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‘A picture speaks a thousand words’ says Budget Van
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Information that will help drivers progress their accident claims

In the season where severe weather warnings are most prevalent and the Highway’s Agency has announced that Britain’s roads are to be given safety star ratings in a bid to cut the number of accidents - Budget Van Insurance offers drivers guidance on what to do following an accident.  Steps like having a disposable camera in your vehicle can make the whole claims process much smoother.

There are a number of steps that motorists can take to ensure that in the unfortunate event of an accident, they remove themselves from further danger; that their vehicles are recovered and that they take as many details as they can to ensure that their insurance claims are handled as efficiently as possible.

In the event of an accident, Budget Van Insurance advises drivers to follow the steps below:

• Call the emergency services if there are any injuries, if the road is blocked or the other party does not stop or won’t exchange details.  If possible, it is best to do this yourself as accident control rooms can locate you via your mobile telephone signal
• If you are on a busy road get out of the car and move to a point of safety
• Where possible, take photographs of the accident scene - use your mobile or keep a disposable camera in your car
• If possible, take as many details from the third party and their passengers. Take names, contact telephone numbers, vehicle registrations, insurance details (even if it is only the name of their insurer) and statements of what happened
• Get witness details as above
• Keep a pen and paper in the car and if possible draw a diagram of the accident scene
• Save your claims number to your mobile telephone at the point you receive your insurance documents
• Call your insurer’s claims line who will assist you with:
• If you have purchased a Motor Legal Protection Policy and the accident was not your fault then they will be able to appoint solicitors for any Personal Injury claim and help you recover your uninsured losses such as loss of income through injury. They will also discuss the possibility of organising a hire car while your car is in for repair or being assessed as a Total Loss
• Make a note of any other details that you believe are important such as the driver of the other vehicle being on the telephone at the time of the accident. These may help progress your claim

Matthew Gledhill, Managing Director, Budget Van Insurance said:

“We welcome the steps being taken by the Government to make our roads safer places for everybody. Even the most vigilant drivers are caught off guard by hazardous driving conditions - especially in the winter months.

“Some of these actions might seem obvious but unfortunately many of them slip drivers minds until it is too late.  With more bad weather likely in the coming months, we would urge drivers to drive safely and be aware of the steps above.  The winter months are our busiest time and when making an insurance claim, having these details can make all the difference in terms of how swiftly your claim is handled.”

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