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Car Accidents in Pondicherry and Insurance Claim

Team AckoJan 17, 2024

Pondicherry, now Puducherry, is a city of magnificent cathedrals, numerous mosques, 18th-century colonial architecture and picturesque beaches. The former French colony still retains its heritage and is the perfect fusion of French and Indian culture.

If you are planning to visit this historic town, you will have to arrive in Chennai and drive down the East Coast Road to reach your destination. If, by any chance, you are involved in a car accident in Pondicherry while on vacationand need to know how to file a successful insurance claim, read on!

Contents

Car Accidents in Pondicherry
The Number of Road Accident Cases Reported in Pondicherry
Safety and Car Insurance as a Protection Against Car Accidents in Pondicherry
- Documents Required to Make a Car Accident Claim in Pondicherry
How to Buy a Car Insurance Policy in Pondicherry at ACKO?
Things to Remember
Frequently asked questions

Car Accidents in Pondicherry

Pondicherry is a relatively small district with a road network of just under 640 km. Despite this, Pondicherry ranks second among the union territories when it comes to the number of accidents after the NCT of Delhi.

Thus, it is highly recommended that you have valid car insurance before you enter the district. This will ensure you are protected financially in case you are involved in an unfortunate car accident in Pondicherry.

The Number of Road Accident Cases Reported in Pondicherry

Pondicherry is a popular tourist destination that always has a heavy influx of traffic, especially on the weekends and during the holiday seasons. The car accident rate in Pondicherry over the last few years is as follows:

Road Accidents in Pondicherry in 2020 - 1597
Road Accidents in Pondicherry in 2019 - 1392
Road Accidents in Pondicherry in 2018 - 969

The silver lining is that even though the number of accidents in Pondicherry is high, the number of fatalities has been relatively low and has been dropping constantly.

Number of Fatalities in Pondicherry in 2020 - 145
Number of Fatalities in Pondicherry in 2019 - 147
Number of Fatalities in Pondicherry in 2018 - 226

Most of the accidents have been linked to overspeeding on National and State Highways within the district.

Safety and Car Insurance as a Protection Against Car Accidents in Pondicherry

Insurance policies provide a financial safety net in case you are involved in a car accident in Pondicherry. There are primarily two types of car insurance you can opt for, which provide various levels of coverage:

Third-Party Insurance: Third-party insurance, as the same implies, protects you from any financial liabilities that may arise in the event that a third party suffers any damages or injuries. A third party, in this instance, can be a person, a vehicle or personal property. It is important to note that third-party insurance does not cover damages sustained by your own vehicle.
Comprehensive Insurance: Comprehensive insurance takes your coverage up a notch. Not only are you protected from financial liabilities from third parties, but this type of insurance also covers the costs of damages to your own vehicle. Apart from this, comprehensive insurance also provides cover in case your vehicle is stolen or has been damaged in natural or man-made disasters.

Documents Required to Make a Car Accident Claim in Pondicherry

These are the documents you will need to file an insurance claim if you were involved in a car accident in Pondicherry:

Driving licence of the driver
A copy of the insurance policy certificate
Registration Certificate (RC) of the insured vehicle
Proof of Identification of the policyholder
First Information Report (FIR), if lodged
Fire Brigade Report, if lodged
Cancelled cheque
Original purchase invoice (if opted for Return to Invoice add-on cover)
Any other document, as requested by the insurer

Having all the necessary documents handy will help speed up your claim process and minimise the chances of your claim getting rejected.

How to Buy a Car Insurance Policy in Pondicherry at ACKO?

ACKO is one of the leading insurance service providers in the country. The biggest benefit of going with ACKO is that you can purchase a car insurance policy online as well as renew the car insurance that way too.

ACKO has several car insurance policies to choose from that offer various levels of coverage:

Third-Party Plan - The third-party plan from ACKO protects you from any third-party financial liabilities.
Comprehensive Plan - Comprehensive insurance has everything a third-party plan offers, along with coverage to take care of damage to your own vehicle. It also covers you in case of vehicle theft and damage due to natural disasters.
Zero-Dep Plan - A zero-dep plan has all the benefits of the comprehensive plan, with the benefit of not losing any money on depreciation.

Once you decide which plan best suits your needs, you can follow the below steps to buy your insurance plan with ACKO:

Visit acko.com
Enter your vehicle's registration number. We make things easier by fetching the details of your vehicle for you.
You will then be asked to answer a series of simple questions to help us better understand your insurance needs.
You then view all the insurance plans online with tailor-made premiums just for you and make your purchase right then and there.
Once the payment is made, the option to download the policy will be visible on the screen.

That's it!

Things to Remember

Here are a few things to remember before you plan a road trip to Pondicherry.

Ensure that you have valid car insurance. If it is about to lapse, renew it before you start your trip.
Most of the car accidents in Pondicherry happen on the highways. Stick to the speed limits, follow lane discipline and stay alert.

In case you are unfortunate and happen to be involved in an accident, keep these things in mind to ensure the claim is filed successfully:

Know what type of claim to file: If you were involved in a car accident and it was not your fault, then raise your claim under the third party's insurance policy. That way, you do not lose out on the No Claim Bonus. If the accident was caused due to your negligence, then you will have to file a claim under your third-party insurance policy.
Inform us Immediately: It is imperative that you inform us the moment the accident occurs. You are at risk of getting your claim rejected if you do not inform us within the time specified in the policy document.
Do not forget to file an FIR: FIRs are mandatory in case of accidents that involve a third party. Please go to the nearest police station and file an FIR with them. A copy of the FIR is essential to file a successful insurance claim.
Keep all necessary documents handy: Having all the documents needed to file the claim will help us speed up the process and increase the chances of filing a successful claim.

Accidents can be frightening. In case you are involved in a car accident in Pondicherry, stay calm, administer first aid to those who need it most, call an ambulance if necessary and then inform your insurer and the police without fail.

If you do not have car insurance yet or want to switch to ACKO as your insurance provider, click here to see ACKO's wide range of car insurance plans.

Frequently asked questions

Here are the answers to some of the common questions about car accidents in pondicherry.

What are the emergency numbers to know while travelling on National Highways?

These are the following emergency numbers to keep in mind while driving on National Highways in the country:

Ambulance - 102/108

Police - 100

National highway Helpline - 1033

Can I file a car insurance claim without an FIR?

If a third party is involved in the accident, an FIR is mandatory to file a successful claim. In the event of your vehicle being stolen, you will also need a No Trace certificate from the police along with the FIR to file a successful claim.

How long does ACKO take to settle claims?

Minor claims are settled instantaneously. In case of serious accidents, the duration of the settlement will depend on the severity of the accident and the resultant repair work.

Under what circumstances can my insurance claim be rejected?

Your insurance claim can be rejected for any one of the following reasons:

Failure to inform the insurer on time
Driving without a valid driving licence
Driving under the influence of alcohol
Your insurance policy has lapsed
Your insurance claim was found to be fraudulent

How can I find out the status of my claim request?

At ACKO, we send you regular updates about the status of your claim via SMS and email. You can also enquire about the status of your claim by calling our toll-free number - 1800 266 2256, or on the ACKO mobile app.

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