Insurance companies and leaving your keys in the ignition

[Matt_TG]

But should you lock the front door of your house if your in the lounge in the summer lest someone walk in and steal something?

It happens a few times that someone will take things from an unlocked house when the owner is in the garden, however the risk and value of a vehicle with its keys in it being taken from a servo forecourt would be higher I'd imagine, given the amount of people around and the relative ease of hopping in and driving off, hence needing to be more vigilant.

The offender would also find it easier to case out the job, being able to see the car arrive, watch the driver inside the shop etc - so yeah I reckon the risk is higher.

A bit more at stake if there's a trailer attached too with a bike on it. Two for the price of none?

What would have happened to the bike if he had the keys in his hand or pocket? Probably nothing.

You could always seek a Disputes Tribunal ruling.

[kb_SF1]

Leave my keys in the car at a service station, same as leaving the bike running while i go into pay, no way.
Sorry your friend lost his bike, not all people can be trusted.

[Coyote]

Don't insurance companies insure against accidents anymore?

[slopster]

Must've been a pretty keen thief. He obviously knows that the police will be alerted immediatly as the owner sees his car drive off and the chance of doing a runner with a trailer on your car is about nil

[Shaun]

Must've been a pretty keen thief. He obviously knows that the police will be alerted immediatly as the owner sees his car drive off and the chance of doing a runner with a trailer on your car is about nil

they did actually get away with it, and apparently, it has happened at this station many times, but no extra signage any where to warn people that may make the simple mistake of leaving the keys in the ignition

[Cibby]

I agreee with KoroJ,

Insurance is in place to assist you to rebuild your life and financial situation in the event of a catastrophy, it is not a fall back so you can get lazy and not take care of your stuff or secure it against theft.

The insurance broker is oblidged to try to give as much information as possible but if your friend had actually read his policy wording, he would have read loud and clear that he had to take care of his keys, SO many claims are declined and people blame the insurers because they dont read their own policy wordings, they just assume they are covered for everything..

I'm not saying that Insurers are completely blamless but I do believe that people need to take some basic personal responsibility!!!

[Matt_TG]

There is case law regarding this type of issue.

It comes down to calculating the risk of threat and negligence.

The linked document below raises some areas your friend may wish to pursue...

Insurance Ombudsman Ruling - TERMS IN INSURANCE POLICIES REQUIRING INSUREDS
TO TAKE REASONABLE CARE

In summary -

When considering claims that appear to have been caused by the carelessness of the
insured, if the policy includes a reasonable care clause insurers have the burden of proving
that the insured’s conduct amounted to at least gross negligence.

Claims that appear to have been caused or contributed to by the carelessness of the insured
need to be scrutinised and investigated with a careful eye to detail before decisions are made
to deny liability on the basis of reasonable care conditions.

[fireliv]

I thought it was a given if you had not secured your car properly. I always set the alarm on my car when I walk away from it at a petrol station. I have seen footage of people reaching in to unlocked cars at service stations and stealing shit of the passanger seats, not cool!

[Shaun]

I agreee with KoroJ,

Insurance is in place to assist you to rebuild your life and financial situation in the event of a catastrophy, it is not a fall back so you can get lazy and not take care of your stuff or secure it against theft.

The insurance broker is oblidged to try to give as much information as possible but if your friend had actually read his policy wording, he would have read loud and clear that he had to take care of his keys, SO many claims are declined and people blame the insurers because they dont read their own policy wordings, they just assume they are covered for everything..

I'm not saying that Insurers are completely blamless but I do believe that people need to take some basic personal responsibility!!!

If he was not illiterate, he probally would have read the paper work

[sAsLEX]

The insurance broker is oblidged to try to give as much information as possible but if your friend had actually read his policy wording, he would have read loud and clear that he had to take care of his keys, SO many claims are declined and people blame the insurers because they dont read their own policy wordings, they just assume they are covered for everything..

Did you read and understand the EULA for the software you have on your computer? I mean legally you would of as for it to work you have to click you have read it, all 800 pages of legalise that is nothing approaching simple understandable language.

Insurance companies should call a pot a pot. Not the tricky language they use to hide all the little clauses they can use to get out of paying.


Like the guy who had a pane of glass fall out of a building and smash his bike....... act of god..... opps not covered for that.

[Shaun]

There is case law regarding this type of issue.

It comes down to calculating the risk of threat and negligence.

The linked document below raises some areas your friend may wish to pursue...

Insurance Ombudsman Ruling - TERMS IN INSURANCE POLICIES REQUIRING INSUREDS
TO TAKE REASONABLE CARE

In summary -

When considering claims that appear to have been caused by the carelessness of the
insured, if the policy includes a reasonable care clause insurers have the burden of proving
that the insured’s conduct amounted to at least gross negligence.

Claims that appear to have been caused or contributed to by the carelessness of the insured
need to be scrutinised and investigated with a careful eye to detail before decisions are made
to deny liability on the basis of reasonable care conditions.

Fantastic reading, thankyou very much

[Matt_TG]

Insurance companies should call a pot a pot. Not the tricky language they use to hide all the little clauses they can use to get out of paying.

Really? They're in 'plain english' these days. If you don't understand anything, ask when you sign up.

Like the guy who had a pane of glass fall out of a building and smash his bike....... act of god..... opps not covered for that.

Who? When? God wouldn't go around pushing out windows. If there is sudden and accidental loss to the insured and the insured took all practical steps to safeguard property (ie didn't park under a sheet of glass that was waving in the wind) the claim will respond. I'd be very interested in hearing why it didn't.

[karla]

He must have been keen! Most of the service stations I stop at have cameras on the forecourts. I never leave anything in my car that I'm not prepared to lose. Have left the keys in the bike a few times now though ~ sounds like I have gotta start being more diligent there! Hope the insurance company comes through for him.

Must've been a pretty keen thief. He obviously knows that the police will be alerted immediatly as the owner sees his car drive off and the chance of doing a runner with a trailer on your car is about nil

[Shaun]

The whole point to me posting this, and for my own commitment to not do any work for this company, ( which is buisness suicide, but I like principals in life) was to try and stop any one else from forgetting there keys, and to remind all that we now live in a society where theft is almost legal, and to try and eliminate anyone else from making the same mistake, and being treated this way


After all, he really loved his bike, and did not leave the keys for some one to steal his car and bike for him, he honestly thought that he was safe in a place like a petrol station, which normally have security camera's every where


Honest mistake by this injin me thinks

[boomer]

The whole point to me posting this, and for my own commitment to not do any work for this company, ( which is buisness suicide, but I like principals in life) was to try and stop any one else from forgetting there keys, and to remind all that we now live in a society where theft is almost legal, and to try and eliminate anyone else from making the same mistake, and being treated this way


After all, he really loved his bike, and did not leave the keys for some one to steal his car and bike for him, he honestly thought that he was safe in a place like a petrol station, which normally have security camera's every where


Honest mistake by this injin me thinks

You're a wry little man Shaun, i'm starting to understand the way you operate.