Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[monicashen]

"The Act of God designation on all insurance policies... means roughly that you cannot be insured for the accidents that are most likely to happen to you. If your ox kicks a hole in your neighbor's Maserati, however, indemnity is instantaneous."
~Alan Coren, The Lady from Stalingrad Mansions, 1977


"... indemnity is instantaneous," I am not sure if I understand this bit correctly. Does it imply that as owner of the ox, I have to compensate the owner of the Maserati for what my ox did to the expensive car, and I can never take the kind of insurance cover to cover such situation?

[lotus]

Indemnity means exemption from liability. It means you will not be responsible for the damage (the insurance company will pay for it).

Most auto insurance policies have an Act of God clause. That means they will not cover for damages caused by unpredictable natural causes (such as earthquake, tornadoes, lightning, etc.).

In the sentences below, it says that you are not insured for Acts of God. However, if an ox kicks your Maserati, you are insured (the insurance company will pay). Although the ox kicking the car was unpredictable, the ox is not God -- therefore, you are covered.

All this assumes you have comprehensive insurance. Comprehensive insurance will cover non-driving damage to your car regardless of cause (including Acts of God). And it covers theft.

http://www.ehow.com/info_7742028_comprehensive-insurance-cover.html


If you are the owner of the ox, and you have business insurance, you are also covered since the ox is not God.


--lotus
_________________
War does not make one great --Yoda

[monicashen]

LOTUS, thank you so much for the detailed explanation. I am now enlightened.