Third party insurance cover can uplift accident victims
Lazarus
Sauti
Elphas
Dzvarire (24) of Rixon Ranch in Mhangura was hit by a car at Chiuye, Rushinga
Road in Mt Darwin on the 23rd of February 2018.
He
was training to join the army when the accident happened.
“I
was hit by a Toyota Altezza in February whilst I was training to join the army.
The driver of the car failed to control his car and he hit me,” Dzvarire said,
adding that the driver stopped and assisted him.
“He
only paid $26 for my transport from the scene of the accident to Karanda
Mission Hospital,” he said. “I used $485 to cover for other medical bills.
Because I am unemployed, I was forced to sell 2 cows to foot for my medicals.”
Dzvarire
said he tried to call the driver asking for help, but to no avail.
“Sometimes
he ignores my calls,” he said, adding, “It’s so frustrating.”
Sadly,
Dzvarire was not aware of road traffic accidents and third party insurance and
this forced him to beg for money to foot his medical bills.
Nhau
Chivingira, Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC) pensions manager, says
most people, just like Dzvarire, are not aware about third party insurance cover
and as such are forced to fork out large sums of money to foot for their
medical bills.
He
said third party insurance cover is the lowest statutory cover for all vehicles
and its cover is limited to damages caused to other parties.
Chivingira
explained that third party insurance is so termed because it does not cover
damages to own vehicle.
For
insurance assessor, Itai Muroyi, however, there is a catch: limit of cover on
this policy is minimal.
“The
statutory limit is $2.000. What it means is it will cover damages caused by
insured to other parties up to the limit of $2.000,” he said. “Should the policy
holder cause damages of over $2000, the insurance will cover up to their limit
and the policy holder covers any amount above the limit.”
Muroyi
added that insurance companies are law bidding entities.
“There
insurance cover does not apply when policy holder or their driver is unlicensed.
Consequently, it is important to ensure drivers are licensed at all times,” he
said.
Chivingira
and Muroyi affirm that third party insurance cover only applies when the policy
holder is wrong, like in the case of the driver who hit Dzvarire.
According
to the police report, the driver was speeding and this caused the accident.
To
fully benefit from third party insurance cover, Chivingira urged victims of
accidents to take number plates and contact IPEC so as to be assisted in
activating policy claims.
“All
we are doing is working with victims to enable them to be compensated,” he
said, also discouraging motorists from buying fake insurance policies from ‘touts’
who sell them in streets.
Tatenda Chinoda, Information, Communication and
Technology manager for the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe adds that his
organisation has joined forces with the Insurance Council of Zimbabwe (ICZ) in
creating collective consciousness amongst travellers around issues to do with
compensation in the event that one has been involved in a road traffic crash.
“The strategies of generating such awareness
include road shows and mass media campaigns and the mandate is road safety
education, training, publicity and research in cooperation with other
stakeholders,” he told 263Chat.com.
Speaking
on the sidelines of
Insurance Awareness Day celebrations in Gweru recently, Technical Manager, Insurance Council of Zimbabwe,
Nicholas Sayi, said there are a number of factors that contribute to
traffic-related accidents and urged all people involved to play important roles
in helping victims.
He said policy holders should carefully read and
understand policy documents as they cover what should be done in the event of
road accidents.
“Policy holders should dedicate time to
examine policy documents. This will help them to act from an informed
decision,” Sayi said.
He
also encouraged the society to
always ensure that those who are knowledgeable about insurance assist family
members, relatives and neighbours about the process of claiming in the event of
traffic-related accidents.
For Muroyi, motorists should simply have a
comprehensive motor insurance cover, an all-encompassing motor
insurance policy.
“Comprehensive
motor insurance covers policy holder’s vehicle and their liability to third
parties should they be the wrong party in an accident. It also covers hit and
run situations,” he summed up.
As
for Information Technology expert, George Magombeyi, insurers must invest in
mobile technology as a channel to leverage integrated multi-distribution and
implementation strategies.
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