Sale!

The Law of Motor Insurance

Name: The Law of Motor Insurance
SKU: 3882
Price: 250.00 MYR
Availability: InStock

Original price was: RM450.00.Current price is: RM250.00.

Author: S. Santhana Dass
Publication Date: 2010
Country: Malaysia
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9789839908350
Publisher: Marsden Law Book

”Written in a simple elucidatory style, it is easy to read. Packed with information, it will prove useful to members on all sides of the profession. Motor insurers will find this work of particular assistance as it provides solutions by reference to Malaysian and Singapore decisions”.
” — The Late Dato’ Gopal Sri Ram”
(Former Judge of Court of Appeal)

Categories: Insurance Law, Marsden Books, Personal Injury Product ID: 3882

Description

FOREWORD:

While I was at the Bar, there were only two works on the law of motor insurance that were referred to: Christopher Shawcross”The Law of Motor Insurance’ and Bingham’s “Motor Claim’s Cases”. The first of these; the authoritative text on the subject; last appeared in its second edition in 1949. It is now out of print and a collector’s item. The 10th edition of Bingham’ was published in 1994 and is not freely available. There has therefore been a drought On the subject for many years. That is now no longer the case.

The drought has been ended by Santhana Dass, an advocate of our courts. He is a specialist in the field of insurance law. He has already written another text on the subject. It is titled ‘Law of Life Insurance in Malaysia’. The profession has welcomed it and is looking forward to the second edition.

The author has treated this work along traditional lines as evidenced by his arrangement of the various topics. His research has been thorough. He has comprehensively discussed Malaysian, English, and other Commonwealth cases. The qualitative analysis of the cases reflects the time and effort that has gone into the production of this book. Indeed, the author has even found space to consider whether a car park is a ‘road’ under the governing statute!

Written in a simple elucidatory style, it is easy to read. Packed with information, it will prove useful to members on all sides of the profession. Motor insurers will find this work of particular assistance as it provides solutions by reference to Malaysian and Singapore decisions.

If you look at the landscape of Malaysian legal literature over the last 50 years you will find it changed. There is a greater production of local textbooks by academics and practitioners. It is the duty of the profession and the judiciary to support our authors. Otherwise, the well will run dry again.

It is with pleasure that I commend this work of Santhana Dass. And it is with like sentiment that lavish this work the success it richly deserves.
” — The Late Dato’ Gopal Sri Ram”
(Former Judge of Court of Appeal)
———————————————————————————————————————————

I am very pleased to be given the opportunity to write this foreword for this book entitled ”The Law of Motor Insurance“.

Mr. Santhana Dass’s effort in producing this book is most timely as there is a dearth of such books in the market which analyses the law regarding motor insurance from the Malaysian perspective. This book covers the entire spectrum of motor insurance including the compulsory insurance requirements, the statutory liability of insurers, the rights of third-party victims of motor vehicular accidents, the role of the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, and also each and every clause of the motor insurance policy. This book is a major contribution to the existing body of knowledge in that it fills a gap by explaining in a clear and comprehensive way the complex web of principles governing motor insurance.

The motor insurance industry, as with all parties interested in furthering greater understanding of this sector of insurance and its legal principles, welcomes this book. It Is scholarly and practical and will certainly prove to be an invaluable source of reference for all students and practitioners concerned with motor claims and motor insurance.

My heartiest congratulations to Mr Santhana Dass for this fine publication.
Lim Chia Fook,
K.M.N. Executive Director Persatuan Insurans Am Malaysia
(General Insurance Association of Malaysia)

———————————————————————————————————————————

DESCRIPTIONS:

The motor industry has grown significantly in recent decades, leading to an increase in motor vehicle accidents. Despite numerous road safety campaigns, Malaysia still faces challenges with road manners and accident rates. This has resulted in a complex legal landscape, with insurers, the insured, and third parties often facing uncertainty about their rights.

This book aims to clarify the fundamental principles of motor insurance and its impact on all parties involved. It covers statutory duties, rights of third parties, and contractual obligations between insurers and the insured. While focused on Malaysian law, it references relevant authorities from other common law jurisdictions.

The author also provides recommendations for legislative review and policy changes to address uncertainties in the law. Despite the challenges, the author remains committed to producing informative works, drawing inspiration from the enduring beauty of creativity despite adversity.

Acknowledgments are made to those who contributed to the book’s creation, including the author’s family, colleagues, and supporters. The author takes full responsibility for any views expressed or shortcomings in the book, striving to present the law as of August 2009.

In summary, this book serves as a comprehensive guide to motor insurance law, offering clarity and insight into its complexities while advocating for necessary reforms to improve the legal framework.

