Accident victims don't need service of lawyers-Ocran

Aflao, Aug 3, GNA- Mrs Emma Ocran, Legal Director, National Insurance Commission (NIC), said the services of lawyers in the pursuance of insurance compensation arising from motor accidents was a matter of choice rather than a necessity. She explained that with the necessary insurance cover in place, all that accident victims needed was a police report, a report by a medical officer on extent of injury and two passport size pictures endorsed by a medical officer to authenticate the claimant's identity and a letter for claims.

Mrs Ocran said these at a durbar to educate the public on the insurance system and functions of the Commission, at Aflao in the Volta Region. Participants mainly vehicle owners, drivers and members of the public, were sensitised on complaints and compensation procedures, functions of the NIC, motor and life insurance.

Mrs Ocran said in case of death through motor accident, the bereaved family needed a police report, death certificate, letters of administration and an affidavit to be able to make a claim for compensation. She indicated that to be able to make claims regarding damage to vehicle or any other property as a result of an accident, the claimant required a police report, estimate of cost of repairs and pictures of damaged property, Mrs Ocran said.

Mrs Ocran said applications for claims must be completed within three years in the case of death and six years for property damaged after which the Insurance Companies would not accept liability. She said to be able to beat deadlines, claimants could report the accidents directly to the Insurance Companies if the police and medical reports were being delayed.

Mrs Ocran urged the people to report to the NIC any insurance company, which would refuse to pay compensation, delayed in paying compensation or pay unsatisfactory compensation to claimants. She said the NIC with 30 registered insurance companies operating under it, had strong complaints and resettlement panels made up of lawyers to go into any complaints. Mrs Ocran explained that insurance claims might be repudiated when the driver was not licensed, used improper license, had no insurance cover, where the vehicle was improperly documented and in the event of a hit and run driver remaining unidentified She said the NIC had a Compensation Fund, from which compensation for injuries or death under those circumstances could be paid on the presentation of the necessary police and doctor's report, explaining that insurance firms would not pay claims under those conditions. Mrs Ocran said no compensation was available for property damages under the NIC mitigation fund and that it (Fund) was not meant to take away the obligation of vehicle owners to insure their vehicles.

Mr Isaac Buabeng, Head of Marketing and Research of the NIC, urged vehicle owners to enter into Comprehensive Insurance, which catered for all accident cases, unlike the Third Party Insurance, which catered for only passengers and other persons injured. Mr Oliver Bio, a Legal Officer at the NIC, asked Ghanaians to report to the Complaints and Settlement Bureau of the NIC offending insurance companies.

Mr Francis Tamakloe, Insurance Officer with the State Insurance Company (SIC), asked drivers and divers' mates to take personal insurance policies since vehicle insurance was mainly in the interest of passengers who were entitled to far more compensation than the driver and the mate in case of accidents. Participants sought explanations on and complained about issues such as delayed attitude of the police in providing accidents report and extortion of monies by police investigators from accident victims and their relatives. The NIC is the supervising authority of all Insurance Companies in the country.