Do After A Car Accident in the UAE

Accidents can happen any time. No matter how careful you are and how alert you seem to be, a small slip is all it takes for a mishap to take place. However good a driver you are, you must always be prepared to deal with such a situation and the risk that it brings with it at all times.

If you are in the UAE, here's a guide to what you should do immediately after a road accident to ensure that your address woes are answered in case you're the victim and you take the right action in case you're another party involved in the accident.

One thing that must keep in mind is that you should always take a car insurance and keep it up to date. This insurance will help you financially in case your car gets damaged. A car insurance also ensures that you have something to fall back on when tragedy strikes. As a thumb rule, you must also keep a first-aid box in the car glove compartment for minor wounds and bruises. If you're calling an ambulance, it might take a long time to come because of Dubai highways. For major injuries, you will have to call an ambulance but if it is something minor, it is better to give first aid on spot and then drive down to the nearest medical facility.

Here are 6 things that you should do in case you are in a car accident in UAE.

Stop Wherever You Are

If you are in an accident, the first thing to do is stop, irrespective of how minor it is. Park your car to one side of the road and get out of the car. Make sure your car engine is switched off and the hazard lights are on to alert other drivers that you are there. There are safety cones available on Dubai's high speed highways. If you find one nearby, make sure to place it near the accident spot to alert other commuters and drivers. It is essential that you stay calm and not be panicky because that would just worsen the situation. Lastly, remember that even if you are the person who has hit someone or a car, you should never speed away to escape the scene. It can later get you into more trouble and many drivers have faced the consequences of this strict law.

Check for Injuries

As soon as you have parked your car, look if you have any minor or major injuries. This is not just limited to external ones like cuts and bruises. You may have bumped your head or hit your stomach. These can cause internal injuries and bleeding which may prove to be fatal. Once you have checked yourself, look out for others involved in the accident. Gauge the severity of their injuries and make sure that they are safe. In case the injuries are minor, tend to them immediately with first aid. If somebody is in a critical condition, call the police at the emergency helpline 999. They will respond to your distress call and will arrange an ambulance for as fast as they can.

If the car crashes in a remote or congested highway, Dubai police has the facility for an air ambulance. This service can be called for in case of an extreme emergency.

Do Not Panic or Lose Your Cool

In a crucial condition like a car crash, it is always best to stay calm and not panic. Try not to get into a brawl with anyone or arguments with other car drivers involved in the accident. Assess the situation to the best of your logic and take all necessary action. Co-operate with the police when they question you and help them with all possible details even when you know that you're the one who's at fault.

Give All the Information That You Have

The RTA in UAE asks for all necessary details like name and address of all people and vehicles involved in an accident. In the aftermath of a mishap, make sure you share all such information as quickly as possible. If you can, share the details of other people involved in the accident too.

Another thing that you should always keep in mind is that the accident was not your fault alone so must not take the full blame on yourself. Try and recall the events that unfurled during the accident and give them to the police as clearly as possible. Taking blame for what you haven't done may only land you in unnecessary trouble.

Talk to Your Insurance Agent

The best thing to do after you stabilize a bit is to call your car insurance company. Your insurance agent will be able to help you more and they can get first hand information of the accident when you call then and there. They can also help you deal with the police. Calling your insurance agent immediately will also avoid unnecessary hassles later on when you have to claim it.

File a Police Report

Once you have sorted the initial bits, file an accident report in the nearest police station that you can reach to. A minor accident also needs to be reported right away. It speeds up the insurance claiming process and will also allow you to prove that you were in an accident later on if you want to.

Dubai police has an app called 'Report Minor Accident from Phone' available on all smartphones. It is convenient to use and allows users to report minor accidents without visiting a police station. In case you are in one, make judicious use of that and report the accident immediately.

Finally, you may skip calling your insurance agent in the midst of all the chaos. It's quite natural but in case you do, make sure you have collected all the data from the accident site. Use your phone to take pictures and note down the car details like the model number, color, number plate and registration. You should also do this for other cars involved in the crash for any future reference. Try noting down contact numbers and names of any eye witnesses who can help you with any future investigation. And finally, be safe so that you do not hurt yourself or others more and seek immediate medical help.

