What is Road and Transport Cover?
What is road and transport cover in South Africa revealed.
We verified road and transport cover in South Africa.
This is a complete guide to road and transport cover in South Africa.
In this in-depth guide you’ll learn:
- ☑️ What is road and transport cover?
- ☑️ Is road and transport cover affordable when you have medical aid?
- ☑️ Why do you need road and transport cover when you have medical aid?
- ☑️ Why should you consider road and transport cover?
- ☑️ What are the benefits of road and transport cover?
So if you’re ready to go “all in” with the road and transport cover in South Africa, this guide is for you.
Let’s dive right in…
What is Road and Transport Cover Summary
Overview
👉 Every year, around 12,500 South Africans are killed in catastrophic road accidents. Unfortunately, this is one of the highest rates in the world. The most serious accidents were light vehicles, light delivery vehicles, minibuses, and trucks.
👉 It is estimated that around 83% of road accident injuries and fatalities occur in economically productive age groups, i.e. those aged 15 to 64 years. On average, four-wheel vehicles (64%) and pedestrians (31%), are involved in the most serious accidents that end in fatalities.
👉 In this article, we learn about road and transport coverage and benefits in South Africa.
A closer look at road accidents in South Africa
👉 The high number of road fatalities in South Africa is regarded as a national crisis. These findings serve as a sharp reminder of the importance of continuing to promote effective practices for road safety.
👉 Not all accidents are fatal. Bumper collisions are prevalent and can happen to anyone at any time. Do you know what to do if you are involved in a car accident, whether you are at fault or not? What if the other party lacks insurance coverage?
👉 Unfortunately, this is a fact. It is believed that up to 70% of the country’s more than 11 million registered automobiles are not insured for unintentional damage.
👉 Here, we look at your rights and obligations in the event of a car accident, as well as how to file a claim with an insurer or in court.
The purpose of road accident cover
👉 Road traffic accidents have a tremendous influence on South Africans’ lives. With so many accidents on our roadways, it is critical to protect family members and loved ones of accident victims from the effects of these incidents.
👉 Too frequently, we hear about the hardship and trauma that a spouse or family member faces when someone is killed or wounded in a car accident!
👉 Personal road accident cover is a type of insurance that protects you, your family, partners, or business associates financially in the event of an accident-related injury, permanent disability, or death.
👉 If an unforeseeable violent or accidental occurrence occurs, you or others left behind will be paid. Personal accident insurance is available on an individual or group basis for enterprises. Beneficiaries can be rewarded no matter where they are in the world.
👉 With the discovery of South Africa as a popular tourist destination, there is also a demand for an insurance product that would cover tourists travelling on South African roads in the event of an accident. Personal accident cover is the best type of coverage for these travellers.
👉 Personal accident insurance payments are made in addition to any benefits received from the RAF, the Compensation Fund, or a retirement fund.
☑️ READ more about Travel Cover
A closer look at the road accident procedure
👉 When you have been in a road accident, there are several steps that you should follow in order to remain within the law.
👉 Stop and activate your hazard lights. It is prohibited to drive away from an accident scene, no matter how little the damage.
👉 Examine the drivers, passengers, and pedestrians for any injuries. If anyone was hurt in the collision, do not attempt to move them. You must not attempt to remove an injured driver or passenger from the car. If there are any injuries, contact the emergency services.
👉 If no one is injured and the damage to your car appears to be minor, you may relocate your vehicle to the side of the road to help with traffic flow. Keep your caution lights on if you can’t move your vehicle because it’s damaged or won’t start.
👉 At this point, you can request a tow truck. If you have insurance, see if your company has an approved list of towing firms. Towing may be covered by your insurance policy. If not, you can contact a company of your choosing.
👉 Take pictures of the damage to your vehicle. Take note of the accident’s date and time. Take pictures of any damage caused by the collision with your mobile. It’s a good idea to ask permission from other drivers involved to photograph vehicle damage.
👉 If possible, try to photograph the accident scene to indicate the direction in all vehicles involved were travelling at the time of the impact.
👉 Take down the names of roads, landmarks, robots, and adjacent intersections. This information will be required when filing your claim. Weather and road conditions should also be considered, as they may have had a role in the collision.
👉 Request information from the other parties involved. Obtain their:
- ➡️ Full names ID numbers
- ➡️ Cellphone and other contact numbers
- ➡️ Insurance details (the name of their insurance company)
👉 If any of the drivers work for a delivery service, collect their contact information as well. Take down the make, model, colour, and registration number of the car or car. Obtain contact information for eyewitnesses (those who witnessed the accident).
👉 Within 24 hours, call the police and report the accident. This is required by law for every accident, even if the damage appears modest. However, if someone was hurt or died in the accident, this step is critical. The police will assign you a case number and conduct an investigation into the incident.
👉 Everyone who was involved in the accident will file a report and be assigned a case number.
👉 Inform your insurance company about the accident and follow their recommendations. You may need to take your vehicle to an authorised assessment centre, for example, to assess the damage. Your insurance will explain how to obtain prices for vehicle repairs.
👉 Maintain contact with your insurer as they handle your claim. It is preferable to fix any car damage as quickly as possible. Putting this on hold may cause the harm to worsen, which may complicate your claim.
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The road accident claims process
👉 Begin the claim process as soon as possible, even if the damage is modest.
👉 Bring vital information with you when you contact your insurer. Typically, they will request:
👉 Your insurance policy number Full details of the accident, including information on all parties involved and any photographs taken of the accident scene and vehicle damage
- ➡️ The case number from the police and the official report from the investigating officer.
