Documents required in Different Types of Insurance Claims in India

Documents required in Different Types of Insurance Claims in India

Total Loss

(i) Insurance policy. It furnishes an evidence of the terms and contract of insurance.

(ii) Bill of lading. It is the correspondence of the insurance contract with the voyage and vessel.

(iii) Copy of the invoice. A copy of the Invoice relating to the goods insured should be sent. It will help in estimating the correct value of the goods.

(iv) Protest. A copy of protest is required when the total loss is due to the loss of the vessel or other accident.

(v) Letter of subrogation. A letter of subrogation is sent if anything remains of the subject-matter insured after the total loss or if there are rights or remedies regarding the interest or against third parties.

(vi) Notice of Abandonment. If there is a constructive total loss, the notice of abandonment is given in the manner described in previous chapter.

Partial Loss:

In case of partial average loss:

(i) The policy or the certificate,

(ii) The invoice for the whole shipment,

(iii) The bill of lading should be sent to the underwriters and

(iv) The copy of the Master’s protest or an extract from logbook of the ship is to be presented with the policy ^if the particular average is recoverable in certain circumstances according to the terms of the policy, e.g., standing of the vessel, accident, heavy weather, etc.

(v) A Surveyor’s Report. A surveyor’s report prepared by some recognised surveyor should be appended to the above documents when evidence is necessary to show that the settled franchise has reached.

(vi) Bill of Sale. When there is a sale of the damaged goods the bill of sale is required by the measures.

(vii) Letter of Subrogation. The letter of subrogation should be duly furnished by the insured if required by the insurers.

(viii) Cost of Protection. On the proof, the cost of protection is paid by the underwriters apart from the particular average if there was a successful claim. In unsuccessful claims, insurers are not liable to pay these charges.

Particular Charge:

When claim is made under those heads, shipping and insurance documents with evidence for the amount of the particular charges are required. When the case is taken up by an Average Adjuster, his report or the appropriate extract will have to be furnished to the underwriters.

General Average:

While making a claim for general average loss, all the documents required for claims in total losses or in particular average losses if partial sacrifices are required to be represented to the underwriter.

The Average Adjuster’s Statement or the appropriate extract from it will have to be presented when claims for General Average Contribution are made.

When the Average is claimed for General Average Deposits, the insurers will require the deposit receipt to enable them to recover any refund that maybe due to them.

Salvage Charges:

The documents in support of a salvage claim and the procedure to be followed are almost identical to those for a General Average Claim.