Top 5 Car Insurance Plans for 2018

Buying a car insurance plan can be a great deal, as this is a yearly investment which you make to cover any car-related risks. This checklist will help you compare different quotes from various insurance companies and select the best deal for yourself. Make sure you go through their inclusions and exclusions before actually taking up the policy. The premium will also vary based on the types of car, duration and the policy you take.

The market is bursting with numerous car insurance plans, which are providing value-oriented services to their customers. In this case, it might become confusing to analyze the best policy for you? Well, we have this sorted for you, you can check out this list of the top 5 car insurance plans for 2018, by analyzing their previous performance records including the CSR (claim settlement ratio), disbursement options, post-sales support, and customer care. Check it out!

1

    ICICI Lombard Motor Insurance:  This policy provides your car a cover from any unforeseen circumstances, including natural calamities, as well as damages caused by any other car and even man-made mishaps. Also, the co-passengers get a cover of up to 2lakhs from accidental destruction. The main benefit is the immediate assistance and even cashless servicing across 3000+ service center across the country. You can pay by multiple means; get 24*7 customer care support and also the door to door assistance.

       Bajaj Allianz Car Insurance:  Bajaj Allianz covers risk arising from unpredictable damages within India and Abroad. They also have more than 1500 garages across India to provide you free car services or they pay 75 percent of the total amount, based on the policy. You also get protection against natural catastrophes like earthquake, landslide, floods etc. and also in case of theft, terrorist activities or other man-caused destructions, if any.  If you are the primary policyholder, you will get a cover of 1 lakh in an accidental case. Moreover, it also safeguards you from third-party liabilities in any accident posing a lifelong threat or death. Their customer care team is readily available and you also get SMS updates for your transactions.

3    TATA AIG Car Insurance: One of the biggest car insurance providers, TATA AIG provides you the most secured insurance policy, as it covers most of the risks possible under car insurance plans. Natural and human-created destructions are covered, but it also secures loss incurred from the theft of belongings inside your car. Customers even get free car pick-up and easy claim settlement within a week.

    Bharti AXA Car Insurance:  If your car happens to break down, this policy gives you immediate road-side assistance, also gets you aid in case of keys misplacement, 100 percent cover in case of car theft and also, if it’s wrecked beyond repair.  Moreover, you can avail free repairing of parts from the garages that fall under their panel. There are also other benefits and discounts which customers can avail.

5     Reliance Car Insurance: Enjoy a hassle-free claim settlement under any circumstances causing damage or loss to your vehicle. Though, it does not include the routine abrasion to your vehicle. It provides you legal cover against critical circumstances of death, whereas, impairment of a person as well as any destruction or loss of property, is also included.

Simply put, when you think of purchasing your own car, it’s wise to get it insured from any adversity or an accident. In order to get that done, you need to buy a car insurance plan from any of the above mentioned top 5 car insurance plans for 2018, based on your requirements. Do not forget that a good car insurance policy offers you the financial protection and wards of any hassle that may turn up in the course of time.

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Zero Depreciation Car Insurance Cover - Bajaj Allianz

We can consider Bajaj Car Insurance among the leading insurance plans. Some prominent insurance companies dominate the car insurance market in India and Bajaj Allianz is one of them. With its innovative and customer oriented plans, it has been maintaining its repute since long. If we are talking about car insurance plan offered by Bajaj Allianz, the most innovative feature, mainly the add-on facilities are worth mentioning.

Car values are prone to depreciate over a span of time. Owing to incessant use, the wear and tear lead to a decline in the value of the car, what is called depreciation. Depreciation is something that no car owner can flee, irrespective of insured or not. However, for insured one, the depreciation value is covered by the insurer.

