Does Comprehensive Car Insurance Cover Hit and Run?

A hit-and-run motor vehicle act (U/s 161) is specially designed to protect the rights of road accident victims. A hit-and-run accident is a vehicle accident where the accused party flees the scene without providing any contact details. It can happen anywhere, even in a neatly parked location.

The reason for fleeing can be anything, such as fear of being caught, not wanting to pay the cost of damage, etc. If the accused get away from the location quickly, getting the cost of damage can be an excruciating process.

Despite having a dedicated hit-and-run case section in the MV Act of 1988, getting coverage can be challenging. But in such difficult times, you should keep yourself together and follow these steps.

Here is what you should do after the occurrence of hit-and-run accidents:

Get details of the accused: The first step when coming across a hit-and-run incident is to note the details of the accused parties, such as car number, model, etc. It can be tricky to notice since the party has left the scene, but it will help while filing a police complaint.

Inform the police: The next obvious course of action is informing the police about the incident. You can dial the emergency number and inform the police or visit the nearest police station too. A police complaint report is essential when submitting for hit-and-run case compensation.

Find witnesses: Witnesses are crucial to prove your case in hit-and-run accidents. Try to reach out to the people present during the accident. It is best to note their basic information if they are ready to testify on your behalf.

Collect evidence: You need to have as many photographs as possible to prove your case. It will help justify the damage the party caused and strengthen your case. Try to see if any security camera is nearby to get the video of the incident.

Inform the insurance agent: To get the insurance coverage on time, inform the insurer. Within 48 hours of the incident, the insurance company must be informed per their rules. As soon as you inform them about the incident, the fast will be your insurance claim process.

You must follow procedures while filing for hit-and-run case compensation from your insurance company. The steps will be the same whether you have opted for an online or offline insurance policy.

Inform the insurer: The first thing to do is inform the insurer about the hit-and-run accident. This will fast-track the compensation process. It is best not to hide any details from the insurer about the incident. Tata AIG insurance holders can call on our toll-free number, 1800-266-7780, to report the accident.

Providing detailed information: Once you have informed us, we will send a surveyor to investigate the incident and ask some questions related to the accident, such as the reason behind the accident, the damages that occurred and more.

Vehicle survey: Further, our surveyor will visit the accident site or the site where the vehicle is parked to assess the damages. Based on the survey, we will prepare a report about the damages and services the damaged vehicle needs.

Providing documents: In a hit and run case our surveyor will submit the vehicle damage report, and you need to gather all the necessary documents, such as an FIR copy, photographs of the damage, and a detailed description of the accident.

Car repair: We have 7500+ garages in our network, and if you send your car to your nearest Tata AIG network garage, we will settle the bill directly with the garage, and you will receive a cashless service. However, you can also send your car to your preferred garage, and we will reimburse the bill later. Here is how you can locate your nearest network garage.

Claim closure: Once the repairs have been completed, you can follow up with us about any other remaining compensation. We have a team of 650+ claim experts who will help you settle your claim.

Hit and run has been categorised as a criminal offence, and the offender party has to face all the legalities if the person is severely injured or dies in the incident. There has been a strict punishment for the offended after the trial if found guilty.

Further, to compensate the severely injured victim, ₹50,000 has been fixed, and if the victim died in the accident, an amount of ₹2,00,000 needs to be paid to his family.

Hit and run is an unforeseen event that can happen to anybody. While the damage cannot be undone, a comprehensive motor insurance plan can offer shielding from a financial disaster. The car insurance policy protects the insured vehicle against third parties' liabilities, theft, road accidents, and natural calamities.

The insurance for a four-wheeler will cover the damage to a third-party car or own vehicle. The hit-and-run car insurance coverage will cover the third-party disability, death and property damage that happened due to accidents. It also covers the owner’s driver expenses in case he gets severely injured or dies in a hit-and-run accident.

Further, various add-ons, such as roadside assistance cover, conveyance benefits, etc., can be included in the comprehensive insurance plan to enhance the base policy coverage.

[Note: Tata AIG’s comprehensive car insurance policy includes a personal accident coverage of ₹15 lakhs. If the driver/owner of the car loses his or her life in the car accident, the immediate family member of the deceased will get the sum assured.]

That's all!

A comprehensive car insurance policy plan is the best choice for hit-and-run accidents. The roads are uncertain, and no one knows what can happen while driving, so having a proper insurance plan is a must. While the unforeseen cannot be dodged, an insurance plan can still save a fortune that can be incurred due to an accident.

With the thought to serve our community, we at Tata AIG are offering hassle-free four-wheeler insurance to individuals. Visit the website now!

Does insurance cover if you hit a car?

A comprehensive insurance plan will cover the damages caused to the third-party victim. It will pay for both bodily damages and property damages. On top of that, it will also pay for the repair cost of your vehicle.

What should I do if someone hits my car in India?

First, take videos and photographs of the incident, record the registration number of the perpetrator, get his insurance details, and inform the nearest police station about the event. Next, inform your insurance provider about the accident.

What is the benefit of comprehensive car insurance?

One of the significant benefits of comprehensive car insurance is providing coverage for own damage as well as for third-party liabilities.