Accidents- What do do if it all goes pear shaped!

[T.C]

It is a fact of life that as motorcyclists we as a breed are more likely to be involved in an accident than our four wheeled counterparts, and the chances are it won't be the fault of the rider as has been proven time and time again.

Where a lot of riders lose out in their compensation claim is due to the fact that they have been unable to provide all the information to either their insurers or solicitors as a result of which either information goes missing or sums of money are not claimed for for one reason or another.

So, god forbid it happens, below is a list of things that you can do to to ease your claim should it all go pear shaped. If you are injured to the point where things cannot be done yourself, then if possible get someone to do it for you, I assure you it will make your claim much easier and provide your legal representative with the ammunition at an early stage of the claim.

So here goes!

1. Witnesses.

Witnesses are important as they can substantiate your claim by confirming your version of events. Try and obtain witness names and addresses as early as possible and ensure that they are prepared to give evidence on your behalf.

2. Photographs.

Try and carry a disposable or digital camera with you. Photographs will help your insurance company or legal representative to understand the scene of the incident, and if the location is tricky to explain, then the photo's will do that job for you as well as give an indication to any key features of their location such as street lights, signs or road markings.

3. Police.

Obtain details of the name, rank, station and telephone number of Police attending your incident as it will prove invaluable later on when you want to obtain copies of the report.

4. Information.

To reduce the chance of forgetting facts it is important to write down in as much detail as possible the facts surrounding the incident. Remember it may be some months or even years before a statement is obtained from you, and you may forget important details that are key to your claim. It is better to write down too much than not enough.

5. Injury.

If you have been injured but haven't required hospitalization, make sure you see a Doctor as soon as possible. Records will provide a detailed account of your injuries and will be used towards evaluating the worth of your claim at settlement.

6. Estimates.

Obtain an estimate from a specialist if you have had personal property damaged, for example a watch or spectacles. You are entitled to claim replacement costs along with your riding equipment and any other property damaged.

7. Work and Pay.

Keep hold of your old payslips if you are off sick as a result of your accident as these will prove your loss of earnings as well as any other financial benefits you may lose such as overtime.

8. Diary.

Keep a diary that shows dates and where and why expenses have been incurred. It is very hard for a defence to argue with notes made at the time, and it also makes it easier to work out the schedule of financial loss.

9. Receipts.

Due to your accident you will probably have extra expenses, such as travelling to Doctors or Hospitals, you may have to use public transport to get to work. Keep receipts and even think about putting them in your diary as these costs can be re-claimed. Remember that if someone drives you anywhere, these mileage can also be claimed at 40p per mile, so keep a record of dates and mileages covered.

10. Correspondence.

Do not enter into 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 solicitor without delay and let them deal with it.

These are the key areas that can help your claim progress more smoothly, but most importantly it can ensure that you are not out of pocket when a settlement offer is made.

Any further information, then please feel free to visit my website under the motorcycle section, or feel free to fire any questions you may have.

I hope that this is of some help to you.
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It is better to arrive 30 seconds late in this world, than 30 years early in the next