I wrote this article a few years ago, and although it is aimed at motorcyclists which is my specialist area, it is still relevant for other road users.
Word of warning, be careful of accident management firms. There are good ones out there, but there are also a lot of shylocks and fraudsters.
Accidents, what to do
For many bikers touring is a chance to relax and unwind: the last thing they think about is being involved in an accident. Hopefully we can help you understand what you need to do to make your life easier in the unfortunate event that things do go wrong.
Many of us would probably never go near a bike if we seriously thought about the possibility of being knocked off. However we have to face up to reality and accept that it is more likely to be a case of when and not if (after all, how many people do you know that have never bumped a car?).
While it is bad enough dropping your machine close to home, when it happens miles from anywhere perhaps in the middle of your holiday all sorts of thoughts can go racing through your mind. How serious are my injuries? How badly damaged is the bike? How will I get it home? Are there any witnesses? What about no claims? By this time white knuckled panic will have well and truly taken hold.
Well, before the panic sets in, try and remember a few basic rules and things very quickly may not seem so bad.
We all hope that an accident never happens, but if it does here is a simple checklist of things that can be done to make life easier for you, your insurance company and your lawyer.
1 - Obtain as many names and addresses of witnesses as possible. They are probably the most important individuals in your claim as they can substantiate your version of events.
2 - Take photographs of the scene. Pictures can convey what words canâ??t, particularly if there is a feature you feel may have contributed to the accident, such as a poor road surface or badly sign posted obstruction.
3 - If the police attend, obtain their name, rank, number and address. At a later date the police will be contacted for further information, and this will speed the claims process up.
4 - If you have an injury that does not require hospitalisation, see a doctor as soon as possible after the incident. Doctorâ??s records will help to prove the severity of your injuries.
5 - As soon as possible after the accident write down as much as you can remember about it. A fresh memory is better than a stale one.
6 - Obtain an estimate of the cost of replacing any damaged equipment such as your crash helmet, leathers, boots and gloves.
7 - If you cannot work or get paid less as a result of your injuries, keep hold of all your payslips to prove your loss of earnings. If you have to guess then you will end up out of pocket.
8 - Keep a diary and list all of the expenses incurred as a result of your accident. Details of dates and expenses, plus copies of all your receipts, will make it far easier to recover the money. Taxi fares, public transport, car park and fuel costs, telephone calls and postage are all claimable.
9 - Ensure that all correspondence from the third party or their representative is passed on to your insurance company or solicitor without delay. Avoid entering into any correspondence yourself as you may say something that you later regret, is inaccurate or is used against you.
10 -If your accident happens while travelling abroad then the same rules apply. However, extra emphasis should be placed on ensuring that all the details have been gathered at the scene, including witness names and addresses and photographs of the location, as it will be very difficult to go back and check these after returning home. If possible get the police to attend so that all the details of the accident are recorded.
In addition, when riding outside the UK make sure you have your driving licence, certificate of insurance and vehicle registration documents with you at all times. In many countries an inability to produce these for the police can lead to a heavy on the spot fine and may delay the process of dealing with the incident.
Most importantly, if you are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident, wherever you are, donâ??t panic. Help is never far away.
