Submission of proof documents such as medical certificates required
Outpatients bear treatment costs according to fault ratio
Large accident charges must be paid in unlicensed accidents
As complaints related to automobile insurance remain high, financial authorities have issued various reminders. They explained that since the system has changed to require minor injury patients to bear part of the treatment costs according to the degree of fault, it is necessary to check carefully.
On the 28th, the FSS announced consumer precautions related to automobile insurance due to the continued high number of complaints. According to the FSS, as of the first half of this year, there were a total of 6,343 complaints related to automobile insurance, an 8.1% increase compared to the same period last year.
First, it was explained that even if the other driver refuses to report the accident when a traffic accident occurs, treatment costs can still be claimed. If the other driver refuses to report the accident claiming the victim's injury is minor, the other party's insurance company cannot guarantee payment for treatment under bodily injury liability coverage. In this case, by submitting documents proving the necessity of hospital treatment such as traffic accident proof documents and a doctor's diagnosis to the other party's insurance company, treatment costs can be claimed.
It was also emphasized that minor injury patients may have to bear treatment costs. Since accidents occurring after January this year require minor injury patients to bear part of the treatment costs or handle it through their own insurance according to the degree of fault. In the past, the other party's insurance company compensated in full, but for treatment costs exceeding the bodily injury liability I (mandatory insurance) compensation limits (Grade 12: 1.2 million KRW, Grade 13: 800,000 KRW, Grade 14: 500,000 KRW), the portion corresponding to the insured's fault must be borne directly. The other party's insurance company first pays the hospital directly for treatment costs and then recovers the insured's fault portion.
Therefore, if the fault ratio determination is delayed, the insurance company may demand payment for treatment costs long after treatment is completed. If the insured has subscribed to personal injury or automobile injury special contracts, the claim from the other party's insurance company can be handled through their own insurance. However, future insurance premiums may increase.
Additionally, it was advised to enter accurate information when subscribing to age-limited special contracts or driver-limited special contracts. This is because the insurance contract holder must separately register drivers other than the insured as recognized experienced drivers for driving experience to be acknowledged.
It was also emphasized that in cases of insurance accidents occurring under unlicensed situations such as license suspension due to drunk driving, the driver must bear a large accident deductible (up to 280 million KRW for bodily injury per victim, 70 million KRW for property damage). An FSS official stated, "In the past, the mandatory insurance accident deductible that drivers had to bear for accidents caused by unlicensed, drunk, drugged, or hit-and-run driving was limited to part of the damage amount, but since the policy revision in July last year, the deductible has been expanded to cover the entire damage amount within the compensation limit," adding, "It is important to note that failing to undergo a physical fitness test during license renewal also counts as unlicensed driving."
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