This is your worst nightmare – your consignment is en route and you get a call to say that the truck has been involved in an accident, and that part of your cargo has been damaged or pilfered. The first step is to advise your insurer and all other parties who have an interest in the load as soon as you become aware of the incident. If at all possible, send a replacement vehicle to the scene together with enough manpower required to collect and reload onto the replacement vehicle. Rod Isaacs of Eikos Risk Applications explains the importance of providing the required documentation timeously: “It is imperative that you collate all of the necessary trucking documents – this includes the waybill/ vehicle manifest, supplier invoices etc. Send these together with your driver’s statement to your marine insurance broker as soon as possible.” Generally an insurer will appoint a surveyor, so remember to obtain the name and contact details of the transporter – this will speed up the process as the surveyor will get the facts from the right person as soon as possible. It’s also wise to have your driver tested for alcohol, said Isaacs, even if there is no third party involved – and to report the incident to the police even when no other vehicle is involved. The most important thing to have in the event of a potential claim is common sense: document everything, use your broker’s expertise, and overlook nothing. Losses are expensive, and that is exactly why insurance exists – to place you back in the situation you were prior to the loss. Remember, if in any doubt, phone your marine insurance broker – they are there to help. Don’t make any decisions on disposal or replacement of the goods without consulting your broker as this could prejudice your rights against your insurer.
