More fleet operators are turning to outsourced claims handling experts to help control third party claim costs following at-fault incidents, says FMG. 

Its data, collated over the past 18 months, shows a 140% increase in demand for FMG’s in-house third party claims services from fleet operators, insurance companies and brokers and highlights average savings of more than £1,000 per captured claim.

Early intervention is crucial to mitigating costs for the at-fault party and FMG urges drivers to report incidents immediately following an incident if it is safe to do so. This significantly reduces the risk of the third party pursuing or being approached by potentially expensive hire car companies, credit repair services and personal injury businesses.

Mark Chessman, managing director for operations at FMG, said: “We endeavour to contact the third party within the hour, to offer our vehicle repair and replacement services and then closely monitor every process and cost throughout the life of the claim. This removes the financial vulnerability for the at-fault party.”

He added: “We ensure the third party is not out-of-pocket at any stage following an incident which wasn’t their fault. We arrange a quality repair by our independently-audited repair network with a sensible replacement vehicle, various one-day repair solutions or cash-in-lieu payments.”

When the third party can’t be captured, claims handling experts protect their customers by ensuring all liability decisions, costs and timescales submitted are fair and reasonable.  Increasingly-popular driver behaviour telemetry and in-vehicle camera technology can often provide irrefutable and impartial evidence to inform liability decisions and support the fight against fraudulent claims.