GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

Given the crowded riding conditions and slow-moving traffic in Indian cities, two-wheelers have always emerged as the top choice for daily commuting. They are perfect for city travel because they are simple to navigate through traffic and take up much less space to park and promise better mileage.

In congested areas, riding a two-wheeler can significantly shorten your commute and help you reach your destination in time. From economical city bikes or scooters to attractive sports machines, two-wheelers have an exciting range of categories and myriad options. For every diverse taste and expectation of a rider, a two-wheeler is available in the market. All one needs to do is thorough research before making the final decision.

Buying the first bike or scooter is a dream for many, and in this blog, we will discuss how one can achieve this by understanding the complete buying process and the documents required to purchase your first two-wheeler.

Once you select your two-wheeler, the next crucial step is the paperwork. Be prepared to submit the required documents that will be needed by the dealer, the bank (if you're taking out a loan), and the two-wheeler insurance provider. The documents that you must submit are listed below.

Documents required for vehicle registration:

● Passport size photograph

● Attested copy of ID proof- Driving Licence or PAN Card

● Proof of Permanent Residence (attested copies) – Passport, Voter ID Card, copy of insurance policy.

If any of the documents mentioned above are unavailable, you may give any of the documents listed below. Don't forget that the documents need to be properly attested:

● Electricity bill

● Phone bill (BSNL Landline)

● Ration card

● House tax receipt from the corporation

These are the extra documents you must present if you buy a two-wheeler in a city other than your residence. All supplied documents must be properly attested:

● Copy of registered rent agreement

● Copy of your landlord's electricity bill

● Letter from your employer

● Original affidavit

Documents required to buy a two-wheeler on EMI:
If you are planning an EMI option for your vehicle, you can finance your bike up to 100% and pay the balance back in simple, flexible EMIs. Depending on the lender, the interest rate, processing fee, EMI bounce costs, etc., for these loans may change.
Depending on the facility provided by the lender, the term of these loans may range from 6 to 60 months. The paperwork you might require to purchase a new bike on an EMI is listed below.

Documents required by salaried individuals:

● Proof of identity: Aadhar Card/Pan Card/Passport/Driving Licence/Voter ID and passport-size photos

● Proof of address: Driving Licence/Passport/Voter ID/Aadhar card/Utility Bill/Bank statement

● Income proof: Bank statements of the last 3 months, salary slips of the last three months/salary certificate/Form 16

Documents required by self-employed individuals:

● Proof of identity: Aadhar Card/Pan Card/Passport/Driving Licence/Voter ID and passport-size photos

● Proof of address: Driving Licence/Passport/Voter ID/Aadhar card/Utility Bill/Bank statement

● Income proof: Income Tax Return (ITR), last 3 months' bank statements

To legally ride your two-wheeler on public highways in India, you must have two wheeler insurance India. In addition to ensuring that you comply with the law, insurance gives you financial security in case of an accident. When you purchase a new two-wheeler, make it a point that you buy a reliable two wheeler insurance India policy that offers an additional safety net to your two-wheeled friend.

Click HERE to buy the best two wheeler insurance India policy.

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.

Indulging in leisurely activities is an overlooked aspect of today's hectic lifestyles. With building pressures of being competent and work stress while handling societal expectations, it is essential to explore and identify areas of interest outside conventional academics, careers, etc. With the early onset of mental struggles with issues like depression and burnout, research has shown that engaging in at least one activity outside your regular schedule that allows you to enjoy your personal space is beneficial.

Learning instruments is one of the most popular activities taken up as a hobby. Learning to play the guitar is the most popular activity on many people's to-do lists. It is a relatively inexpensive hobby that can be learnt without an expert's guidance and does not require years of practice to reach the beginner's level of playing. However, there is always a risk of injury, considering the small fretboard, metal strings and fast wrist movements that need to be mastered.

Multiple factors come into play relating to your posture, wrist placement, plucking, and supporting hand placement that may result in injuries if not done correctly. Here are some tips to prevent injuries while playing the guitar.

