Is there anything that I can do to prevent my premium from increasing? There are many actions with little or no cost that can be done. Tip 51 – How can I prevent insurers from making easy pay outs to claimants? Insurers will defend and reject claims if they are provided with adequate evidence of an honest defence. That is a fact. I am very familiar with the existence of a significant number of policyholders who believe that insufficient effort is made by insurers in this regard. You must play your part if your insurer is to have any chance of defending your position. For example the following should always be followed: 1. Copy of CCTV footage of any incident, (EG. Slip, Trip, Accusal), to be made and carefully stored for 2 years. (Satisfies the Statute of Limitations.) 2. Witness Statements to be taken from any staff members and likewise stored. 3. Contact name, address, phone number, email etc. to be obtained from the victim of any accident. (Complies with Health & Safety legislation.) If someone does apparently fall – go to their aid, be extremely helpful – it costs nothing to be a nice guy! Offer to call an ambulance or to bring them to A&E, to their doctor or home. Make sure that you get their full contact details informing them that you will contact them the following day to enquire after their wellbeing. This is NOT an admission of liability. It’s simply being a nice person and just might help in convincing them not to seek legal advice. Subsequently look at the CCTV footage and discuss with staff witnesses. Was this a genuine accident? If so take control. Call the party later that day/evening or early the following day. Tell them that you have viewed the footage and consider that they are quite likely to have suffered some pain. Get any detail of whether they have attended for medical attention. Tell them that you want to compensate them for any expenses incurred and any loss of earnings attributed to the injury. In every case – inform your insurer. If the incident was staged or attributable to the victims own carelessness then your CCTV and witness statements will enable insurers to reject any subsequent claim. Always remember – call us to discuss any/every incident. We will advise and guide you.