Act first and keep your cash following the crash
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“YOU MUST GET evidence!” This is the advice of Chrys Rampley of the Road Haulage Association when talking about the effects of the crash-for-cash scenarios hitting haulage irms (CM 12 May), and she could not have put it any better. However, this may sound easier than it actually is if you don’t know what to do.
I work for a legal advice irm and have seen that insurance companies do thoroughly investigate such accidents, but there is a lot more that you can do to keep the cash in your pockets, instead of those claiming against you. Get your transport manager to work hand in hand with a reputable accident investigation company.
By doing this, you automatically gain the expertise of the investigators who deal with these claims on a daily basis.
This, in turn, frees up the time of your transport manager, so he can concentrate on keeping your vehicles on the road, instead of being bogged down with administrative tasks.
Using an accident investigation company to provide post accident training to your drivers, as well as obtaining all the correct information and following the correct procedures after an accident, will, in the long run, save you money.
Even if a claim has not yet been made against you, act irst and get the information while it is fresh. Claimants have up to three years to make a claim, and who can remember what happened so long after the event?
Look for an accident investigation company that wants to build a strong business partnership with you and has your interests at its core. This way you will get the best results.
Andrew Drewary Director First Legal Support Merseyside