1. Long durations of playing the guitar without adequate breaks:
Over practice causes more significant harm than good. While it may seem exciting to display your determination to learn the guitar by playing continuously without taking breaks, it is best not to do so.
There is no fixed duration that you should practise and then take a break after, but it is best to limit a practice session to 30-45 minutes and then take a 10-minute break. It also helps prevent neck or back injuries from sitting in the same position for long durations.

2. No warmup:
It is common to be excited and skip the fundamentals to learn advanced techniques. No matter what level of expertise, it is necessary to warm up before each playing session. This involves regular stretching and practising finger exercises on the fretboard. Multiple online resources can help prevent discomfort and increase your fingers' agility and precision while shifting chords and fingerpicking.

3. Excessive pressure:
Often seen in the case of beginner acoustic guitar players, it may seem challenging to produce sound on metal strings. It is natural to use excessive pressure on the strings in such a case as you try to learn better. However, as you practise, you must find the ideal amount of force, just enough to produce sound.
Excessive pressure applied during regular playing damages the fretboard and may cause discomfort to your fingers. It may even lead to the tearing of the fingertips' skin. Understand that ideal pressure results in the formation of calluses, not injuries.

4. Proper posture:
Getting the basics right is the most important thing to understanding any skill. Sitting upright will allow you to keep your spine, neck, arms and wrist strain-free. If you feel any specific pain repetitively as you practise, it is best to get the guidance of an expert or stand before a mirror to identify and correct the issue.

In case you feel irregular pains in your wrist, it is best to get it checked by a doctor and use supporting devices like a wrist brace upon professional recommendation. Icing the wrist and regularly massaging the area can help significantly reduce inflammation and pain. Since one cannot eliminate injuries, taking preventive care and buying comprehensive personal accident insurance India is necessary to cover the financial burden.

Click HERE to buy reliable personal accident insurance India.

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.

Our elders followed a healthy lifestyle and had a long lifespan, however, life expectancy has been going down in recent years. A big reason for this is the inability to follow a healthy lifestyle due to our busy schedules and poor dietary habits. We are more prone to falling ill and catching several seasonal and life-threatening diseases. The majority of health conditions rely on your eating habits and digestion. Did you know that even your bathing habits can impact your digestion? This has been certified by both Ayurveda and modern science.

Let us see how our bathing habits impact our digestion.

Say no to shower immediately after a meal.

Whenever we eat a meal, our body rushes blood to the digestive system. This helps it in the digestion process. As a result, heat is generated inside the body to break down the food.

Ayurveda’s point of view:

According to Ayurveda, this heat is the fire element inside us. Whenever we eat something, it gets activated and helps in the digestion process. Taking a shower has a cooling effect on the body. It automatically lowers the body temperature. The fire element or the heat in the body cools down, and the blood flow also slows down. This directly impacts the digestive process, in turn, and slows it down considerably. Hence, taking a shower after a meal harms our digestive system.

Medical science’s point of view:

The same fact is corroborated by medical science but differently. It says that taking a shower right after a meal slows down the blood flow because of the cooling effect. Our body starts working harder to maintain a standard temperature to help in the digestion process. The blood that should help in the digestion process is diverted to other parts of the body. This results in the slowing of the digestive process.

It may also cause acidity and uneasiness, and you may feel a sense of nausea. Our bodies may start feeling dull and sluggish. You might have a comforting sleep after a shower, but it will be bad for your digestive system. A bath after a meal can increase your heart rate and may add to your discomfort when your stomach is full. Therefore, medical science also discourages a bath right after a meal.

Type of meal.

As mentioned above, bathing right after a meal is bad for our digestive system. However, how bad it varies with the type of food that we have. A meal high in protein or fat may result in bloating and slowing down our digestive process. Having lighter food such as fruits, salad or soup will have a lesser negative effect on our digestive system. Eat what suits your stomach the best while also taking care of your body’s nourishment.

