An accident in the conventional sense requires a collision between two vehicles. But what happens if a car rolls into a lake or is hit by a tree trunk? Are these also accidents in the sense of the motor vehicle conditions??
This question arises especially when it comes to claims for damages. If the car is damaged by external circumstances that are not due to a collision with another vehicle, this is often not considered an accident in the sense of the insurance conditions. But what does this mean for the policyholder?
In the following article, we will go into more detail on this issue and clarify which conditions are used by insurance companies when settling claims. Because in the event of damage, it is important to know what claims you have as the policyholder and what costs are covered by the insurance company.
Car rolls into the lake: Is this considered an accident in the sense of the car insurance conditions?
According to the terms of the automobile insurance policy, an accident is a sudden, unexpected event caused by external forces, usually mechanical or physical, that results in damage to the vehicle or personal injury.
In the case of a car rolling into a lake, it could be argued that this is an accident because it is an unexpected event caused by outside forces. However, there are some factors to consider, such as whether the driver intentionally drove into the lake or whether it was an unfortunate mishap.
If the driver intentionally drove into the lake, this is not considered an accident and therefore would not be covered by the car insurance policy. However, if it is an unfortunate mishap where the driver may have been in an emergency situation or the car rolled unexpectedly and uncontrollably into the lake, this could be considered an accident under the terms of the car insurance policy.
Ultimately, it depends on the individual circumstances whether or not an incident is considered an accident under the terms of the car insurance policy. It is therefore advisable to check the exact terms and clauses of the car insurance policy and, if in doubt, contact the insurer to get an accurate assessment of the incident and the insurance coverage.
Insurance cover in the event of a car accident: special features in the event of an accident in water
An accident with the car can happen quickly, and often there is also the damage to another car or even to people. But what actually happens if the car rolls into the water – is that even an accident in the sense of the motor vehicle conditions?? This is a matter of debate, because the insurance cover is very complex here.
As a general rule, insurance coverage in the event of an accident in the water only applies if the driver himself is not at fault for the accident. If, on the other hand, the driver is driving under the influence of alcohol, for example, and this causes the car to roll into the lake, the insurance company may not compensate for the damage – in this case, it depends particularly on which clauses were agreed in the contract.
Particularly in the case of an accident in water, there may also be special features in the settlement of claims. For example, it may be that the car must first be salvaged before the damage assessment can even begin. Here, too, there are special clauses and conditions in the insurance contracts that must be observed.
- What you should look out for in the event of an accident in the water?
- Check your insurance conditions carefully and clarify in advance with your insurer to what extent the damage will be replaced.
- Try to recover the car – an experienced company can help here.