Car insurance claims tend to spike over the festive season as opportunistic criminals take advantage of motorists in a jolly mood, none more so than claims for accidents, vehicle theft, and hijacking, according to Naked insurance.
Ernest North, Naked co-founder, offers guidance on how to handle these situations in the unfortunate event that they happen to you.
Accidents
Increased traffic volumes, drunken driving, and unroadworthy vehicles are the main contributors to the rise in accidents over the holidays.
In case you are caught up in a bumper bashing, having a roadworthy car will make the claims process much smoother, said North.
Roadworthiness includes ensuring the tyre tread isn’t worn out, the indicators and brake lights are working, that the brake pads are still in good condition – especially if they haven’t been looked at in a while – and that the vehicle isn’t loaded over its recommended weight limit.
Similarly, following the rules of the road will make it easier to prove that you weren’t in the wrong if an accident occurs.
“The most important of these, which traffic police (and your insurer) will scrutinise the most, is to never drink and drive,” said North. “Plan ahead and arrange alternative transport if you are going to have a few drinks.”
Theft
Vehicle theft is ever on the rise, and high-end cars that were previously thought of as virtually unstealable are now being targeted via new and more sophisticated attacks.
Particularly models with keyless access are being chosen, as the keyfob signal can easily be hacked to gain access to the vehicle.
“A faraday pouch or fob guard helps to block key fob signals. You could also consider deactivating the keyless entry function,” said North.
Double-checking whether the car actually is locked before walking away adds another layer of security, as does parking in a safe place such as a gated parking garage.
“If you must park on the street, park in well-lit areas at night and in areas with a lot of foot and vehicle traffic,” said North.
Also, consider installing a vehicle tracker as well as an immobiliser if your car doesn’t already have these.
If you have added expensive aftermarket accessories – for example, a roof rack, bull bar, or extra sound equipment – you should update your insurance policy to add cover for these fitments, too.
Hijacking
Between 2021 and 2022, hijacking incidents in South Africa have more than doubled from 64,000 to 134,000, said North.
To avoid falling victim to these criminals as best as possible, avoid driving through known crime hotspot areas if you are aware of a safer alternate route, albeit a bit longer.
Furthermore, minimise driving at night, and at all times, watch for people on the side of the road or on top of bridges as felons place debris in the roads or drop rocks from bridges onto fast-moving cars to get them to stop, and then hijack them.
Keeping within the speed limit will also assist in spotting these potential hazards sooner as well as controlling your car better when they show face.
If you do hit a hazard near a crime hotspot zone and the car is hurt but still drivable, do not pull over and rather continue driving slowly to a safer area before stopping and assessing the damage.
Using these tactics will lower your risk of falling victim to the wrongdoers, but if worse comes to worst, always have an emergency contact on hand – whether it be a family member, armed response, or your insurer – who will quickly be able to help in any of the above situations.
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