British Triathlon
Tuesday, 01 December 2009 00:21 | Author: Brian Allen | 
TRIATHLON ENGLAND MEMBERSHIP
Join Triathlon England today and receive the following benefits immediately:
- Reduced Entry Fees
- Public Liability Insurance
- Personal Accident Insurance
- Preferential Rates on products and services
- Free legal claims service
- Bi-monthly copies of the Tri News magazine
- British Triathlon Handbook
- Access to members only area of website
- Eligibility to represent Great Britain
- Support from Triathlon England Staff
If a Triathlon England member finds themselves responsible for accidents when racing or training this policy will indemnify the member in respect of a successful Third Party claim made against them.
We are currently creating a frequently Asked Question to aid understanding of what is covered in the Triathlon circumstances. There follows some points which may be helpful, please note this list is not exhaustive and is for guidance only.
- Your Bike is not covered.
- Club coaches who are not paid to provide their service are covered, if you are a paid coach you will need your own Professional Indemnity.
- Members cannot take action against other members.
- £250 excess applies.
Personal Accident Insurance
Personal accident cover is in place providing death, permanent disability and hospital benefits. The scheme is open to:
- Category A members of Triathlon England (excluding those coaching and officiating) who are covered whilst training, competing or practising including travel to and from official training and events.
- Category B all officials and coaches who are members of Triathlon England who are covered whilst coaching or officiating including travelling to and from official events.
- Fatal accident Cat A £5,000, Cat B £10,000
- Permanent total disablement £50,000
- Loss of one eye or one limb £50,000
- Loss of both eyes or two or more limbs, or loss of one eye and one limb £50,000
- Loss of Speech £50,000
- Loss of hearing in both ears £50,000
- Loss of hearing in one ear £12,500
- Hospital benefit (max. 30 days) £25.00 per night (24hr excess)
The age limit is 5 to 75 years inclusive
Conditions - permanent disability defined as "any and every" occupation excluding professional cycling, excluding occupational cycling, excluding temporary or partial disablement.
Free Legal Service
In March of 2004, British Triathlon (now Triathlon England) launched its new legal service adding a substantial benefit to the package of support provided to members.
If you are involved in an accident whilst you are training, or whilst you are competing in an event, the free specialist legal service is immediately available to help you, providing advice and full legal representation in the event that you wish to pursue a claim for compensation.
It is an unfortunate fact of life that training and racing on the public highway and in some public areas may on occasion; expose you to hazards and risks. If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident which causes damage to your property or at worst an injury, and that accident was not your fault, you may be entitled to compensation.
Over the last year, many Triathlon England members have been assisted by the Triathlon England legal service. For some, early advice has helped to confirm that unfortunately, no one can reasonably be held to blame for the accident but for most, the Triathlon England Legal Service has and is, pursuing valuable compensation claims thereby assisting with rehabilitation costs and helping the injured member through a very distressing and frustrating time.
The most common incidents dealt with by the Service arise from road traffic accidents on the public highway. For the most part, the injured member is wholly innocent of any blame, which in the majority of cases rests squarely with a motorist. Unfortunately not all cases are straight forwards and in many cases a great deal of evidence has to be collated before the Solicitor is able to persuade a hostile insurer to meet their obligation to compensation the injured member.
Several members have been injured as a result of being thrown off their bikes after coming into contact with a pothole or other highway defect and in those cases the claim is to be raised against the local authority or other body responsible for the road or area of land in question.
There have also been some unusual cases for our Solicitors to deal with. For example one of our member's sustained injuries as a result of a dog running loose in the road whilst an event was taking place and it is not uncommon to hear of incidents arising from 'road rage' on the part of a motorist who might be frustrated travelling along behind a cyclist on a training ride. For one of our member's he has been unfortunate enough to be involved in 4 incidents over the last year! Thankfully, none of them serious but all have been considered by our Solicitors.
