
South African motorists who were caught in severe snowstorms that hit several provinces around the country earlier in September may be left out of pocket when trying to claim from their insurer.
South Africa experienced one of its worst snowfall events on record between 19 and 22 September 2024, trapping hundreds of motorists on the roads across the Eastern Cape, Free State, and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.
Many travellers were forced to abandon their cars and belongings in thick blankets of snow in search of safety at petrol stations and roadside stops, whilst others who were too far away from any buildings to safely walk there had to stay inside their vehicles for warmth and security.
Additionally, with most local motorists being unfamiliar with the techniques required to safely navigate snow-covered roads, the authorities recorded a spike in accidents and crashes related to the cold conditions.
It’s going to be huge
Managing Director at RiskWise Brokers, Stephen Phambo, told eNCA that insurers do not yet have an accurate forecast for the amount of snow-related insurance claims that will be lodged by motorists, but said the number is “going to be huge.”
“What we also forget to mention is that there are also businesses that have been affected and property damage as well, so all those claims are going to be coming through,” he said.
However, RiskWise has noted that many insured motorists are not aware of the full parameters of their contracts, hence, they could be met with a nasty surprise if they try to claim.
“Actually, it’s quite shocking. With the recent snow and disasters, [we’ve noticed] that a lot of people do not know the product that they have, and have not gone through the policy wording,” said Phambo.
“So, a lot of people are sold a product, but remember, this is a contract between you and the insurer so you actually need to interrogate and understand the product that you have, and we’re finding out that most people do not know what product they have.”
Unfortunately, as phenomena like snow are rather uncommon in South Africa, not all insurance policies will provide coverage for such a natural event.
The good news is that, generally speaking, damages arising from snowy roads are covered under most insurers’ “natural disasters” section, said Phambo, so the majority of car owners should still be able to get a payout.
However, with more snowfall anticipated for this week, the expert warns that motorists must familiarise themselves with the parameters of their insurance contract to ensure they are not left out in the cold when disaster strikes.
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