"It is a matter almost of common knowledge that a very small percentage of policyholders are actually cognizant of the provisions of their policies and many of them are ignorant of the names of the companies issuing the said policies. The policies are prepared by the experts of the companies, they are highly technical in their phraseology, they are complicated and …

—of policy-holders are actually cognizant of the provisions of their policies.... The policies are prepared by the experts of the companies, they are highly technical in their phraseology, they are complicated and voluminous... and in their numerous conditions and stipulations furnishing what sometimes may be veritable traps for the unwary....[¶] The courts, while zealous to …

"It must be presumed, ordinarily, that persons are familiar with the terms of written contracts to which they are parties, and in the absence of fraud they are justly bound by the provisions therein, but the rule should not be strictly applied to insurance policies. It is a matter almost of common knowledge that a very small percentage of policy-holders are actually cognizant of

This is particularly true in view of the understandable reluctance of an insured to commence a study of the policy terms where even the courts have recognized that few if any terms of an insurance policy can be clearly and completely understood by persons untrained in insurance law

The insured usually confides implicitly in the agent securing the insurance, and it is only just and equitable that the company should be required to call specifically to the attention of the policy holder such provisions as the one before us.

—the Supreme Court of California, commenting upon an alleged violation of a policy provision by the existence of a chattel mortgage upon part of the insured property, in a case in which there was no written application, no actual fraud, no intentional misrepresentation, and the assured was ignorant oi the particular provision of the policy, and no inquiry was made by the …

—upheld coverage of a fire insurance policy which "provided that the entire policy should be void'if the subject of insurance be personal property and be or become encumbered with a chattel mortgage'"

Contracts of insurance should be viewed in the light of their general objects and purposes, including the legitimate conditions prescribed by the insurer