How do I claim vehicle insurance after an accident in Nepal?

• Vehicle owners and drivers involved in a road accident.
• People hurt by a vehicle, or families of someone killed, claiming from the vehicle's third-party insurance.

• Your insurance policy number and the vehicle's bluebook

  In practice

• Driving licence of the person who was driving

  Insurers can refuse a claim if the driver had no licence or was drunk.

  Official

• Police report of the accident

  Ask the insurer which papers it needs. It has to ask for all of them at once, in writing.

  In practice

• Photos of the vehicles, the place and any injuries

  In practice

In practice items aren't in the official rules but are commonly asked for at the counter.

1. 1

   Call the police

   Call 100 for the police or 103 for the traffic police control room. Get the injured to hospital first, and ask the police for the report number.

2. 2

   Tell your insurer straight away

   The Nepal Insurance Authority's claims guideline says to inform the insurer as soon as possible in writing. If you can only phone or email first, that counts as the claim date, but follow it up in writing quickly.

3. 3

   Meet the surveyor

   The insurer appoints a licensed surveyor right away and tells you their name and contact. The surveyor has 15 days to send a report on what the insurer owes. Give them the documents they ask for in writing.

4. 4

   Get paid

   The insurer should pay a non-life claim within 21 days of the surveyor's report. Claims up to Rs 2 lakh count as small claims and are meant to be settled within 15 days of the minimum documents. If the insurer refuses or is late, it has to tell you why in writing.

5. 5

   Complain if you're stuck

   You can complain to the Nepal Insurance Authority if the insurer doesn't pay on time or you disagree with its decision.