Waiting time.

It is not that we cannot take a bath all day after having a heavy meal. We need to wait for some time after we have had a heavy meal so that the food gets time to digest. This waiting time may vary from person to person, but generally, a gap of 30 minutes is advisable for taking a bath after a meal.

It is best to take a bath early in the morning to feel fresh, relaxed and rejuvenated. If we cannot take a bath before breakfast, we should avoid taking it right after we have a meal due to the above-mentioned reasons.

Indigestion results in multiple problems, such as upset stomach, stomach pain, nausea, etc. Chronic indigestion can be a big problem and lead to other serious illnesses. Hence, we should invest in the best health insurance policy in India to protect ourselves and our families. A health insurance policy can be a saviour as treatment costs have skyrocketed in recent years in India. It will provide us security in times of illness and keep our savings intact.

Click HERE to buy the best health insurance policy in India.

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.

Accidents can happen to anyone and anywhere. Our fingers face a significant impact and are susceptible to breaking after a severe accident. Generally, doctors recommend getting adequate treatment if you have broken fingers. Most people cannot identify a broken finger because it causes dull pain.

It would help if you already know about the cause of a broken finger to avoid developing this condition and diagnose it early if you ever face it.

How to recognise the symptoms of an injured finger?
The bones in one's fingers are called phalanges, and each finger has three sets of these bones. However, the thumb has only two phalanges. Some symptoms of a broken finger include swelling, limited range of motion, pain, and tenderness. The finger may also look deformed or you may feel tolerable pain when you try to move them.

Types of broken fingers.
Your broken finger can be categorised in the following terms:
● In an impacted fracture, the broken ends of a phalange drive into each other
● In an avulsion fracture, the piece of bone and ligament pulls away from the phalange
● In an open fracture, the phalange breaks through your skin and causes an open wound

Who is at risk?
Generally, people with weak bones, calcium deficiency, and older adults experience broken fingers more frequently. People who need to use their hands or operate heavy machines at the factory or workshops are also at more risk of broken fingers. If you play sports such as volleyball, boxing, basketball, snowboarding, and football, you should pay more attention to your fingers.

How to treat a broken finger?
Get immediate relief from a broken finger after an accident by following these tips:
1. Rest:
If you injured your finger, try to stay calm and stop whatever you are doing to prevent worsening your condition. Get medical attention immediately and perform first aid.
2. Ice:
Apply a cold compress wrapped or an ice pack in a hand towel to the broken finger for ten minutes several times a day. Avoid exposing your skin directly to ice.
3. Use OTC pain medications:
Doctors recommend taking OTC pain medication and anti-inflammatory drugs like acetaminophen and ibuprofen if your broken finger causes inflammation. Consult your doctor before taking any medication.
4. Elevate:
You should elevate your broken finger above the level of your heart as it helps slow down the blood flow, reducing the loss of blood, inflammation, and pressure. It would help if you continuously elevate your finger to avoid further symptoms.
5. Apply pain-relieving creams:
You can also use herbal remedies to reduce the pain and inflammation at the site of your broken finger. You can apply pain-relieving cream to reduce the pain.
6. Ensure you can move your finger:
Clean and cover open wounds to prevent bacterial infection. It would be best if you kept moving your finger as gently as possible without increasing the pain. It offers speedy recovery and helps regain the range of motion.

How to reduce the risk of a broken finger?
When you use your hands for work or playing sports, you have to protect your fingers with safety gloves. A proper diet can also help you meet your daily calcium and vitamin D requirements, making your bones stronger, healthy, and less prone to fracture.

Fingers are more vulnerable to injury and accidents than other hand parts. Being cautious about your well-being and protecting yourself against an accident is paramount. You can easily get a personal accident insurance policy covering your whole family without needing extensive medical tests and many documents.

Click HERE to buy a personal accident insurance policy.

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.