- ➡️ Witness testimonies (if there were witnesses)
👉 Follow your insurance company’s claims procedure. This should be provided to you when your coverage begins. Check that you understand what you need to accomplish at each stage.
👉 Fill out the claim form completely and clearly: Typically, you will be required to complete a form that captures all of the specifics of the accident. The form is vital since it supports your claim, therefore filling it out properly will benefit you.
👉 Request repair estimates. Your insurance may provide you with a list of approved repair providers to utilise for a damage assessment.
👉 Once you have received bids for the necessary repairs, you must submit them to your insurer. Before you have your vehicle fixed, your insurer must approve the quote.
👉 To avoid issues with your claim, it is critical that you and your insurance agree on the quoted price. If the damage is severe, an assessor may advise you to write off your vehicle.
👉 In this instance, your insurance will agree to pay an amount equal to the worth of your vehicle before to the accident.
Claiming when you did not cause the accident
👉 If you did not cause the collision, you have the legal right to seek compensation (money) from the at-fault driver.
👉 If the motorist does not have automobile insurance, you can file a claim with the driver’s insurer or the court. If none of you has car insurance, you must file a claim with the court.
👉 The court you can use is determined by the amount of the claim:
- ➡️ If the claim is worth less than R20,000, you can file it in the Small Claims Court. A lawyer is not required to represent you in Small Claims Court.
- ➡️ If the amount is greater, you must file a claim with the Magistrate’s or High Court. You will require the services of a lawyer to represent you.
👉 The manner in which a claim is processed is determined by the nature of the accident and the damages sought. A Small Claims Court will assess all reports in the same way that an insurer does. The police report also serves as evidence.
☑️ READ more about Health Insurance for Travel
Additional note: the Road Accident Fund (RAF)
👉 Some insurers have produced tailor-made Personal Accident Insurance Policies in response to the high-risk exposure presented to South African road users as a result of the Road Accident Fund Amendment Bill.
👉 The Road Accident Fund Amendment Bill (RAF Act) has effectively removed the common law right of an injured person (passenger/tourist/guest) to sue the wrongdoer (driver/operator) in South Africa, which means that following a motor vehicle accident, a severely injured road user will only receive a maximum of R160 000 in compensation from the RAF and will have no right to recourse against the wrongdoer.
👉 The amount of charges that can be claimed for lost wages and medical expenses have been significantly reduced. According to reports, the onus is now on individuals to secure adequate personal accident disability coverage, which they must do through the private sector.
An example of Road and Transport Cover: NetCarePlus Accident Cover
👉 NetcarePlus EmergencyCare makes sure you get quality emergency medical treatment at the nearest private hospital. NetcarePlus EmergencyCare provides unlimited cover for medical treatment in the event of an emergency. You will get the following benefits:
- ➡️ You’ll have NetCare 911 paramedics on call 24/7 to get you to an emergency department, by road or air
- ➡️ You get medically urgent surgery from world-class surgical teams
- ➡️ You’ll get treatment at any private emergency facility, including blood tests, x-rays or scans needed for diagnosis
- ➡️ You’ll be taken care of in a general ward, high care unit, or ICU, and be covered for specialist care, surgery and other related costs
- ➡️ You’ll get unlimited treatment before going to hospital, or for injuries when you don’t need to be taken to hospital
- ➡️ You’ll also get a daily payment of R1000 to help with household expenses if you’re in hospital for more than two nights
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a transport accident?
📣 A transport accident is defined as any accident or incident that occurs during any kind of transportation, including road transport, rail transport, maritime transport, and air transport.
What does travel accident insurance cover?
📣 Travel Accident Insurance covers a wide range of Losses, including accidental loss of life, limb, sight, speech, or hearing when riding as a passenger in, entering, or exiting any Common Carrier.
What is the difference between accident insurance and travel insurance?
📣 Personal accident insurance is bought for a longer length of time, whereas travel insurance is obtained for a certain travel duration.
What should you do immediately when you have an accident?
📣 Stop and activate your hazard lights. It is prohibited to drive away from an accident scene, no matter how little the damage.
What information should you get from the other parties in the accident?
📣 Request information from the other parties involved. Obtain their:
- Full names ID numbers
- Cellphone and other contact numbers
- Insurance details (the name of their insurance company)
How soon must you report the accident?
📣 Within 24 hours, call the police and report the accident. This is required by law for every accident, even if the damage appears modest. However, if someone was hurt or died in the accident, this step is critical. The police will assign you a case number and conduct an investigation into the incident.
How do you get your vehicle repaired through your insurer?
📣 Once you have received bids for the necessary repairs, you must submit them to your insurer. Before you have your vehicle fixed, your insurer must approve the quote.
📣 To avoid issues with your claim, it is critical that you and your insurance agree on the quoted price. If the damage is severe, an assessor may advise you to write off your vehicle.
Can you claim for lost wages from the RAF in the event of an accident?
📣 The amount of charges that can be claimed for lost wages and medical expenses has been significantly reduced. According to reports, the onus is now on individuals to secure adequate personal accident disability coverage, which they must do through the private sector.
How do you fill out a claims report for your insurer for accident cover?
📣 Fill out the claim form completely and clearly: Typically, you will be required to complete a form that captures all of the specifics of the accident. The form is vital since it supports your claim, therefore filling it out properly will benefit you.
Can you claim if you didn’t cause the accident?
📣 If you did not cause the collision, you have the legal right to seek compensation (money) from the at-fault driver.
