Smartphone app gets Emma back on track after car accident

Being involved in a car accident, no matter how minor, can be a scary experience.

But the Rias team is making the experience less stressful for those unfortunate enough to be affected by coupling impressive new technology with friendly human support.

That’s exactly what teacher Emma Wilkins found when a bump approaching a roundabout threw her Friday afternoon into chaos.

“It had been a nightmare day already,” she explains. “I’d had to rescue my daughter because her car had broken down. I was on my way home when the accident happened.

“I was approaching a roundabout, waiting for my turn to move and all of a sudden there was an almighty bang and I was hit from behind.”

The collision was a real shock and made all the more upsetting by the fact that Emma was hurt and the driver behind suggested it was her fault.

She swapped insurance details with the other driver and called her insurer RIAS (part of Ageas Insurance) when she got home.

One of our friendly consultants soon made Emma feel reassured that everything would be ok. She sent Emma a link to download an app during the call, which she could use to take pictures of the damage and speed up the process of getting her back on the road.

The Photo Assist app uses Tractable’s AI to scan the damage and quickly tell RIAS whether the vehicle is repairable or is likely to be written off.

“I was on the phone to the RIAS claims department for about 15 minutes and it was just so easy. By time I’d finished the call I knew exactly what was happening.”

Within just a few hours of the accident, Emma knew that her car had been written off, that she’d get money to buy a new one and that someone would come to collect her old car soon.

She even knew the exact amount that would be in her bank account the following working day to buy a new car with.

“It was just so straightforward,” she said. “I’d had a manic day, I’d had all the upset of the accident, being told it was my fault, being in pain. And just the ease of that claim made the whole thing better. It was just so easy.”

Thanks to our team's swift service, Emma was able to get the exact car she wanted after the accident.

“My Mini was my baby. My children used to joke and say I loved the car more than them,” she joked. “With the money from RIAS in my bank I was able to go and buy another Mini.”

Emma was so impressed with the claims service we provided that when the time came to renew her car insurance, there was no question of who she would go with.

“I thought these guys have been brilliant, I’ll stay where I am,” Emma said.

We're really delighted we could help you Emma and glad to have you on board.