No matter how hard you knock on wood, accidents are part and parcel of life. Unless you've got the luck of a multi-million dollar lottery winner, getting into a road accident isn't a matter of if, but when.

It may be common knowledge that in the event of one, you should stay calm, check if any party is injured and if there are any serious injuries, call the relevant authorities. Then, move the vehicles involved away from flow of traffic if possible, and note down all number plates and particulars of drivers and witnesses, if any. Lastly, take photos of the accident scene.

However, the issue of insurance claims in any accident isn't as straightforward as many think. The legalities involved can be complex if you're not familiar with your legal rights and responsibilities. Whether you are a car owner, a passenger or a pedestrian, it is vital to understand your legal rights and responsibilities in the event of a car accident.

Knowledge is king

Fret not, if you want to know how to handle such situations, CompareKaki, Singapore's most comprehensive and independent insurance comparison portal managed by MAS-licensed financial adviser SingCapital, has a solution. We spoke to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SingCapital, Mr. Alfred Chia (AC) to find out more.

SGCM: Mr. Chia, we're curious, what's CompareKaki?

AC: CompareKaki, which launched in October 2016, is an independent insurance comparison portal that helps users compare travel and motor insurance from various insurers, and gets them the best and most suitable deal available.

CompareKaki also gives expert advice on choosing suitable insurance plans, and claims assistance. Readily available assistance for insurance comparison is availabe on our portal and the best part? Users can purchase insurance online immediately!

'Kaki' is a Malay word meaning 'leg or walk'. It is also Singlish referring to 'buddy or partner'. At CompareKaki, we want to be your 'Compare Buddy' to empower you to compare car and travel insurance quotations online. Let us do the 'legwork' so that you can get the best deal, which will suit your needs. In addition, we will be your buddy for any claims assistance.

It's really easy, just head to http://www.comparekaki.com/ and follow the steps.

SGCM: Can you also tell us more about CompareKaki's upcoming seminar?

AC: CompareKaki has organised Car Accident Rally (C.A.R), a seminar to help road users understand their legal rights and responsibilities in event of a car accident.

C.A.R is held on 8^th April 2017, from 2:00pm to 5:00pm at the Lifelong Learning Institute Lecture Theatre, Level 2, 11 Eunos Road 8, Singapore (408601). For sgCarMart's MyCarForum members, the seminar is free-of-charge. For non-members, it's chargeable at an affordable rate of just $30. Apart from myself, the other speaker at C.A.R is an experienced lawyer from Vision Law, Mr. Rayney Wong.Mr. Alfred Chia, CEO of SingCapital is a well-sought after speaker, and an expert in his field of financial services and insurance claims. He has served individuals and corporate clients throughout his 25 years of experience and counting.
SGCM: What can the public expect to learn at C.A.R?

AC: They can expect to be engaged in robust discussions on real-life case studies, better understand the legal rights and liabilities involved in an accident, and how to exercise and protect those legal rights and responsibilities.

At the same time, Mr. Rayney Wong and myself will teach them how to choose the most suitable car insurance policy and what are the important things to do in the event of a car accident, so as not to prejudice your rights.

SGCM: We understand that accident insurance claims can be highly complicated issues. Can you paint a scenario of one for us?

AC: Let's picture this: Peter and his wife, Vicki, were on their way to the airport for a trip to Paris. Vicki was driving safely, while Peter raved over the upcoming trip. He was going to close a multi-million dollar deal for his company.

Meanwhile, Peter has also promised Vicki a list of branded bags, if he were to close the deal.

Out of nowhere, a large vehicle suddenly crashes into their car from behind. Both Peter and Vicki feel sharp pains in their necks and numbness on their limbs. Needless to say, they miss their flight, the trip is cancelled and Peter loses the deal. Peter and Vicki are also hospitalised and given two months' worth of medical leave.

Can Peter and Vicki claim for their medical expenses? Are there any claim limits? Can Peter claim for the loss of profit from his multi-million dollar deal? How about his loss of income and prospective pay raise? Can Vicki claim for the branded bags, which Peter would have bought for her? Is the other party liable for all the losses that Peter and Vicki incurred? Can he rely on his motor insurance to cover that?

Sounds like rocket science, right?

SGCM: What can Peter and Vicki do, then?

AC: Well, the more obvious solutions here are that they can claim for the damage done to their car and the medical bills involved. However, can Peter claim for his loss of income and prospective pay raise as a result missing his trip to Paris? What exactly is he entitled to?

There's also something called a settlement for pain and suffering, but how do you come up with a pain and suffering settlement value? To find out, please attend C.A.R and your deepest questions will be answered.

SGCM: Sounds like a plan. Where do people sign up for this, then?

AC: To sign up, visit here, click on Tickets and complete the registration within eight minutes. After eight minutes, the reservation we're holding will be released to others.