By Bisi Bamishe
A banker, Mr. Okoro insured his vehicle, a RANGE ROVER 2018 model at about N70 million and bought a comprehensive insurance cover at about N2 million.
Mr. Okoro went on to renew his policy in the second year, meaning he has insured the jeep for two years.
In the second year, his wife drove the jeep out for grocery shopping at a supermarket where she parked it.
Suddenly, a tanker driver lost control and crashed the tanker into the jeep where it was parked along with three other vehicles.
Alas, the tanker and the driver were not insured. Mr. Okoro and his wife were devastated and traumatized.
He contacted his insurance company, SUNU Assurances Nigeria Plc to seek compensation (indemnity) and in fact sought to have a new jeep because the damage destroyed the whole back side of the vehicle.
SUNU upon validating Mr. Okoro’s claim agreed to buy him a new jeep, exactly like the accidental jeep subject to the limit of the sum Insured.
Excited, Okoro praised the insurance company stating that the experience is the best he has had in his life.
He said SUNU helped his family not to suffer depression as his wife was greatly traumatized after the accident.
The Managing Director of the company, Mr. Samuel Ogbodu said Nigerians should take advantage of insurance in their day-to-day activities, noting that insurance is very good.
He said they have paid a total of N1.14 billion claims to the insured as at September 2022 and will pay more before the end of the year.
He further advised Nigerians not wait to have a bad experience before keying into insurance.
He called on individuals, corporate entities, state and federal government agencies to insure their lives and assets against the New Year.
Ogbodu who said SUNU Assurances brand remains one of the best in the insurance industry, noted that they are in business to pay claims to policyholders when they suffer loss.
He said: “Insurance is a way to manage your risk. When you buy insurance, you purchase protection against unexpected financial losses. The insurance company pays you or someone you choose if something bad happens to you.
“If you have no insurance and an accident happens, you may be responsible for all related costs”, he added.
The Head, Claims in the Technical Group, Mr. Bamidele Akande confirmed that the negligent truck was not insured as at the time of the accident.
This notwithstanding, he said that they would have to first settle their client so that he does not feel pain or stress.
“We are supposed to get subrogation from the tanker’s insurer but it will take a long process because he does not have a current certificate of insurance. But we will take it up with recovery agent who will pursue it but we will have to first settle our client so that he does not feel any pain or stress.
“We may later get something from the owner of the tanker who fails to insure his truck before putting it on the road. It is a criminal offense to put a vehicle on the road without insuring it. Presently, the tanker is at the police station”, he disclosed.
