Swift Insurance Claims Save Time and Money
If any of your commercial fleet drivers are involved in a road traffic accident, making a swift insurance claim can make a significant difference.
There is a world of difference between a claim reported in 24 hours compared to one reported after 14 days. If a claim is reported in 24 hours, with full third party details, the insurer has more chance of controlling the claim process. Delaying makes any claim more difficult to investigate and this inevitably results in a longer settlement time which pushes up costs.
The likelihood of being able to successfully control the claim drops from 94% for a claim reported in 24 hours, to just 35% for 14 days or more. After 2 weeks, any third party may well have put the vehicle in for repair and be hiring, which increases claim costs.
An experienced commercial insurance broker can help you to make sure your haulage and motor fleet claims succeed. As an established independent insurance broker, our aim is to provide you with a comprehensive, bespoke insurance solution, backed up by a prompt, highly competent and dedicated claims-handling team.
- Keep your broker up to date
Let your commercial insurance broker know if there are significant changes to your business during the year that might affect your policy. The run up to Christmas is the time of year when the number of vehicles on the road increases and firms recruit more drivers. Make sure your drivers are briefed to act fast should an accident happen. Drivers involved in any road traffic accident must ensure that they report to the police if necessary, and that full details are exchanged at the scene, with registration numbers of all vehicles recorded. Any telematic or tachograph data and photographs from in-cab cameras can be used and may help to mitigate losses when your claim is being defended. - Act fast
Making your claim quickly increases your chance of success. Check with your broker about deadlines as many commercial insurers insist claims are made, for example, within 24 hours. - Be accurate
It is important to be accurate and honest when assessing values, reporting accidents or incidents on your business premises. Good evidence from the scene can help prevent fraudulent claims, for example, about the number of people involved in an accident. Having robust processes in place in your firm will ensure that all your staff know exactly what to do after an accident or incident and that any claim can be processed quickly and efficiently.
Our expert commercial haulage insurance team at Andrew Bourne & Co have processed thousands of claims over many years. As your broker we’re acting as your agent throughout the claims process. By dealing with insurers for you, we can make sure that the correct protocols are followed and that you’re kept fully informed every step of the way. And we have the expertise and knowledge to be able to deal with any complicated claims that might arise.
When you take out a new policy with us or renew an existing one, we make sure that every aspect of your commercial transport operation is reviewed and included if required; from the type of commercial haulage work you do, the size and types of vehicles you operate, the cargo being transported and the staff and drivers you employ.
If you’d like more information, or to speak to us about insurance for your commercial haulage operation, please call David Crowther on 0116 272 0770.