An amicable report to declare an accident
The amicable report allows you to declare an accident which occurred mainly with a third party, unlike a sea report which is mainly written in the most serious cases involving the responsibility of the captain. You can nevertheless write the report without a third party in the case of a theft or a damage occurred without identification of a responsible.
The joint report allows you to describe the facts and to indicate the persons involved, but also to mention witnesses.
"In the event of a collision with another boat, it is important to record the circumstances of the accident and the damage caused. However, unlike in the automobile world, collisions with another boat while sailing are fortunately not very frequent. In most cases, the neighbor's boat is hit in the harbor or is skidded at anchor and the neighbors are not present at the time of the incident. The need to report on the spot with a third party is therefore not as pronounced as what we experience as motorists." explain Vanessa Poirier and Laure Burgaud, respectively Claims Manager and Director of Operations and Customer Relations at April Marine.
Inform the insurer who will make a decision
The purpose of the report is not to find someone responsible at the time, but simply to inform your insurer of the facts. It is the latter who will decide what to do with the file.
"It is important to know that in pleasure boat insurance, there is no agreement between insurers as there is in the car world. The purpose of the report is to quickly determine the responsibilities and to repair as soon as possible. The determination of the responsibilities in pleasure boating will take place during exchanges between insurers and if necessary during an expertise if the damage is consequent" april Marine's interviewers continue.
What to indicate on your accident report in a pleasure boat?
In case of an accident with a third party, you must fill out the report with him/her and both of you must sign the document. You will then have to send it to your insurer within 5 days after the accident. This document (downloadable from the Internet) must contain several pieces of information:
- Date, time and place of the accident
- The presence or absence of casualties
- All the information concerning the two boats involved (contact details of the policyholder, boat information, insurance contract, contact details of the skipper or pilot)
- Location of damage
- Circumstances of the accident. This part is essential since it will allow to relate the facts and to determine the responsibilities of each one.
- A sketch to explain the situation
- Apparent damage and observations
- The signature of the skippers
Without the presence of a third party, here are the different events that can be compensated:
- Grounding
- Boat theft
- Trailer theft
- Boat + trailer theft
- Windsurfing flight
- Partial theft of the boat (accessory)
- Dismasting
- Fire
- Breakdown of on-board electronic equipment
- Land traffic accident
Applications to make it easier for boaters
Some insurances offer to do this in a dematerialized way, as it is the case of April Marine. However, the documents will have to be sent to the two insurance companies of the skippers involved.
"At APRIL Marine, we have chosen to go digital. Thanks to their APRIL Marine application, our policyholders can contact emergency services or assistance in the event of an emergency, breakdown or claim, geolocate themselves and declare the claim in just a few clicks by letting themselves be guided. There is nothing better than a photo taken on the spot to identify the damage, the boats involved and to show the scene of the disaster. By sharing a simple photo of the third party's insurance certificate, the insurer will have all the information needed to get closer to his colleague. The 2 parties must each send it to their insurer (so take a picture or make a copy)."
