In the face of natural disasters such as heavy rains, lightning, and typhoons, both families and business owners should try their best to arrange corresponding insurance in advance to minimize uncertain risks and losses.
On the afternoon of September 13, Shanghai encountered the heaviest rainstorm since the flood season this year. There were widespread heavy rains in the central city and local heavy rains. The meteorological observatory issued the highest level red rainstorm warning.
20 to 50 centimeters of water suddenly accumulated in a short period of time, and road traffic was seriously blocked. A considerable number of vehicles broke down while wading through the water, some subways were suspended, and even the lobby of a bank was flooded with water. …
In the face of sudden heavy rain disaster weather, how to apply for insurance claims under different circumstances?
Do not start the vehicle again if it stalls in water
During the heavy rainfall in Shanghai, the vehicle damage was quite serious. Vehicle breakdowns and engine water intrusion are the most serious situations.
Judging from the reports from the three major property and casualty insurance companies in Shanghai, as of 9 a.m. on September 15, Ping An Property and Casualty Insurance Shanghai Branch had received 5,425 auto insurance reports. rise.
On September 13th and 14th, PICC Property and Casualty Insurance Shanghai Branch *** received 2,691 auto insurance reports related to heavy storms, including 86 auto insurance reports due to water intrusion into vehicles.
As of 10:30 on September 14, CPIC Shanghai Branch *** had received more than 1,290 car insurance reports due to heavy rain.
According to the terms of car damage insurance, car damage insurance is applicable to compensation for vehicles that are submerged due to water in the garage, or trees and rocks that fall and damage the vehicle due to heavy rain. In car damage claims after a heavy rain, as long as the engine is not flooded, all repairs and replacement parts are covered by the car damage insurance. When the vehicle is stationary, even if the water submerges the car body and causes a total loss of the car, the insurance company can still compensate as a total loss.
In the face of sudden heavy rain disasters, various insurance companies have launched green claims channels to simplify claims procedures in a timely manner, such as simplifying the normally required accident document requirements such as meteorological certificates, and speeding up the processing of minor damages. Vehicle damage assessment and quick compensation, so as to make follow-up claims for disaster-stricken customers as soon as possible.
After the heavy rain disaster, China Pacific Insurance quickly launched a contingency plan for auto insurance claims for special natural disasters and established an emergency working group. Members include the claims department, office, finance department, information technology department, customer service department and related business departments. The person in charge opened a green channel for claims settlement for customers. Claims handlers suspended their rotations. All claim settlement survey personnel and nearly 100 survey vehicles rushed to various survey and loss assessment points to actively carry out loss survey and claim settlement work.
However, ordinary car damage insurance may not be able to compensate for engine damage caused by wading. Only by purchasing "water insurance" will the insurance company pay full compensation for losses caused by the insured vehicle being involved in water, including engine damage.
A special reminder is that if the car owner stalls the car in the water and forcibly starts it a second time and causes losses, even if the car owner has purchased water-related insurance, the insurance company will not compensate because it is a human factor.
“During heavy rain, if a vehicle is parked on the roadside or in a parking lot and it is found that the vehicle is flooded and the water level has submerged the exhaust pipe, do not start the vehicle at this time.” Shanghai insurance experts said , proper handling by the car owner to protect the vehicle from further damage is the first step to a smooth claim settlement.
Experts also remind car owners that if their vehicle is submerged up to the headlights while parked, they should immediately notify the rescue unit to tow the vehicle to a repair shop.
If the vehicle enters a pond and stalls while driving, do not try to start the vehicle again, otherwise water will enter the engine.
Heavy rain will seriously affect the line of sight and pose the risk of accidents. Don't drive on the road unless absolutely necessary. If you are already driving on the road during heavy rain, be sure to turn on the fog lights, turn on the double jump lights if necessary, and drive slowly and carefully. If the lights or wipers are not working properly, be sure to pull over and do not drive forcefully. After parking, remember to close the doors, windows and sunroof to prevent rainwater from entering the car and causing damage to the interior and circuits.
Home property insurance transfers weather risks
During the heavy rain in Shanghai, many low-lying family houses were soaked by water. The residents after the "water flooded the golden mountain" were really miserable. Unspeakable.
For example, the Shanghai Branch of PICC Property and Casualty Insurance Company received 177 non-auto insurance reports during the "9-13" rainstorm.
For this reason, experts suggest that families living in rainy southern cities can purchase a home property insurance for their small homes. In the event of severe storms, if various types of household property are damaged, home property insurance can provide certain compensation if the conditions are met.
In fact, home property insurance can not only protect the family house itself and other family property in violent storms, but also in the event that a flowerpot on the balcony of the home accidentally hits a neighbor during a typhoon and heavy rain. "Third parties" such as passers-by and others, the "third party liability insurance" included in some home property insurance policies can also provide financial compensation for this. In normal times, it can provide protection against water pipe bursts, fires, lightning and other accidents.
Moreover, home property insurance rates are relatively low. Depending on the amount of protection and the scope of coverage, it can cost as little as twenty or thirty yuan a year, or as much as several hundred yuan a year, which can support the family property. A large "umbrella" is a relatively affordable insurance product.
After purchasing home property insurance, in the event of an accident, the policyholder should immediately call the insurance company’s service hotline to inform the insurance company of the loss at home and quote the insurance policy number on the phone. If possible, it is best to take photos of the damage yourself for record keeping. At the same time, prepare insurance policies, property damage lists, invoices, and certificates from the property management department. If the property is damaged due to heavy rain or storm, proof of the local weather conditions at that time should be provided.
As a business owner, you should promptly prepare your business finances for heavy rains, typhoons and other disastrous weather through products such as corporate property insurance.
Flight delay insurance pays for heavy rain delays
Flight delays are inevitable in heavy rain and lightning weather like the "9-13" incident in Shanghai.
In this case, special "flight delay insurance", "flight delay liability" and "journey delay liability" in travel insurance and "flight delay protection" provided in some credit cards are all available Corresponding compensation. For example, travel accident insurance, especially overseas travel insurance, from several insurance companies such as American Asia Insurance, Allianz China-Germany, PICC Property and Casualty Insurance, Huatai Insurance, etc., can cover the "journey (flight) delay" item.
If the flight is delayed for more than 4 hours due to bad weather, the "flight delay" or "journey delay" insurance liability products on the market will pay approximately 250 to 400 yuan for every 4 hours of delay, and the maximum compensation is usually 2,000 yuan.
For example, on June 8 this year, a sudden and severe storm hit Shanghai, causing the departure of the Star Cruises "Star Twin" originally scheduled to depart on that day to be postponed for one day. More than 1,200 tourists' "Busan Jeju" The trip was delayed. Since most tourists on this trip purchased Huatai Overseas Travel Insurance, each passenger who purchased this insurance will receive a delay compensation of 600 yuan from Huatai Property & Casualty Insurance, which slightly made up for the loss.
In fact, people who often travel have a lot of feelings about flight delays, and it often happens that the journey cannot be continued due to natural disasters and man-made disasters. Products such as Meiya's "Wanguoyouzang" overseas travel insurance and Allianz China's "Worry-Free International Travel Insurance" even include "journey shortening compensation" protection items.
Table 1: Special protection items related to travel insurance and heavy rain and other severe weather
Extended reading: How to buy insurance, which one is better, and step-by-step instructions to avoid these "pitfalls" of insurance