Since fire can destroy things quickly and significantly, you should pay close attention to the aspects that may cause an accident within a short period. Irrespective of our nature of work, we all should learn as much as possible about fire hazards. This factor will make it convenient for you to stay safe and always protected from fire hazards.

There are several common fire hazards around you, and they should be managed appropriately to ensure complete safety. Let us now take a detailed look at common fire hazards and their probable causes.

1. Faulty electrical systems:
Two main things that cause fires are faulty electrical systems and equipment. Since every place has electronics and electrical outlets, you should always check them regularly to ensure they are working appropriately.
Loose cables, damaged plugs, open switches, old electrical goods, etc., are some of the factors that may result in a fire and spread rapidly. You should pay close attention to them to determine whether they require alterations. Fire insurance plans can also help you in this endeavour.

2. Flammable liquids and gases:
Flammable liquids and gases are two other elements that may lead to severe fire accidents. Petrol, diesel, kerosene, etc., are some flammable liquids you should be aware of. On the other hand, hydrogen, propane, ammonia, silane, and other gases can also be hazardous.
You will find the presence of these gases and liquids in restaurants, kitchens, garages, etc. Hence, you must be as careful as possible when handling them for multiple purposes. You may also learn about different safety measures and guidelines to follow if you encounter a hazardous situation.

3. Smoking:
Another aspect that can lead to severe fires is smoking, as it can often cause accidents within a short period. If you smoke at a place where flammable gases are used, the fire from your cigarette can lead to an explosion by coming in contact with the gases in the air.
Hence, you should never smoke within the premises of a factory that uses flammable substances. Different places and premises have dedicated smoking zones nowadays to make things safer for you.

4. Poor storage of combustible waste:
It is common for people to store flammable waste unattended in different areas. When you keep combustible items inappropriately, they often encounter heat or fire and cause severe accidents. Always discard each combustible waste accordingly to stay safe from fire accidents.

5. Unsafe cooking:
Unsafe cooking is also a significant factor to consider. Since we cook using gas, flammable fluids, or electricity, you should be careful and ensure you are doing everything correctly. While cooking, be attentive to the precautions you need to take to prevent mishaps. For example, you should never keep the oven on when not in use. Turn off the appliances once you use them.

Although fires can be dangerous and destructive, you can reduce their chances by a wide margin. Remember these fire hazards carefully and take your first step towards fire safety. Investing in premium quality fire safety equipment like fire alarms, smoke detectors, extinguishers, water sprinklers, etc., at your home or workplace is advisable. Having an appropriate defence mechanism against sudden outbreaks is crucial. Also, look for reliable fire insurance plans and choose the one that perfectly fits your requirement.

Click HERE to browse through reliable fire insurance plans.

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.

You must have heard about several heart-breaking incidents that have destroyed human life and properties to the point of no repair. We surround ourselves with many things that can be considered to add fuel to the fire in case there is one. Although one never hopes to be in such a situation, have you ever considered the possibility of what if you are in a potentially dangerous circumstance caused due to fire? Is the fire brigade taking time to reach? What steps should you take initially? Here are some tips to get a grip on the situation. Let’s begin!

Also, consider purchasing fire insurance to safeguard your home from damages due to a fire outbreak.

1. Find an escape:
If you see a potential fire about to spread, your first instinct should be to exit that area without thinking about anything else. Just take your family and get out of that particular zone. Once you are out, try to breathe and calm down a little. Dial the emergency contacts and fire brigade’s number for help. Avoid stressing out about contacting someone while staying inside the property. Doing so might not give you a window to get out and can have severe consequences.

2. Always have a fire ladder:
You must ensure that you always have a fire ladder in a place that is easily accessible to anyone in the house. The fire ladders can be made of metal or some rope ladder that will help you get out of the window. They are readily available online or in stores selling home repair items. Educate every member of your family about using fire ladders by proper demonstration.