Contents:
PART I
Chapter 1 Compulsory Motor Insurance Under The Road Transport Act 1987
Chapter 2 Policy Required To Be Taken Out Under Road Transport Act 1987
Chapter 3 Statutory Duty of Insurer To Satisfy Judgements
Chapter 4 The Motor Insurers’ Bureau
Chapter 5 Procedure For Motor Insurance Claims

PART II
Chapter 6 Formation of Contract
Chapter 7 The Motor Policy
Chapter 8 Section ‘A’ of The Policy – Loss or Damage To Vehicle
Chapter 9 Section ‘B’ – Liability To Third Parties
Chapter 10 General Exceptions (Exclusions)
Chapter 11 Conditions
Chapter 12 Endorsements
Appendix

Additional information

PREFACE

PREFACE
If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading or do things worth writing' —Franklin Roosevelt

The motor industry has seen a surge in the last few decades. With the increase in motor cars on the road there will naturally be an increase in motor vehicular accidents. Many lives have been lost and many a body maimed as a result of motor vehicular accidents. Malaysian drivers have not been known to be the most careful or courteous. The numerous road safety campaigns undertaken by the both government and non-governmental bodies have not shown any positive results in reducing the number of accidents or road manners. The courts are clogged with claims for compensation by third parties injured in accident and the insured for indemnity under the policy. There is an air of uncertainty as to the rights of the parties concerned i.e. the insurer, the insured and the third party. To the insured, the law seems harsh and the general principles of insurance law seem to enable the insurer to rely on a breach of a condition precedent or a warranty to defeat a claim when the breach is unrelated to the loss and has not caused any prejudice to the insurer. There has led to a general feeling that the insurers have a tendency to repudiate claims for the slightest of reason. To the third party who are victims of road accidents, they clamoring for an insurance scheme to secure proper compensation and they complaining about the delaying tactics of the insurers in processing their claims and the delay in the court system as well. To the insurer, they are guided by commercial principles of profit making and as a stronger party have a tendency to resort to both legal and other means to rely on a contract that they formulated and at times unfair to the insured. The United Kingdom has mitigated this harshness to some extent by the Association of British Insurers' Statement of General Insurance Practice 1986; the powers of the Financial Services Ombudsman Bureau and the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contract Regulations 1999. Unfortunately, not enough has been done in Malaysia. Against this backdrop, the courts have been driven by the notion that insurers ' are big companies and have a lot of money' and hence have handed down judgments based on sympathy rather than considerations of legal principles, which have unfortunately thwarted the growth of law in this area.

Motor insurance has become an integral part of the legal system and affects the rdationships of motor vehicle owners, victims of accidents, the insurance industry and the legal fraternity who prosecute and defend these claims and in view of the large number of claims registered yearly, it paramount that all parties affected have a clear understanding of the legal principles involved vis a vis all the parties concerned. This book therefore attempts to lay down the fundamental principles and concepts of motor insurance and how if affects the rights of the parties involved. The statutory duties of insurers and car owners under the road transport legislation, the rights of third parties to enforce judgments directly against the insurer and the contractual rights between the insurer and insured are explained in detail. Though this book is based on the Malaysian law it includes references to the relevant authorities and statutes for other common law jurisdictions like inter alia Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. It is my hope that this book will provide a comprehensive coverage of motor insurance as a whole. To this end, an attempt has been made to explain the legal concepts in as simplified a manner as possible though it is unavoidable that many legal concepts have been included for the sake of precision and to acquaint the reader with the language of the law. I have also suggested some recommendations on uncertain areas and proposed review on certain sections of the existing Road Transport Act 1987, decisions of the Courts and policy wordings and have also offered reasoned arguments for the same. It is my wish the legislators, the Judiciary, Bank Negara Malaysia and the Persatuan Insurans Am Malaysia (PIAM), the Bar Council and the other stakeholders of the industry, study them in depth and implement and/or make the necessary changes in the future.

This is my fifth book and I hope it would get the support and response as my other publications. Many have asked me why I labour on with writing books (it is surely a laborious effort each taking about 2 years to conceive) which is in no way lucrative in the commercial point of view. The answer to this is found in a little story.

In the old age, Pierre Auguste Renoir, the great French painter, suffered from arthritis, which twisted and cramped his hand. Henri Matisse, his artist friend, watched sadly while Renoir, grasping a brush with only his fingertips, continued to paint, even though each movement caused stabbing pain. One day Matisse asked Renoir why he persisted in painting at the expense of such torture. Renoir replied: "The pain passes, but the beauty remains."

I wish to record my very special appreciation to the Late Dato' Gopal Sri Ram, retired Judge of the Federal Court, Malaysia who graciously contributed to the foreword to my book and who has been a source of inspiration from the time of my chambering days. To my parents, the late Mr. Savarinathan and Madam Mariamah, it has been an honour to be your son and thanks for all the pain and sacrifices both of you went through to educate us and to bring us up as a strong, united and loving family. To Sundari, my wife and Rueben, my son, thank you for your continuous support, understanding, encouragement, inspiration and love. I also extend my sincere appreciation to Mr. Ting who had painstakingly and meticulously read the manuscripts and made many constructive and practical suggestions to improve the book. I am also appreciative of to Ms Wendy Beh for assisting me in all the little but important things related to the book and Mr. Edwin Marsden, my publisher, for his advice and assistance in yet again publishing my book. Last but not the least, the God Almighty for garnering my thoughts and whose Presence led me through every sentence I wrote in this book.

The views expressed and the shortcomings of this book are my sole responsibility and I have made every effort to state the law as at August 2009.

"We shall steer safely through every storm as long as our heart is right, our intention fervent, our courage steadfast and our trust fixed on God." — St. Francis de Sales
S. Santhana Dass

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Be the first to review “The Law of Motor Insurance”