Commercial motor collision? Why it’s important to let us know straight away
If you or your employees are involved in a motor incident, it’s important that we're contacted straight away – even if it wasn’t your fault or the damage was minimal. A delay can have significant knock-on effects, many of which aren't always understood.
Ultimately the sooner we’re notified of an incident, the sooner we can help. Crucially that means capturing and notifying us of the other driver’s full name, telephone and registration number.
For example, say a minor collision occurred between a commercial driver and another vehicle – if there was limited/no damage or injuries, they might look to get back on with their day. But if the other non-fault driver reports it, they could be put in contact with a credit hire organisation – we then lose the chance to get in touch and help. This could lead to delays and additional costs that might affect your motor insurance in the future.
Swift reporting allows us to offer support from the start, whatever the severity of the incident, as effectively as possible. It also allows evidence such as CCTV or in-vehicle camera footage to be captured, reducing the opportunity for fraud, as we build a clearer picture of what happened.
What’s new?
To help demonstrate this, we’ve developed two new videos. Please take a look and share with others who may benefit from it.
First Notification of Loss (FNOL) - Business Owners video
Transcript for video First Notification of Loss (FNOL) video. (for Business Owners)
First Notification of Loss (FNOL) - Drivers video
Transcript for video First Notification of Loss (FNOL) video (for Drivers)
Further Support
We’ve developed posters that can be printed and displayed in depots. Speak to your Claims Service Manager or Motor Risk Consultant to access these.
How can you help?
You play a vital role in supporting us and communicating this message to your team. Here are some further steps you can take to help:
- Encourage your employees to report all motor incidents to us as soon as possible, however minor they may seem, even if they aren't at fault.
- Stress the importance of providing details of the other driver’s full name, telephone number, vehicle registration and a summary of what happened. These details are important to help us fully manage the claim.
- Allow us to speak with your drivers where possible - speaking with them directly makes it easier for us to determine liability and arrange any assistance they or the other driver may require.
- Highlight the benefits of full information gathering – any additional material such as photos, CCTV, in-vehicle camera footage or any witness details could help if a fraudulent claim is made against your driver or if a claim is disputed.