3. Never attempt to go back inside a burning property (house, office space, etc.):
Once you are out of the place which has caught fire, never attempt to re-enter the premises, no matter how important your reason might be. The fire always tends to blow out of proportion, and getting out again might be impossible with or without professional intervention. There are several items in our day-to-day life which can catch fire quickly. They serve as an aid for the fire to scale beyond our imagination and cause severe damage to humans in the nearby area. So, always ensure that you vacate the property on fire and go to a safe spot.

4. Use the fire extinguisher without fail:
Researchers and experts might debate the minimum age of children who should learn to operate fire extinguishers. Still, teenagers must know about the importance and the process of using it. You should have a multipurpose fire extinguisher to help you control any liquid or electrical fire. Handling these multipurpose fire extinguishers is comparatively easy as they are small in size and can delay the fire before the arrival of the fire brigade to ensure complete safety.

5. Follow the exit strategy:
One must always have an exit strategy to escape the property if a fire breaks out. The fire exit plan must be created according to the details and features of the house and the estimated time window one gets before the fire breaks. Always ensure to familiarise the family members and guests with this exit strategy and make them follow it strictly.

Other tips to get a grip on the situation are installing smoke detectors and fire alarms, especially outside the room doors, kitchen, fireplace and hallways, so you can get the signal in advance if there is a potential fire hazard. This would allow you to retain the fire before it gets out of control. Avoid sleeping with space heaters on all the time and close to items which can catch fire quickly.

Such situations have the potential to wreak havoc on your home or prised properties and possessions, causing severe consequences and threatening human life. You need the best fire insurance to safeguard your home and owned spaces and items. This can help you protect yourself and your family against the monetary stress of such unprecedented situations. Explore the market and get fire insurance that can provide the best coverage for your home and belongings.

Click HERE to learn more about purchasing fire 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.

In India, awareness about motor insurance has grown significantly in the last few years. The number of insurance policyholders is slowly but steadily increasing. The increasing means of living and demand for luxury goods to improve convenience are anticipated to keep driving the market for motor insurance. Comprehensive motor insurance consisting of own damages and third-party covers is expected to grow more in the coming future.

Third-party liability insurance is mandatory to protect the driver against legal and accidental liability, financial loss or property damage, and medical expenses he may face after an accident. Despite its advantages, settling claims is a lengthy and costly procedure. The knock-for-knock agreement is a recently introduced aspect of motor insurance to simplify the process and increase the policyholder base and satisfaction.

This blog discusses all you need to know about the knock-for-knock agreement.

The issue before the knock-for-knock agreement:

When an accident happens, the persons involved can contact their insurance companies to compensate the other party for damages. However, this is a lengthy procedure that may sometimes take months to settle with unfavourable conditions. It is also still being determined whether or not the insurer will accept the claim.

In the background of such uncertainties, the affected party has no choice but to file a suit in court, which takes additional time and cost. The knock-for-knock agreement aims to eliminate this waiting period by providing an alternate solution to settle the claim among the parties without the court's involvement.

An alternative approach using a knock-for-knock agreement:

The knock-for-knock agreement is signed by two or more motor insurance companies insuring two or more parties involved in a motor accident. Since these companies are aware of the tedious claim settlement process, they use this alternative agreement and promise to bear the expenses for repairs or damages to their client instead of claiming the amount from the other party. Introduced in 2001 by the General Insurance Council, a motor insurance company doesn't need to sign such an agreement to make the claim process quick.

Advantages of knock-for-knock agreement:

While the concept is simple to understand, here is the summary of the benefits of signing a knock-for-knock agreement:

● Speedy settlement of claims

● Eliminates the need for the involvement of law

● Reduces the expenses required to be borne in case of proving the liability of the third party to derive a settlement from his insurer

Conditions for knock-for-knock agreement:

Three primary conditions are applicable for claims that are admissible under a knock-for-knock agreement.

1. Accidents must occur within geographical boundaries:
The insurance company decides such boundaries before the lodging of the claim. Generally, the limit is considered to be the defined geographical boundaries of India. It is implied that any accident outside the border cannot be admitted as a claim under a knock-for-knock agreement.

