Hope you don't ever need to use them, but just in case!
It is an unfortunate fact of life that as a motorcyclist, the chances of us being involved in an accident are high compared with some other leisure pursuits, but regardless of the severity, once the shock that an accident has occurred sets in, the next phase of panic is usually "What do I do now" or "Who do I turn to for help"
Well being in the accident trade so to speak, there are a number of things that (providing you are not too badly hurt) you can do which will not only make life easier when it comes to submitting your claim, it will also eliminate the chances of you being under compensated.
In simple terms a 10 point check list which I hope you will find useful.
1 Witnesses. Witnesses are important in that they can substantiate your claim by confirming your version of events. Try and obtain witness details as early as possible as once they are gone, the chances are that you will not find them again.
2 Photographs. Some people say make a sketch plan, but photographs offer much more detail and in particular will help your insurance company or legal representative understand the location, particularly if there are points of interest that may have been a contributory factor.
3 Police. Get the details of any Policeman/Policewoman that attends the scene. In particular their collar number and rank, the station they work from and telephone number as at some stage a report will be obtained and it is far easier to trace down these reports if you know who dealt with it.
4. Information. Reduce the chance of forgetting facts by writing down as much as you can about the accident as soon after it happened as possible. It may be some months before you are asked to provide a statement and as time passes the memory fades. How many of you can remember what you did on a certain day 3 months ago. Well in the case of an accident that important fact could be the difference between making a successfull claim and losing it. If you are unable to write, then ask someone to write it down for you.
If you write down too much, don't worry, it is better to have remembered too much than not enough.
5. Injury. If you have been injured but have not required hospitalisation, make sure you see a doctor as soon as possible. Medical records will provide a detailed account of your injury.
6. Estimates Obtain an estimate from a specialist if you have had personal property damaged as a result of your accident (including the bike). You are entitled to claim replacement costs.
7. Work and Pay Keep hold of your payslips if you are off work as a result of being injured in an accident. Payslips will prove your loss of earnings bearing in mind that you can also claim for lost overtime.
8. Diary Keep a diary that shows the dates and where and why expenses have been incurred. Things like car park costs, travelling, transportation are all claimable if it occurs as a result of your accident, and a diary along with receipts will help prove these costs incurred.
9. Receipts For the same reason above. Anything you purchase as a result of your accident which will make life easier is claimable, but if you cannot prove the purchase or how much it cost you will not get those costs back or it will be at a reduced level.
10. Correspondence Do not enter into any correspondence yourself. You may say something that is inaccurate or which may be used against you at a later date. Pass any correspondence to your insurance company or legal representative without delay and let them deal with it for you.
That is about it. Obviously I hope that you never find yourself in the situation where you have to make a claim, but whether it be an injury or damage only accident, the same basic rules apply, and it will prevent you from being under compensated, it will ensure that whoever is representing you has as much information as is possible and it will make your life a whole lot easier.
Most importantly remember that you are not alone, help is never more than a phone call away.
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