Had a Motor Vehicle Accident? What you should do at the scene of the accident
Had a Motor Vehicle Accident? What you should do at the scene of the accident
At the scene of the accident, the following information must be recorded in writing:
- Name, address, licence number of the other driver (and owner, if not the same as the driver)
- Make, model, registration number of the other vehicle
- Date, time, place of accident
- Details of the cause of the accident
- Names and addresses of any witnesses
If there is damage to the company vehicle and repairs will exceed the deductible (excess), a quote for repair will be needed if the car is drivable.
Letter of Demand from a Third Party
If a third party claim (Letter of Demand) is received:
- All correspondence is to be forwarded to your insurance broker or insurer.
- A claim form with your version of the accident must be lodged promptly; otherwise, you are liable for costs incurred in the event of any delays.
Claim Form and Quotes
A motor vehicle claim form or verbal advice should be provided as soon as practical to your insurance broker or insurer. A quotation for repair is required. Some insurers have repair centres so if you are unsure where to take your vehicle to obtain a quote, they can assist you with either providing details of one of their preferred repairers or if they have an assessment centre, you can take your vehicle their and they will look after the repair process.
If you do not intend to initially claim under your policy, the claim form should be forwarded with the note “REPORT ONLY”. Submitting the forms will protect you if you decide to pursue a claim under your policy at a later stage.
1. Vehicle drivable:
A quotation for repairs should be forwarded promptly to your insurer or insurance broker along with the claim form or verbal advice of the claim details.
2. Vehicle undrivable:
Phone your insurance broker or insurer so that arrangements can be made for an assessment of the vehicle. Your vehicle should be towed your vehicle to the nearest repairer (please refer to your PDS for details of towing costs covered) or recommended repairer as advised by your insurer.
3. Claims by other motorists:
If another motorist approaches you demanding payment for repairs, they must submit their demand in writing supported by a repair quotation. This must then be submitted to your insurance broker or insurer with no admission of liability made.
Whatever the claim type, you must make sure you notify your claim to your insurance broker or insurer as soon as possible and gather all relevant information at the time of the incident (such as third party details and/or witness details).
It is important that all claims are settled quickly and fairly so as to minimise any disruption to your business. Completing a claim form immediately, or as soon as practicable and submitting the details to your insurer or insurance broker means your claim can be actioned quickly and efficiently, minimising the impact to you.
Contact Us
At Optimum Insurance Services, we pride ourselves on our fast and efficient claims service. If your insurance is with us and you need to make a claim for whatever reason, you can relax knowing that we will be there to assist you throughout the process. It’s all part of the service.
To notify us of a claim, click here, or if you need advice, call us on 1300 739 861.
Disclaimer – “This material contains general information only and may not suit your particular circumstances. To decide if a policy is right for you please carefully read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and/or Policy wording. While we have exercised due care and skill in preparing this information, Optimum Insurance Services (Optimum) does not accept any legal responsibility or liability for negligence or otherwise to you or anyone else who seeks to rely on this information. This includes, without limitation, loss arising from a possible failure of the information to comply with statutory or regulatory requirements or the failure of the information to identify other terms and conditions beyond those considered in this document. You should obtain advice to ensure that your policy provides adequate cover for your circumstances. “Optimum Insurance Services Pty Ltd is a Corporate Authorised Representative of Insurance Advisernet Australia Pty Ltd (Car No. 291220), Australian Financial Services Licence No 240549, ABN 15 003 886 687.”