Picture this…a people carrier swerves violently across three lanes of a motorway and collides with your driver in the slow lane. Blame is nearly always attached to the driver who hits a vehicle from the rear. In the aftermath of the smash, four whiplash claims are filed against your business with a potential claim of up to £75,000.
This nightmare was a reality for one driver, but fortunately, the van was fitted with a dashcam. It was clear from the footage that the driver’s recklessness at the wheel of the people carrier had caused the crash, and the dispute was quickly dismissed.
These days, having the footage of any incident will help your driver and, ultimately, your business. Take, for example, another crash nightmare involving a delivery van and an Italian sports car – valued more than £180K. Many insurers still insist on a 50/50 settlement to conclude a claim – fortunately, there was footage. This incident provided irrefutable evidence that the van driver was not to blame.
The Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) estimates that crashes for cash collisions, where fraudsters stage non-fault accidents, cost the industry around £340 million a year. More worryingly, the ABI (Association of British Insurers) warn that the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown has given time for criminals to plan motor insurance frauds, and they’re intent on cashing in at the expense of innocent motorists.
What can drivers and fleets do to protect their vehicles from crashes for cash schemes? There’s not much you can do to prevent it other than teaching your drivers to look out for subtle warning signs, beaten up car bodywork, drivers hiding in blind spots, or no working brake lights.
The good news is, that any driver can now invest in dashcam and telematics technology. As a fleet manager there are many options to customise camera tracking solutions and build a tailored service to suit your specific needs at an affordable monthly cost.
Whether you have one or thousands of vehicles on the road, we can help reduce your running costs with discounted branded and tailored diesel, petrol, electric and pre-paid fuel cards, telematics tracking, dashcams, improving driver training and business insurance solutions. Get in touch here ─ we look forward to becoming your ‘trusted partner’.
