A hypothetical question that occurred to me.

If I go somewhere like where covid-19 is everywhere, and I come back. Need to go into quarantine. Do so, but say run out of some essential and go out to get it.

On my trip I crash the car and need to tell the insurance people. If they check and see I should not have gone out, could they refuse to pay out.

We all know what insurance companies are like, an excuse they pay nothing.

The insurance would not know. Swiss insurance have a habit of paying out quickly without complication which is the reverse of the UK.

I don't think so - your quarantine status has no affect on your vehicle or driving.

If they could ignore the insurance just because you broke the law in an unrelated thing at the same time, hardly anyone would be insured.

I have some pirated MP3s on my phone in the car, oops no insurance.

</sarcasm>

Yes, anyone breaking the quarantine automatically looses all his/her civil rights, as it is a custom in our law system.

It is kind of "purge" system, they can drive over you (you should stay at home), take your cash (you are only allowed to use bank transfers) etc...
It is similar to using public transport without a valid ticket. Others, with valid tickets, can rummage through your bags, clothes, and take whatever they need, grope you, or spit in your face. You have right to ask them to show you their ticket, but you cannot stop them.

You will not loose your insurance rights but you should really not be going out during quarantine.

I'm not sure groping and spit play are allowed when under quarantine, not explicitly forbidden but surely there's no need!

I can't see the authorities looking too positively on a person in quarantine been run over either, I mean a face mask can help stop the spread a bit, but if you're smeared all over the footpath I don't think the mask is helping.

Ah, but the virus dies off rapidly in corpses.

(That got dark very quickly!)

exactly- if you run out of essentials, you order on line, or get someone to deliver, or get friend, neighbour, etc, to help. Surprised that you should be posting this, as you have made it clear you are very concerned about meeting anyone and catching Covid.

We've been told that the virus can survive in a microwave and full wack for 36 hours*, I thought it might have a better chance on a "damp" pavement.

*Hyperbole, before anyone asks for a study.

I'm starting to get the sense that you have a bit of a negative, victimised view of the world.

Simply don't run out of essentials, it's not that hard. This may involve having a hard think about what is truly "essential". Toilet paper, yes; snacks, no.

I am not an expert, but this could be looked at as gross negligence (Grobfahrlässigkeit / négligence grave), which is a bit of a catch all. You were there, but shouldn't have been and you knew it...

In the case of gross negligence, the insurance would still pay up front, but then turn around and want their money back from you (regress).

Might be worth a look at your policy, if you intend to try.

That is not even close to similar. Driving without a license would be.

Actually, I think the question is good. It could be possible for the insurance to argue this. But I'd say they could only do that after the culprit has been convicted for breaking quarantine by a court (plus all the times for objections).

So that leads to the question: What is the law on breaking quarantine? Is it a crime to be taken to court for or just a (minor) transgression, punished by a fine? Is it at all punishable?

Then - which insurance? The liability insurance will definitely pay the other one's damage (car, fence, lamppost ). Your own car? As I said, not a bad question. But OP, you do know you just woke up sleeping dogs? I can see the EF-appointee of Zurich insurance running to his boss now shouting "they thought of a new idea for us to save money".

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Ftfy.
Ever heard of water?

I wouldn't worry about the insurance but the police showing up and making questions. Probably no one notices and nothing happens. But if a cross check is made at some point, you have a police office testifying quarantine was not respected. I'd say a hefty fine is ensured at this point.

everyone in CH has good tap water, no?

...and a sodastream machine

Not so good after you've used it in place of toilet paper...

I always had a gross negligence extension with Zurich, I never asked for it so I think it's pretty standard.

Mine covers that differently for the third party insurance vs the bits I could claim.

In case of gross negligence, for third party claims against me the insurance covers them - this is probably a legal requirement, otherwise the insurance is a bit useless as you could argue many accidents are grossly negligent. Also they reserve the right to sue me for the money.

Not surprisingly, if I'm grossly negligent I can't myself claim - e.g. if I leave the brake off and the car rolls into a wall, they'd pay for fixing the wall but not my car.

But going out during quarantine would not be any sort of (car insurance) negligence because it has no bearing on the vehicle or driving. It would only be negligence if the insurance was against infecting someone.

I only ever had 3rd party insurance.

If it's your wall they would not pay out as no 3rd party is involved. My wife backed her horsebox (lorry not trailer) into her own car, the horsebox insurance would not pay for the car.