Vietnam wouldn’t be Vietnam without motorbikes, they are part of the very fabric of the country. Mr Google says that there were over 45 million registered motorcycles jostling for position on the country’s roads in 2017. And of course this two wheeled mayhem on the streets combined with, let’s face it, often chaotic driving styles with plenty of drivers skipping red lights, riding in the wrong lane or exceeding the speed limit, adds up to some really shocking road accident statistics. That’s why motor insurance is a must.
We are talking 14,000 road deaths every year, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Yes, you read that right, that’s around 1.5 deaths every single hour of every single day, making road traffic accidents the leading cause of death in Vietnam for those aged between 15 and 29.
One of Infinity’s clients, a guy called John, almost became one such sorry statistic recently when he was involved in a motorbike accident. Fortunately he dodged the Grim Reaper and lived to tell the tale although not unscathed. The injuries he sustained meant he was hospitalised for two days (at a cost of $950/night) and required extensive treatment, including a knee operation, which added up to over $20,000 in total.
As you can imagine, John was pretty pleased that he had comprehensive insurance so that the tab was picked up by his insurer and he didn’t have to obliterate his savings to cover the cost of his medical care. Having a policy with a reputable insurer also meant that John could access the best treatment available in the country without any delay.
Others are not so lucky. Horror stories abound of expats who think they can save a few bucks by skimping on insurance only to be involved in accidents – often through no fault of their own – and finding themselves struggling to pay for the treatment that they need.
The fact is that, even if you are the most cautious driver in the world, getting behind the wheel in Vietnam puts you at risk so you need to ensure that you are adequately insured to cover you against any incident that could happen when you are on the road.
Here at Infinity we work with all the major insurance companies and can help you shop around for the best motor insurance deals. If you are looking for cover or wondering if you can get a better deal than the one you have why not give us a shout?
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