Any claim for compensation is governed by a strict procedure called a 'Personal Injury Pre-Action Protocol'. That process sets out strict guidelines and timescales for the presentation and investigation of a claim. Unfortunately in every case, the insurer of the motorist or perhaps the highway authority has 3 months following acknowledgement of the details of the claim, to investigate the matter. That period is extremely frustrating for those who know that the blame does not lay to any degree with them.
Further, a claim for compensation will not be simply concluded at the end of that timescale.
A Claimant must fully evidence a claim for compensation, which means even if you simply wish to claim your expenses back for the scratches to your brand new bike frame or for the bus fare home from the scene of an accident, full documentation to support those expenses ideally must be produced.
Where an injury has been sustained medical evidence must be obtained and in most cases, a long-term clear prognosis will not be available for some months following the accident. In some cases reports from several experts over a long period of time will be required as the rehabilitation process develops and a member begins the journey to return to fitness.
If you are involved in an accident and wish to consider pursuing a claim for compensation, make sure you report it to the Triathlon England legal service at the earliest opportunity. Within 24 hours our Solicitor will send out to by both post and e-mail, a detailed Accident Information Pack. You will need to return the Accident Information Form contained in the Pack to the Solicitor and you will then receive a full report setting out the merits of the claim and a detailed advice on the way forwards.
If the claim does not have reasonable prospects of success unfortunately it will not be supported by the Triathlon England Legal Service, but in those circumstances you will have been clearly advised and will have the peace of mind of knowing, that you had all of your questions answered. If the Triathlon England Legal Service cannot assist you, you will also be advised of what if any other options you may have to progress the matter.
If the claim does have merit, your case will be fully supported until it's conclusion via the Court, if that step is necessary.
To ensure that our Solicitors can make a clear and early decision about whether your claim is a matter that they can assist with, bear in mind the following points:
Make sure that you obtain at the scene of an accident or as soon as possible afterwards, the full name and address of the third party (e.g. a motorist or pedestrian).
If a car is involved you will need insurance details and the vehicle registration number. If the motorist will not produce this information to you or you have doubts as to the authenticity of the information provided to you, you should report your concerns to the police.
Witness evidence is usually vital so make sure you investigate as soon as possible who might have seen your accident and obtain all of their contact details.
If you accident was caused by a highway defect make sure you take early measurements and photographs before the area is repaired. If your accident occurred on the road involving a vehicle or pedestrian (or dog!) then get photos of the scene as these will always be helpful.
Keep a record right from day one, of all of your expenses. These may include travel costs to and from hospital and for medical treatment or perhaps to and from work if you would usually cycle or walk there and are prevented from doing so because of your injuries.
Retain receipts for your prescription charges or other medical treatment costs and a note of any time spent by your friends and family helping to take care of you as some compensation can be recovered for this. If you have to buy any particular aids or equipment to help you recover or to cope with your injuries, again make sure you keep the receipts and a record of why the item was needed.
If you bike or other property is damaged take photos and obtain estimates from suitable specialist retailers as to the cost of repairing or replacing the items.
If you are suffering loss of earnings, our Solicitors will need to evidence this so a letter from your employers or from your accountant will be required.
It is wise, to keep a diary of your expenses and your recovery following an accident. It will be a useful reference tool for both you and your solicitors, particularly in those cases which are unfortunate due to complexity or the severe nature of the injuries that might have been sustained, to be progressed over many months or even years. Your Solicitor will advise you in detail at the outset, what you can or cannot, reasonably claim for.
We sincerely hope, that you are not involved in any accident which could disrupt months or even years of your training. But if you are, the Triathlon England Legal Service is here to help you.
If you have any questions about the service, call Membership Services direct on 01509-226161 or our Solicitors on 0207 650 1237.
Triathlon England is an Approved Membership Organisation under S.30 of the Access to Justice Act 1999.
Leigh Day & Co.'s Sports Injuries Team are exclusively retained by Triathlon England to provide this first class legal service for our members.
Last Updated (Tuesday, 01 December 2009 00:29)