What do camels in garden centres, nut throwing squirrels, decomposing carrots, naked pedestrians and mini skirts have in common? They are the causes of some of the most unusual car insurance claims received by elephant.co.uk.
The online insurance specialist has released details of its most bizarre claims from the last year and on a number of occasions the perpetrators are some rather antisocial animals.
One unfortunate motorist had parked his car at a garden centre and returned to find his vehicle damaged. CCTV footage revealed a camel being walked by its owner to be the destructive culprit.
Another driver was the victim of a delinquent squirrel who threw a nut from a tree cracking the windscreen of the car, and another, the target of a weary horse who decided to rest on their vehicle's bonnet.
elephant.co.uk Managing Director, Brian Martin said, "We asked our claims handlers to tell us about any claims that really stood out for them, and it was fascinating to read about some of the situations they come across.
"Although they may seem amusing now, of course any incident can be distressing at the time and our handlers are trained to be understanding and professional. However, it goes to show that the insurance industry isn't always as dull as some people think!"
The 8 most unusual claims are:
- A driver returned to his parked car in a garden centre car park to find it had been damaged. CCTV revealed that a passing camel had kicked out at the car while being walked by its owner.
- A car windscreen shattered by a nut thrown by a squirrel from a tree overhead.
- A car was damaged by a horse sitting on the bonnet.
- A driver lost control of his vehicle and ended in a ditch after driving through liquid that had leaked onto the road from a large pile of decomposing carrots dumped nearby.
- A car was damaged when a naked pedestrian jumped on the car bonnet, leapt onto the roof, jumped up and down and then ran away.
- A windscreen melted when a Harrier jet flew overhead, crash landed nearby and burst into flames.
- A motorist who mistook a container of shampoo for a container of petrol and when low on fuel began filling up the tank with the shampoo.
- A car hit in the rear when the driver of the car behind was distracted by four ladies in mini skirts walking along the pavement.
Brian Martin continues, "From nut wielding squirrels, naked pedestrians and aircraft, it seems it's not just other motorists that drivers should be watching out for. These strange incidents go to show drivers need to be aware of their surroundings all the time."
Issue date: 17-08-08 |
