GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

Accidents happen. Sometimes due to negligence and sometimes due to sheer bad luck.

What if a customer slips and falls at your premise and breaks a bone? Or purchases an electrical device from you which causes a short circuit at their home resulting in a fire? In either of these incidents, as a business owner, you can be liable to compensate for the loss/damage to life, property and the legal fees a third party incurs.

An Example

A famous incident that highlights the need for public liability insurance is the 'hot coffee lawsuit' of 1992. The plaintiff, 79-year-old Ms Liebeck accidentally spilt hot coffee on her lap, (while in her car) purchased from a renowned fast-food retailers outlet. She spent eight days in the hospital because of third-degree burns, had to undergo a skin graft and two years of follow up treatment. Her attorney argued that the coffee served at 82-88 degrees was significantly hotter than what other outlets served (60 degrees) and was a burn hazard even if consumed immediately.

The jury initially awarded Ms Liebeck US$160,000 as compensation and coverage for medical expenses in addition to US$2.7 million in punitive damages. After a prolonged court battle and multiple appeals, the parties settled out-of-court in 1994 for an undisclosed amount, said to be under US$600,000.

Most businesses do not have the time, resources and deep pockets to weather such lawsuits.

Thus, every business needs to protect its interests and that's what a Public Liability Insurance can help them do. Here are six things you should know about Public Liability Insurance (PLI) in India:

1) Who needs it

Enterprises that regularly entertain the public such as restaurants, shops, educational institutes, sporting areas, etc. should get public liability insurance. It also applies to businesses that work in public spaces or private homes such as building contractors, electricians, etc.

2) Scope of coverage

The insurance covers the cost of damage/medical treatment and legal fees if any third party sues your business. This includes customers, vendors, and general members of the public excluding your staff (that comes under workers compensation).

3) Domicile of coverage

The coverage is not geographically restricted. It covers incidents at your premises or those at a customer/ clients location.

4) Cost

The cost of your PLI depends on the nature, size and scale of your business. Enterprises that deal with hazardous substances or have multiple outlets/ franchisees, etc. will have to pay more due to greater probability of a mishap.

5) Customizations

You can customize the coverage after assessing your needs. For example, a small café would probably need a considerably lower cover than a 5-star hotel complex. You may also choose add-ons for extra protection. For instance, the act of gods covers situations such as floods, lightning etc. which end up being frequent causes of dispute.

6) Legal Requirement

Even though businesses are not legally bound to opt for a PLI, certain lease agreements or trade associations make it binding on the lessee/partner to obtain the insurance. Many private parties too may not contract services to a business or tradesman without a PLI.

7) Exclusions

Like any other insurance policy, Public Liability Insurance In India is also subject to exclusions. Some common exclusions of insurance providers in India are- disputes related to pollution, slander, fines and penalties. Please refer to your plan's policy wordings for a better understanding of the same.

Many-a-times businesses fail to realize the damage to goodwill due to an incident is greater than the cost of financially alleviating the situation. To know how you can secure your business and do right by all stakeholders, have a look at what Magma HDI has to offer.

Connectivity has become the fourth pillar of our rations today. Each one of us, at least, own three gadgets, in which we store and share critical data. Whether it is business-related information or personal details, our gadgets hold a lot of information that, if leaked, could cause serious damage. Besides the implications of a security breach, these gadgets come at a high cost, and replacing a lost or stolen one may seriously burn a hole in the pocket.

Therefore, it’s prudent to secure your gadgets by taking Electronic Equipment Insurance (EEI). EEI extensively covers loss of electronic good, and subsequently, helps to meet unavoidable costs. Depending on the coverage that will be best suited for you, there are different types of EEI to choose from. Before we get into the different types, let’s take a true look at the scope of the cover.

What’s Covered?

• Damaged equipment coverage, including replacement expenses, such as freight, installation cost, customs duty, etc.
• Damaged data media coverage, including expenses incurred in restoring lost information, external data media, damaged/lost data media, etc.
• Increased cost of working, caused due to employing more manpower to substitute for the work that would have otherwise been done by the equipment.
• Any damage caused to the equipment’s software as a result of the damage to the hardware is also factored in.

Types of Electronic Equipment Insurance

All risks included

Give your gadgets complete protection from perils, including those caused by natural and man-made causes. For instance, damage due to natural calamities includes the ones caused by fire, landslide, or storm, whereas manual perils include terrorism, strikes, and riots.

External data media

This option covers the losses partly and includes expenses arising due to data loss on external media devices, such as hard discs, etc.

Increased cost of working

This type of EEI is usually taken by organizations that rely heavily on data processing units. In the event of any loss or damage to the unit, the expenses incurred to employ any additional/alternative tool or manpower, are covered by the insurance policy.

What are the types of electronic equipment that can be secured with EEI by Magma HDI?

Electronic Equipment Insurance is suitable for a range of equipment, including, but not limited to:

• Computer and allied peripherals
• Audio visual equipment
• Auxiliary equipment, such as voltage stabilizer, UPS, etc.
• Electronic control panels
• Navigation equipment
• Telecommunications equipment
• Electronic equipment used for research and testing materials
• Medical equipment, such as MRI scan machines, X-Ray machine, ultrasound devices, etc.

Who should take an EEI by Magma HDI?

Practically, anyone who owns and operates electronic equipment should secure their gadgets with an EEI.

