Monday 22 April 2013

Accidents Happen - What Should You Do?


The reality is nobody wants to think about having a car accident. It’s not a nice thought, but it’s important to be prepared in case you are involved in one. In moments of panic, it’s quite easy to get caught up in a state. But knowing what you must do and taking simple precautions can make things easier afterwards.

If you do find yourself in this position, think about the following:

The initial feeling after an accident can leave you feeling in a state of panic and worry. Make sure you take a couple of minutes to gather your thoughts before you begin to deal with exchanging insurance details.

Remain safe and keep as calm as possible
Stop where it is safe if you have the option and check that any other passengers involved are safe and well too. 

If appropriate, turn the engine off and put your hazard lights on.

Exchange details
You will need to swap some details with the other driver(s), especially if someone is injured. Sometimes this isn’t possible because of an injury or because they drive off. If you don’t swap the details, you must report the accident to the police within 24 hours.

When exchanging details give your name, address, and registration number and the name and address of the owner of the vehicle. You should also get these details from the other driver(s).

Notify your insurers
Report the incident to your insurance company as soon as you can.

Obtain evidence
Get any witness contact details and take photos of the scene and vehicle damage. This may come in use later on when dealing with your insurers.

Make sure you note carefully how many people are in the other vehicle(s) involved.

Thanks to the IAM for the guest blog this week.

For peace of mind download the free Good Garage Scheme app. You can be sure to locate a garage you can trust no matter where an accident occurs. 




Wednesday 10 April 2013

Ford Specialists Top Search

Owners of high end vehicle marques are increasingly turning to independent specialist garages for care and servicing, according to the UK-wide Good Garage Scheme. According to our research based on searches carried out by motorists since the start of the year, we can now reveal the top ten marques that searched on the website:
  1. Ford
  2. BMW
  3. Volkswagen
  4. Vauxhall
  5. Renault
  6. Mercedes
  7. Audi
  8. Land Rover
  9. Honda
  10. Peugeot

Prestige models BMW, Mercedes and Audi all make the top ten list of car manufacturer searches carried out by visitors to the Good Garage Scheme website, www.goodgaragescheme.com and Ford remains at the top of the list for a second year running.

Motorists visiting the website can find their nearest Good Garage Scheme member and refine their searches to identify those who have expertise in specific makes of vehicle. Over a recent three month period, a total of 49 different marques were searched.

Anndi Sheppard, Good Garage Scheme marketing manager, said: “Our research shows that a typical visitor to the Good Garage Scheme website will look for a local garage that services their particular make of car. Good Garage Scheme members specialise in custom model vehicles as well as servicing the more common marques. Our survey shows that motorists are recognising the specialist care and attention our members can dedicate to cars of all models.
“The Good Garage Scheme website provides motorists with the ideal tool to find their nearest independent garages quickly and efficiently. This is enhanced by being able to refine searches to find expertise in specific makes and models.”

Good Garage Scheme member garages can be found from Lands End to John O’Groats. Motorists can find their nearest garage anywhere in the UK via a link to the Good Garage Scheme’s home page www.goodgaragescheme.com or via the free Good Garage Scheme App, available for both android and iPhones.