Intimation to company in writing necessary for insurance claim
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An insurance company is not liable for any deficiency of service if a policy holder fails to submit the information about the accident,
damage and claim in writing, a consumer court has held.
"The oral approach to the insurance company for appointment of the surveyor and to determine the damages to reimburse has no meaning unless the required information of the accident, damage and claim are submitted in writing," the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum (Central) has said.
The policy holder, Charanjeet Singh, approached the Forum, seeking insurance claim from New India Assurance Company Limited for his vehicle which suffered damage in an accident.
The Forum dismissed the complaint on the ground that no surveyor could be appointed by the company to assess the insurance claim in the absence of claim form and without having any information of the accident.
"Without the information of the accident and damage to the vehicle and in the absence of claim form, the company could not have appointed any surveyor to assess the damages," the Forum, comprising President B B Chaudhary, Members M Siddiqui and S R Agrawal, said.
The Forum noted that the complainant failed to produce any medical evidence relating to the accident.
"Singh's contention is not supported by any medical documentary evidence, which prevented him to approach the insurance company after he met with an accident. The vague plea has got no merit," the Forum said.
Singh met with an accident in 2004. He claimed to have received treatment in GTB hospital. His insurance claim for damaged vehicle was repudiated by the company on the ground that they were not informed about it.
Source – economictimes.com
