Uninsured Loss Recovery (ULR): A Guide for Fleets

Recovering the costs of non-fault claims is a vital part of securing a cost-effective accident management strategy. It requires a robust approach to ensure accurate identification of third parties and their insurers, and consistent communication with at-fault parties throughout the claims process.

sopp+sopp work with some of the UK’s best-known fleets and commercial insurers to deliver bespoke, end-to-end accident management services - encompassing everything from incident reporting, to third party intervention and vehicle repair management.

Here we speak with Steph Farrar, our Head of Motor Recoveries, to discuss the ins and outs of Uninsured Loss Recovery (ULR), which empowers fleets to recoup some of the costs of non-fault claims…

What is ‘Uninsured Loss Recovery’?

In motor claims, Uninsured Loss Recovery, or ULR, is the process of recovering financial costs incurred by non-fault parties after an incident, by capturing, engaging, and invoicing the liable third party.

This may include recovering the costs of vehicle repair, courtesy vehicles, recovery, or vehicle storage for a driver or fleet who has been hit by an at-fault third party.

The ULR process involves identifying and contacting the at-fault insurer on behalf of the fleet or driver, agreeing liability, and invoicing them for eligible costs resulting from the incident. 

Why is ULR so important for fleets?

When one of your fleet’s drivers is hit by an at-fault third party, it’s important to ensure any financial losses are reclaimed to avoid unnecessary outlay for your business.

Road accidents can be incredibly costly for fleets. The period for which vehicles are off the road post-incident, for repair or otherwise, correlates directly to lost earnings, expensive vehicle hire premiums, and reduced productivity for affected drivers.

It’s therefore vital that fleets have the capacity to recoup some of the costs of non-fault claims, to offset the financial impact such incidents have on their wider business.

Steph Farrar, Head of Motor Recoveries at sopp+sopp, comments:

“sopp+sopp’s uninsured loss recovery service ensures that our customers are not left out of pocket following a non-fault accident with another road user. Where the at-fault party can be identified, we will seek to ensure that all costs are recovered from them or their insurer, wherever possible.”

What do Uninsured Loss Recovery services do?

Here’s an outline of how Uninsured Loss Recovery services work for your fleet, and what they set out to achieve:

1 - They seek to recover the cost of non-fault claims

ULR services work to recoup the costs incurred by your fleet when one of your drivers is hit by an at-fault third party. The claims representative working on your behalf will liaise with third-parties and their insurers to ensure all outlay is accounted for, and can be invoiced directly to the liable party.

2 - They aim to minimise repair/replacement outlay

Commercial vehicles can be expensive to repair if they’re involved in a collision - especially when they’re fitted with specialist equipment or branding. Uninsured Loss Recovery helps to offset repair outlay in non-fault claims by ensuring the at-fault party is held financially liable for the costs incurred.

3 - They reduce the cost of having vehicles off the road

Vehicle downtime is an expensive issue for fleets. ULR services help to reclaim some of the costs associated with post-incident off-road periods, including lost earnings/profits resulting from the incident, and vehicle hire or replacement costs.

Uninsured Loss Recovery at sopp+sopp 

Our in-house ULR service…

sopp+sopp’s in-house Uninsured Loss Recovery provision empowers our fleet customers to minimise the costs associated with non-fault claims.

Our Motor Recoveries team works closely with our accident management specialists to ensure at-fault parties are identified  swiftly and accurately, and engaged consistently to facilitate the best possible outcomes for our customers.

Cutting non-fault claims costs for our fleet customers

Our team works proactively to minimise the cost of non-fault claims for our customers. From the moment the incident occurs, they work to account for any costs incurred as a result, and engage third parties and their insurers to recover them where possible.

Steph comments:

“ULR has immense cost-saving benefits for our fleet customers; reimbursing them for the losses incurred from vehicle damage, associated hire claims, recovery and storage, damaged goods, as well as lost revenue from extended vehicle down-time, and any other reasonably-incurred costs resulting from the accident.”

Liaising with third parties & their insurers on your behalf

sopp+sopp liaises with third parties and their insurers on your behalf to recoup any costs eligible.

We’ll ensure third parties remain engaged throughout the process, and are invoiced consistently for any costs for which they are liable.

Delivered in-house; tailored & adapted to your fleet

Having our ULR function in-house enables us to tailor the process to your fleet’s unique requirements and policies, putting your brand and its reputation at the heart of our strategy.

We collect and utilise data throughout our partnership to identify your fleet’s specific challenges, obstacles, and opportunities - using this intelligence to promote an adaptive, responsive ULR service.

Steph explains:

“As everything is done in-house, in a custom-built process designed to plug-in seamlessly with our existing operations, customers can expect a coherent, end-to-end service, putting their vehicles back on the road and money back in their pockets.”

Seamless integration with your accident management process

Our ULR provision is integrated seamlessly with the rest of your accident management process, meaning we can work quickly to capture costs, identify liability, and settle eligible claims directly.

“By offering this service as part of our wider accident management provision, we can streamline claims from inception to settlement, commencing investigations into liability and insurer involvement as soon as a new claim is reported.

This means settlements can be obtained faster and more efficiently once invoices become available.” 

Operated on a ‘no-win, no-fee’ basis 

We perform Uninsured Loss Recovery on a ‘no-win, no-fee’ basis for our customers, meaning there’s no risk to their brand of business no matter the outcome.

This means they can harness the cost-saving benefit of ULR without the need for excess administration fees, or additional service outlay.

To learn more about sopp+sopp’s Uninsured Loss Recovery provision, or any of our other Fleet Accident Management services, get in touch today for a no-obligation chat!