Insurance Policies Are Governed by the General Principles of Contract Law

This practical note deals largely with the first part, the law of insurance contracts. For more information on the requirements of the Insurance Distribution Directive, see Practical Notes: Insurance Distribution Directive (IDD) – Basics, Insurance Distribution Directive (IDD) – Scope, Registration, Passport and Penalties, Insurance Distribution Directive (IDD) – Organisational Requirements and Conduct of Business, Insurance Distribution Directive (IDD) – Insurance Products Directive and Insurance Distribution Directive (DLI) – Information document on insurance product requirements. Consumer Insurance Law Reform: Disclosure and Misrepresentation Prior to Contract The Doctrine of Membership. The theory of liability states that you must accept the entire insurance contract and all its terms and conditions without negotiation. Since the insured has no possibility to change the conditions, the ambiguities of the contract are interpreted in his favour. As the holder of an insurance policy, you are required to take the necessary steps to minimize the loss of your insured property. The law does not allow you to be negligent or irresponsible simply because you know you are insured. For example, if a fire breaks out in your kitchen, you must take reasonable steps to extinguish it, such as . B using a fire extinguisher or call the fire department. You can`t just sit back and let the fire burn your house because you know insurance will pay for it.

Insurance contracts are unilateral. This means that only one party (the insurer) makes some sort of enforceable promise. Insurers promise to pay benefits if a certain event such as death or disability occurs. The applicant does not make such a promise. In fact, the applicant does not even promise to pay premiums. The insurer cannot require payment of premiums. Of course, the insurer has the right to terminate the contract if the premiums are not paid. The total direct insurance premium, excluding household earthquake insurance and compulsory motor vehicle liability insurance, of direct insurance companies in Japan`s fiscal year 2013 (April 2013 to March 2014) amounted to JPY 7189.3 million, of which JPY 952.7 million was allocated at a disposal rate of 13.25% [3].

Note that we have excluded direct premium payments for household earthquake insurance and mandatory motor vehicle liability insurance, as both are public insurance policies with a high rate of government allocation. The transfer rate of direct insurers in JFY 2013 was 30.52% for fire insurance, which covers the risks of accumulation of natural disasters. In addition to building fires, fire insurance also covers wind and water damage caused by typhoons e.B. In addition, earthquake insurance for companies has special agreements to cover damage caused by earthquakes. In contrast, the transfer rate for liability insurance that does not cover accumulation risks related to natural disasters was 11.71% (including reinsurance with foreign and domestic insurance companies, as it is difficult to count the two separately). This means that the transfer rate is largely influenced by whether or not the insurance covers losses due to natural disasters. Reinsurance [2] is a means of stabilising the activity of insurance undertakings by mitigating the effect of the full payment of cover due to natural disasters. Figure 10.1 shows the reinsurance mechanism. Reinsurance is a mechanism enabling insurance undertakings to transfer all or part of the risks to other insurance undertakings. Question 2: The intentional withholding of material facts that would affect the validity of an insurance policy is called a(n) The terms null and voidable are often misused interchangeably. A void contract is simply an agreement without legal effect.

Essentially, it is not a contract at all, as it lacks one of the legally established elements for a valid contract. A void contract may not be performed by either party. For example, a contract that has an illegal purpose is void and neither party can perform it. An insurer can also invalidate an insurance policy if an incorrect statement in the application is significant. Suppose a situation develops in which the policyholder has not fulfilled a contractual condition: the policyholder has stopped paying the premium. The contract is then cancellable and the insurance company has the right to terminate the contract and revoke the coverage. Question 8: Bob and Tom start a business. Since each partner contributes to an important element of the company`s success, they decide to take out life insurance policies for each other and designate each other as beneficiaries. Eventually, they withdraw and dissolve the company. Bob died 12 months later. The Directives remain unchanged in force.

The two partners were still married at the time of Bob`s death. Who receives Bob`s police in this situation? All insurance contracts are based on the concept of uberrima fides or the doctrine of good faith. .