If you have recently bought a car or are planning to buy one, you should start looking for a suitable car insurance policy. You may choose between the mandatory third-party liability-only policy or a comprehensive policy based on the model and condition of your car.
However, irrespective of the policy you choose, you must buy a compulsory personal accident (PA) cover along with insurance. If the car is registered in your name and you have a driving licence, then as the owner-driver of the car, the PA policy would apply to you. Remember, PA cover is an add-on, and you will have to pay an extra premium for it.
Read on for everything you need to know about the compulsory personal accident cover.
The PA policy would provide you with coverage for the entire time you use your car, including when you get inside or come out of the car. The features and benefits of car insurance with a PA cover include:
- You can buy it with the standalone compulsory liability policy or a comprehensive car insurance policy.
- It is valid for one year.
- It covers you even if you are not driving the car and are using it as a co-passenger.
- If you own more than one car, you can get this cover only for one car.
- The insurer would pay compensation for any physical injury or death of the policyholder.
- Types of injuries covered include loss of limbs, loss of eyesight, or permanent total disablement.
- The injury or loss of life should be due to an accident or uncertain incident involving the insured car.
- You would get compensation up to a certain specified limit as mentioned in your policy document.
- The policyholder’s family will receive a lump sum amount in case of temporary or permanent disability or loss of life of the owner-driver of the car due to an accident.
- You will get coverage of ₹15 lakh for sustaining any injury while travelling or getting in or coming out of the insured car.
- If you want, you can opt for an additional PA cover of ₹2 lakh for co-passengers by paying an extra premium.
There are certain limitations of the PA cover which you must be aware of before paying for one. Some common exclusions are:
- The car policy is not applicable if the car is registered in the name of an organisation, firm, or corporate where you work.
- You will not get any benefit if you do not hold a valid driving licence.
- If an injury or death is caused intentionally by the policyholder or due to an attempt to suicide, then the insurer can reject the claim.
- Your claim amount should not exceed the entitlement or limit of money specified in the policy document.
- If the accident happened while you were driving the car under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other intoxicating substances, then you would not get any compensation.
- The insurer will not pay for claims due to contractual liability.
- The policy will not cover you if the car is not registered in your name.
- Any claim made by you that does not meet the specifications of the Motor Vehicles Act is not eligible for compensation.
- The policy does not cover any injury or loss of life due to civil unrest, war, mutiny, military operations etc.
- The car insurance policy will not entertain any claim related to damages caused by nuclear weapons.
You can raise a claim either online or offline as per your preference. While filing a claim, the policyholder must submit the following documents to the insurer:
- A completely filled and signed claim form.
- Medical report from the doctor who attended you for the treatment of injuries caused by the accident.
- In case of loss of life, the family members of the deceased must get a death certificate from the hospital where the policyholder was admitted.
- If there is temporary or permanent disability, the claim form must include supporting documents attested by the specialist doctor handling the policyholder’s case.
- An attested copy of the FIR (First Information Report) mentioning the details of the accident.
- A set of medical records including the investigation and lab reports such as X-ray and MRI reports. These reports are specifically required when claiming compensation due to disability.
- In case of loss of life, the insurer may ask for the post mortem report if it was conducted.
- Additional documents as required by the insurer to settle the claim.
The insurer may get the documents verified by their trusted medical team of doctors, specifically appointed for such purposes.