Is FIR necessary for Personal Accident Insurance claim?

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Chandigarh resident Kartar Singh met with an accident in a dense fog on an expressway. Everything happened so suddenly that the family could not understand what to do. After a few days, the family came to know that Kartar had bought a personal accident insurance cover of Rs 20 lakh. Now what should the family do to file a claim with the insurance company? Since it is a case of accidental death, it is necessary that they will have to file a police FIR. Then only they can get the claim.

The case has already been registered with the police, but the FIR has not yet been registered. So what should Kartar’s family do in such a situation? Let’s understand –

In case of an accident, it is necessary to file an FIR. Because filing an FIR would mean that the claim is not frivolous and the insurer is confident that this is not a fraud case.  This will make it easier for you to get the claim.

Dr. Raja Tanwar, Senior Manager, Health Claim, Digit General Insurance, says that in case of any kind of damage in an accident, the insurance company should be informed as soon as possible. This information can be given to the insurance company’s email ID or helpline number. It is necessary to give the policy number. There is no need for an FIR to inform the insurer. On receiving the intimation, the insurance company will provide a list of necessary documents. On receiving all the necessary documents along with the claim form, the insurance company will release the insurance amount. FIR will also have to be added to the list of these necessary documents.

Dr. Raja Tanwar says that an FIR is necessary in case of death in a road accident. Only after the FIR is registered, the police conduct a post-mortem and further investigation. In such a case, before giving the claim, the insurance company will ask for the FIR and post-mortem report. If a person has been treated in a hospital after being injured in an accident, then the medical report will also have to be submitted along with the claim form. After studying these reports, only then will the insurance company approve the claim.

so, Which documents are necessary for the claim? The documents required to get claim under accident insurance, are, a copy of the policy, the address and ID proof of the deceased person, the FIR, a copy of the post-mortem report, and if treated in a hospital, then even that have to be mention. Along with this, KYC of the nominee and his bank account details will also have to be submitted. If the nominee is not mentioned in the policy, then a legal heir certificate will have to be given.

Although as per the rules, this claim should be filed within 30 days of the incident. However, there is no time limit for filing a claim. If you file a claim after 30 days, then the insurance company can ask for a valid reason for the delay. The insurer will have to pay the claim amount within one month of the date of receipt of all the documents.

If you are filing an insurance claim, try to submit all the claim-related documents all at once. The insurance company will not sanction the claim until you submit all the documents. Many times, the insurance company also asks for some clarification and supporting documents. If you keep changing your statement every now and then, your claim may be rejected.

Personal accident insurance is a good option for the financial security of your family. Just like Kartar, it can be quite helpful during a crisis for your family also. If you want to make any insurance claim, immediately inform the insurance company about it. After that, gather all the necessary documents. Try to submit all the documents related to the claim all at once so that you can get the claim on time.