If you are owing an above average or a luxury car, you may end up paying for a huge chunk while repairing the damages as most of the car parts are expensive. In the extreme cases, the expenses may add up to INR 1 lakh that you may have to bear by own with a standard cover. But if you add a zero depreciation plan, it will pay the amount in full for a slightly higher premium, not more than 20%. The head person of motor insurance Bajaj Allianz General Insurance says that the depreciation deductions can be higher that may exceed 40%. Bajaj Allianz offers zero depreciation along with the roadside assistance with car insurance. Here is a quick view of the plan:

What Zero Depreciation Plan is All About

• ·         By paying a little extra, you can avail the benefit of zero depreciation, which is an add-on benefit you can buy with your main car insurance policy.
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• ·         A standard car insurance plan doesn’t cover zero depreciation or you end up getting paid for depreciated value of the car.
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• ·         At the time of claim settlement, the insurer estimates and applies the defined depreciation rate to pay the actual amount for claim settlement.
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• ·         With a zero depreciation plan, the insurer settles the claim by paying the full car value without any depreciation. If not then you’ll have to bear the difference between the market rate of the new part and the depreciated one.
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• ·         You can experience a hassle-free claim settlement process with zero depreciation cover
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• ·         This plan is worth buying if you own a brand new car because the premium won’t cost you much as compared to the expensive car parts

Bajaj Allianz Auto Insurance Depreciation Charge

Parts	Depreciation Rate
Rubber/plastic parts, Tyre	50%
Glass made of fibre	30%
Metallic parts	0-50%
Parts with painting	50%

Zero Depreciation: Let’s Take an Example

You may obstruct with the whooping repairing costs of 1 lakh incurred for damages due to an accident, your car met with. However, you are sure enough and take a sigh of relief thinking your insurer would cover the expenses incurred. But when you file the claim asking for the reimbursement, you end up paying up to 50% of the total cost. Why? You forget to buy an add-on zero depreciation cover. At the time of claim settlement, the insurer calculates the depreciated rate of your car and makes the final payout for the damaged car parts. With a zero depreciation cover, you can ask for the full value of your car with any deduction. 

Third-Party Car Insurance to Cost More

Car insurance provides an extra layer of security and safety to your vehicle. When you are out on the road, anything can happen to you. There would be times, it won’t be your fault but you would suffer anyway. This is why having a motor insurance plan is important for the safety of your vehicle. Apart from providing the safety shield to your vehicle, it also provides financial protection to you so that you can be tension free.

Thanks to motor insurance, your vehicle is safe as insurance provides coverage against theft, accidents, any damages due to any road mishaps, natural and man-made perils etc. In addition to that, it provides personal accident cover as well. The coverage depends on the insurance provider that you have opted for and the insurance plan that you have zeroed down. On the basis of the coverage that you go for, the insurance premium is decided.

Insurance is such a personalized need and one person’s insurance needs vary from the others. To get the needed coverage you can always opt for the additional riders and ensure that maximum security of your vehicle.

Every year, inflation affects every industry. In the insurance industry, premiums are hiked annually. The percentage of hike vary insurance provider to insurance provider.

The third-party insurance premium is likely to hike as the concerned authorities have agreed to go forward with the third-party liability cap in case there are serious injuries or fatalities during the road mishaps. For the year 2017-18, approx 50 percent hike has been proposed by The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority for a majority of the vehicles. As per the law, it is compulsory for the automobile owners to buy a third-party car insurance plan for their vehicles. Third-party liability insurance is compulsory and comprehensive insurance coverage is optional. 

A comprehensive insurance plan provides coverage for the third-party liability as well as own damage. The third-party damage is 30 percent only.  The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority hasn’t proposed any hike in the third-party insurance premium for few types of vehicles such as Tata Nano, Datsun Go, and Maruti Alto along with the mini trucks and pick-up vans.

The Premium Deciding Factor

The premium deciding factor is the engine cc of the automobiles. IRDA proposes to hike the insurance premium of the vehicles having 1,000 to 1,500cc engines by 50 percent approx. The sources reveal that the hike can be finalized between 25 to 30 percent. Probably, the insurance providers would go for another round of hike when the Motor Vehicle Amendments Bill is passed with the provision that insurers will make payment of the complete compensation that is finalized by the motor vehicle claims tribunal.

Stand Alone Insurance Products Might Offer Lower Premium

Amidst the reports of insurers stressing on a substantial increase in third-party insurance premium, a debate has been stirred on the topic -why third-party insurance isn’t sold as a complete insurance product instead of being attached to a comprehensive insurance plan to the automobile owners.