Accident management specialist Auto Logistic Solutions (ALS) has launched a comprehensive legal expenses insurance product developed to create more demand for UK bodyshops. Aimed initially at UK brokers, Full Circle encourages insurers to outsource their complete accident management process, improving efficiencies and customer satisfaction by harnessing the skills and workmanship of ALS’s bodyshop network of more than 300 repairers.
While the volume of whiplash claims continues to fall, there are still areas where efficiencies can be made, according to ALS which has developed Full Circle to drive down operational costs and improve the customer experience during the complex post-accident period.
ALS launches Full Circle
Developed to be a white labelled product (marketed under the brokers’ brand), Full Circle enables brokers to completely outsource the claims handling service to an experienced third party with an “excellent” Trustpilot rating.
Utilising its nationwide network of approved vehicle repairers/bodyshops and its own fleet of hire vehicles, ALS handles every aspect of the accident management process from the moment the driver calls the helpline. Crucially, Full Circle also employs the services of ALS Law, the company’s in-house, Law Society regulated legal team, which is able to efficiency process injury claims.
Kyle Harris, founder and managing director of Auto Logistic Solutions, said as ALS launches Full Circle:
“The personal injury claims process has changed dramatically over the last few years – the new tariff-based system for simple soft tissue whiplash claims, which came into effect in June 2021, not only removed fixed costs for representative solicitors, but reduced dramatically the awards given for such injuries.
“Despite calls for greater simplicity and transparency, this regime still requires significant expertise to navigate. The combination of the complexity of managing the claim and the awards given has helped to fuel the decreasing numbers of claimants, as they feel it simply isn’t worth it. We do not feel this is fair for the many drivers who genuinely have a right to claim redress against a negligent driver.”
Significant growth prospects
The whiplash reforms that came into effect in June 2021, in the wake of the Civil Liability Act 2018, forced a rethink on just how the innocent driver could have access to justice. With no fixed fees, how were solicitors expected to fund cases going forward? The short answer came from increased legal expense premiums, or Damage Based Agreements being entered into by the clients directly with the solicitor. In practice, this involves the claimant agreeing to give a percentage of their award to the person who manages it for them, typically this could be anywhere between 25% and 40% being taken.
Harris continued: “The UK broker market offers us significant growth prospects, as long as we are proposing a truly compelling solution that increases efficiencies while improving the overall customer experience. We think that by working closely with brokers, we can unlock new potential in the auto repair market – creating new customers for our hardworking bodyshop network.”
Full Circle also includes a dashcam app, called 4Sight, which automatically links to ALS’s UK-based customer support centre, providing instant video footage of any accident. This fully-integrated app is available on both Android and Apple devices – making it available to all drivers.
To find out more as ALS launches Full Circle product, visit the ALS website.