2. The claim must be filed as own damages:
Under the agreement, each motor insurance company agrees to compensate its client instead of demanding compensation from the other party. This claim can no longer be filed as third-party damages and is processed as "own damage". Therefore, you must purchase your "own damages" cover, without which you cannot complete this procedure.

3. Limit on the claim amount:
The admissible claim cannot exceed the insured declared value (IDV) previously mentioned in the policy.

The knock-for-knock agreement is a lesser-known aspect of motor insurance that makes claim settlements speedy and inexpensive. It saves the resources of a motor insurance company that agrees to such a contract. Explore this aspect to know more about its seamless benefits before buying motor insurance in India.

Click HERE to buy reliable motor insurance in India.

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.

A critical safety element that is now standard in all modern vehicles is the anti-lock braking system, or ABS. The ABS is frequently marketed as an efficient breaking mechanism that significantly reduces accident risk by facilitating a good grip over the vehicle. We go over everything you need to know about ABS, including its advantages, how it works, and the several kinds you can find in modern vehicles.

What exactly is "anti-lock braking"?

The name of the technology suggests that when you apply the brakes, ABS keeps the wheels from locking. It shortens the distance you need to stop and lets you move or "steer" the car while the brakes are still on. This way, you can avoid collisions from sudden braking and crash into fellow vehicles or objects.

What is the purpose of ABS?

Irrespective of the car's speed, when you press the brake pedal (without ABS), the wheels lock up because the brake pads make tight contact with the wheel discs and stop the wheels from turning.

The car skids because of its momentum when the wheels stop rotating. As a result, the driver has no control over the wheels. Most frequently, this can result in severe accidents.

What are the main components of ABS?

Speed sensors, valves, a pump, and an ECU comprise most ABS parts.

Speed sensors:
These sensors are important to keep track of the wheels' speed.
Valves:
In the brake line, some valves regulate the pressure on the brakes.
Pumps:
When brakes are used, hydraulic fluid-filled pumps pressure the brake callipers or drums.
Electronic Control Unit (ECU):
In response to the signals from the speed sensors, the ECU acts as the command centre of all the processing.

How is ABS used?

When you use the brakes on a car with ABS, the speed sensors track how slowly the wheels turn. Brakes deliver a signal to the electric control unit when they are about to stop rotating. Using valves and pumps, the ECU removes some of the brake pads from the wheels, allowing them to continue spinning. When you apply heavy brakes, ABS enables the wheels to continue turning, giving you control over the car.

Without ABS, when you hit the brakes, the wheels would stop or lock up immediately, causing the car to slide. In this situation, the vehicle would skid and travel a fair distance. It would be challenging to turn your vehicle because the wheels were locked. ABS helps you slow down efficiently, deploy uniform braking, and quickly control your car and avoid it from spinning.

ABS benefits:

● Uneven tyre wear is avoided because the wheels don't lock up when the automobile is stopped.

● The Traction Control System (TCS) and ABS share specific fundamental architectures, which facilitate TCS installation on vehicles in manufacturing facilities.

● You may steer the automobile around obstacles when braking hard, which can reduce brake pad and brake disc wear.

● Minimises the risk of severe accidents due to sudden braking and enhances the car's stability post-braking.

When the brakes are applied hard at high speeds, ABS keeps the wheels from locking up, which makes it much less likely that a deadly accident will happen. The effectiveness of the anti-lock braking system has been demonstrated everywhere. Anti-lock brake systems are now so critical to safety that the Indian government has made them a requirement.

Safety is paramount, and braking is a crucial part of vehicle safety. It's also a good idea to get online motor insurance to upgrade the security of the vehicle and the owner. Motor insurance covers car owners' liabilities and protects them from damage to their cars and any legal obligations they may face. Browse through different options and opt for online motor insurance with the best premium and benefits that suit your needs.

Click HERE to buy online motor 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.