Accident and incident reporting for personal injury, rescues involving the emergency services or deaths on a Scout activity or any Scout property.
If any person, whether a member of the Scout Movement or not,
• suffers personal injury (where injury necessitates treatment by a doctor, dentist or at a hospital);
• requires rescuing (where rescue involves an Emergency Service, i.e. Police, Fire, Ambulance, Mountain Rescue or Coastguard); or
• dies in the course of, or arising out of, a Scout activity or while on, or in conjunction with, any Scout property.
We must be informed.
Notification of injuries can be given either by letter or telephone but must be given within seven days of the incident.
A Scout Group can write or telephone us, 0345 040 7703, or The Scout Information Centre at Gilwell Park. However some Districts or Counties require the notification to be routed through them.
On receipt of the notification, the necessary instructions and forms will be issued. Notification of injuries is required whether or not there is to be a claim on the Personal Accident and Medical Expenses Policy.
Further Information
In addition to the information here, see P.O.R. Chapter 7, Rule 7.4 Accident reporting.
There is an excellent information sheet (FS 120079 Accident Reporting) available from The Scout Information Centre at Gilwell Park on the subject of accident reporting.
31. LIABILITY SUPPORT
We, along with The Scout Association, take a strong stance on spurious and unsubstantiated claims.
Claims where something has gone wrong and negligence is likely to be proven will be settled quickly to help avoid costs. Other claims where there is some doubt over negligence are defended rigorously.
What to do if you or your Scout Group receives a liability claim against you.
Do not ignore it, but do not respond directly to it.
If it is a claim against your Group for injury, loss or damage you should notify us immediately on 0345 040 7703. Our insurers only have a limited time in which to reply to a claim.
If you were to either ignore a letter or claim or admit liability without notifying us, this can prejudice the claim and insurers are within their rights under the terms and conditions of the policy wording to refuse cover. You could find yourself facing the full cost of the claim personally. Your Group may be left with a large debt and unable to continue operating. Personal debts may be incurred by leaders.
If the claimant is a Leader or child (the claim will be made by their “litigation friend” who is normally a parent) in your Group you may still have contact with them if they are still attending the weekly meetings. You should not engage in discussions about the circumstances of the incident. By all means you can talk to each other, however, if they wish to talk about their claim you should politely tell them that “the claim is being dealt with by solicitors and it would be inappropriate to discuss it”.
Witness statements
You may be asked to provide a witness statement to assist the claimant. Bearing in mind they may be insinuating that you have been negligent you should consider this request very carefully. You are under no obligation to do so. You should let us know and we can advise you of what your options are.
32. MAKING A CLAIM
Claiming for lost, stolen or vandalised property or money
However well you secure your buildings, equipment and money; they could still be lost, stolen or damaged. In the unfortunate event of this happening, you would need to make a claim on your buildings, contents or money policy.
We know that if your Scout Group suffers loss or damage to its property, it can be a stressful time, and the thought making a claim can be daunting. If you are insured with us, we will help you through the process making it simpler and quicker.
These are the steps you would need to take, when making a claim.
1. Report it
If something has been stolen or vandalised, you should always report the incident to the police before doing anything else. Failure to do so could disqualify you from making a claim according to the terms and conditions on some insurance policies.
2. Check your policy covers your loss
Check your policy terms and conditions to make sure you’re covered before you submit a claim. Also check if there is a procedure you need to follow.
These can be found in your policy documents. If your Scout Group is insured under our Scout Property and Equipment policy, you can find these details on our website, www. scoutinsurance.co.uk.
3. Inform your insurance company
Let the insurance company know you want to make a claim. They will send you a claim form to complete and return.
If your Scout Group is insured under our Scout P&E policy we have the authority to settle many claims in house, simplifying the process for you and getting you reimbursed as soon as possible.
4. Complete the claim form
To help speed up the processing of your claim make sure you answer all questions truthfully and can fully explain the circumstances of any claim. You may need to send the insurance company receipts or photos if you have them. If your claim requires repair work, your insurer may ask to see quotes from several tradespeople.
If the damage or loss is serious, your insurance company may arrange for a loss adjuster to visit your property to assess your claim. Loss adjusters are hired to investigate and advise on an insurer’s behalf.
Other things to be aware of when making a claim
If emergency work needs to be done to stop further damage occurring, you can usually go ahead and get the repair work done. But make sure you keep receipts. Photos are also a good idea. However, some insurance policies state that you have to use a workman approved by the insurance company. Don’t just call your usual plumber check your policy.
You must not admit, reject or negotiate, any claim without the agreement of your insurer. Otherwise this could invalidate your claim, and your policy may not pay for your loss.
Claiming on your travel insurance
However prepared you are before travelling, incidents may be unavoidable.
Lost items or theft
You must report any theft to the local police immediately. Make sure you are given a crime reference number and report as you will need this for making a claim. If you lose something while away, you should contact your insurer as soon as possible upon your return to notify them of a potential claim.
Medical assistance
Should you require medical treatment while abroad, keep copies of all bills and appointment details, as you will need these to make a claim.
If you need emergency medical assistance and/or are likely to require emergency medical repatriation, and your Scout trip is insured under our Scout Overseas Travel policy, you can find these details for our Emergency Assistance service on our website. www. scoutinsurance.co.uk and in the policy wording.
Travel delays and cancellations
If your trip is delayed or cancelled for reasons outside of your control, you will need details from the travel company regarding the length and reason for the delay or cancellation.
Complete the claim form
For claims other than those requiring emergency assistance and/or emergency medical repatriation, you should notify your insurer of any potential claim as soon as you return and request a claim form.
Complete the claim form with as much detail as possible and return it with copies of your insurance certificate, receipts for costs incurred and supporting evidence.
Please note if you arrange your Scout insurance with us, you would need to claim for the loss of any of the Scout Group’s equipment under the All Risks section of our Scout Property and Equipment policy. If you need to claim for the loss of any personal belongings of the people travelling, then you would need to claim under our Scout Overseas Travel policy.