• Owners and businesses owning electronic equipment
• Organizations that are involved in leasing electronic equipment
• Third-parties, such as financiers or bankers who ultimately bear the purchase cost of the equipment

While an Electronic Equipment Insurance secures your gadgets from multiple threats, note that there are certain cases, such as normal wear and tear that do not fall under the purview of the policy.

Car insurance is a critical aspect of car ownership, providing financial protection in accidents, theft, or damage to your vehicle. However, the cost of car insurance can vary depending on several factors, including your driving history, car make and model, and age. Apart from this, location is also one of the most significant factors affecting car insurance premiums. Where you live plays a crucial role in determining the cost of your car insurance premium. The influence of location on car insurance is a complex issue that involves several factors. Insurance companies analyse these factors when determining your car insurance premium.

This blog post will explore how your location affects your premium so that you are aware of the correct policy before buying car insurance. Without any further delay, let's get started.

1. Crime rate
One of the most significant factors that can affect your car insurance premium is the crime rate in your area. Insurance companies consider areas with high crime rates a severe risk, as they have a higher incidence of car theft and vandalism. This increased risk means you may have to pay a higher premium if you live in an area with a high crime rate.

2. Population density
Another factor that can affect your car insurance premium is the population density of your area. Areas with high population densities have more traffic, which increases the likelihood of accidents. Therefore, if you live in an area with a high population density, you may have to pay higher car insurance premiums.

3. Weather conditions
The weather in your area can also affect your car insurance premium. Regions with harsh weather conditions, such as snow, ice, or heavy rainfall, have a higher risk of accidents. Therefore, if you live in an area with extreme weather conditions, you may have to pay higher car insurance premiums.

4. Road conditions
Poor road conditions, such as potholes or inadequate lighting, can also increase the risk of accidents. Insurance companies consider the road conditions in your area when setting your car insurance premium. If you live in a location with poor road conditions, you may have to pay higher car insurance premiums.

5. Laws and regulations
The laws and regulations in your area can also affect your car insurance premium. Some states have minimum coverage requirements, while others do not. If you live in a state with high minimum coverage requirements, you may have to pay higher car insurance premiums.

6. Local insurance market
Finally, the local insurance market can also affect your car insurance premium. Insurance companies may charge different rates in different areas based on the level of competition in the local insurance market.

Therefore, if you live in an area with a less competitive insurance market, you may have to pay higher car insurance premiums.

When setting your insurance rate, companies consider factors such as crime rates, population density, weather conditions, road conditions, laws and regulations, and the local insurance market. Therefore, it is essential to understand how your location can affect your car insurance premium to make informed decisions when choosing a car insurance policy. Explore and compare car insurance policies to find the right one that fits your needs optimally.

Click HERE to learn more about the benefits of purchasing car insurance

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Do you travel a lot by road? Are you tired of waiting for your turn at toll plazas on the interstate highways or expressways? Do you wish to get done with it as quickly as possible? If yes, then you must get a FASTag! As the name suggests, a FASTag is a tag which is a mean to ensure faster transit across toll plazas. The tag is placed on the windshield of the car and uses Radio Frequency Identification Technology. The tag is scanned by the tag readers placed at toll booths who then deduct the toll amount from the FASTag account. All toll plazas placed along the national highways are now using FASTag for payment of toll as per the guidelines of the government of India.

As the balance in FASTag reduces, the user needs to reload the balance in the linked wallet account or the linked bank account. By eliminating the need for cash payments at toll plazas, FASTag ensures a quicker and smoother flow of traffic.

The following reasons highlight how using a FASTag can help you save time on your journey: -

● Quick payment - As there is a FASTag affixed to your car, you wouldn't have to search your wallet for cash which ultimately reduces the duration of the transaction and your time is saved.

● Less fuel wastag - As you do not need to stop and restart your vehicle, less petrol or diesel is burned, which saves your fuel tank from draining quickly.

● Hassle-free recharge- You can easily recharge your FASTag using various methods like Internet banking, mobile wallet apps, NEFT, RTGS or even your credit and debit cards.

● Message alerts - Every time your FASTag is used, you get an alert SMS on the mobile number registered with the card which ensures the prevention of its misuse.

● Long validity- A FASTag is valid for five years, which means you need not worry about changing it frequently.

● No requirement of cash - The work of cash is taken over by the FASTag. Therefore, it eliminates the necessity of carrying cash for toll payments.

● Online portals- You can check the transactions made using your FASTag whenever you wish using specific web portals meant for the same.

Now, onto some Frequently Asked Questions: -

How to get a FASTag?

To buy a FASTag, you can ask the toll plaza employee for their sales department, or contact authorized agencies or banks that sell them. Many platforms offer car insurance quotes online and sell FASTag as well.

How much does a FASTag cost?

Generally, a FASTag can cost you around two hundred rupees for the purchase, which excludes recharge expenses.

Where is it placed?

FASTags are affixed on the windshield of the car in a very specific manner that allows the scanners placed at the toll plaza to scan it.

How to know if your card has been used?

As stated in the above benefits, a text message is delivered to the registered mobile phone when the FASTag is used. This is a sort of confirmation to the owner that payment has been made.

Do you need to maintain a certain balance?

You don't need to maintain a balance for sure, but yes there is a minimum value for a top-up of the tag which amounts to a hundred rupees.

Where is a FASTag valid?

Throughout the country, a FASTag can be used to make payments at toll plazas regardless of the city or state.

While getting FASTag will help you zoom seamlessly on the highways, do remember to check car insurance quotes online to get protection against possible accidents and incidents while on the road.