Take care of yourself on the roads this Easter                                                         ~ & what to do if you need to make a claim.

Goodness, the first three months of 2016 are just about behind us already. Is just seems like a couple of weeks back we were all heading on holiay & about to do the same again.

With Easter just around the corner, we would like to take this opportunity to encourage you to be extra careful on the roads.

Each year we in the insurance industry see an increase in claims for collisions over Easter. In fact, over the last five years insurer claims have spiked by around 10% compared to the weekly average for the rest of the year.

Last year collision claims alone for this period were about 19% higher than the weekly average.

Not driving to the conditions is a particular issue when, like this year, the Easter period falls at the end of summer. People see it as the last long weekend of the summer, so there will be lots of boats & caravans on the road.”

Being in an accident, even if minor, is distressing. Many drivers do not always know what to do. The number one priority is the safety of those involved & making sure no one is injured & calling for help if required.

To keep these top of mind, we have put together some easy Easter travel & incident tips for sharing with your staff & customers.

• We encourage those who are able, & it is safe to do so, to take photos at the incident scene of their vehicle. This will help with any dispute over liability.
• In our experience many a claims team often get pictures of damaged cars after they have been moved. What is better is if customers can take pictures immediately after the collision, when cars are still in position, & send them through with their claim. Most people will have at least one smartphone in their car these days.
• Obtain images of the other vehicles' registration plate just in case you forget to obtain details at the time of the incident
• Take photos of where the damage has occurred or where the impact happened on your vehicle
• Take photos of the road & weather conditions at the time.
• Obtain the details of any independent witnesses & those of the other driver including name, phone number, registration plate & insurance provider.
• This is especially important if you think there is a chance there will be dispute over who is at fault,”

When a holiday period arrives, New Zealand just gets up & moves.

People think if they are insured, they can take risks ~ but what really matters are the people in your car & the vehicles around you.  When there are high volumes of traffic, claims for collisions spike.

In the meantime, safe travels & please get in touch if you have any questions. We are typically available over holiday periods ~ telephone calls come through to my mobile.
 
 Best wishes for a relaxing Easter
 
 
My Regards,
Kenn
 



www.kennbutler.com