May 6

May 6 4 Things to Do If Your Fleet Gets in an Accident

No fleet manager ever wants to get the call that their employee has been in an accident, but these do happen, and they do happen too frequently. No matter how carefully you manage your drivers or how well-maintained your vehicles may be, accidents can happen, whether it's a minor Fender Bender or a significant incident.

Knowing what to do immediately after a fleet accident has occurred can not only save time, but it also protects your company and helps your team to stay calm. Let's look at some practical steps if your fleet vehicle is involved in an accident.

Call for help. Your priority should always be the safety and compliance side of things. Ensure that the driver calls emergency services to report the accident, even if it seems minor. And once that's underway, you can protect your business from legal and financial fallout, especially if there are injuries or damage to 3rd party property. This is where you need to work with experienced truck accident attorneys. They can provide crucial legal advice and help manage communication with insurance companies, regulators, and other involved parties. With the help of a qualified attorney, you'll be able to navigate liability, protect your driver’s rights, and ensure the incident is documented and handled correctly.
Document and gather. Evidence has to be documented as soon as possible, and your driver should be trained to document everything at the scene. This is if they're able to. It should include photos of the vehicle's road conditions, license plates, damage, and any relevant signage or traffic signals. If there are witnesses, get their names and their contact details. Even minor details can become critical later on. You should then begin compiling vehicle maintenance logs, driver training records, and trip details. These records can support your insurance claim and ensure that you have a legal defence mounted. Don't wait to collect the information, though. Memory fades fast, and conditions at the scene can change quickly.`
Communicate internally. You should be careful about it, but an accident involving your fleet will affect multiple departments, so you need to communicate internally. But do it carefully. Establish a clear internal communication plan so everybody knows what to expect and when. Your driver should be instructed not to admit fault or make any statements to anyone other than law enforcement. Transparency with your team is essential, but so is caution. Stick to the facts, always.
Review, report, and refine. Once the dust is settled and the initial steps are handled, it's time to review what happened and learn from it. Arrange more safety training, conduct a post-incident analysis, and identify the root cause of the accident. Whatever the reason was, you could learn from this and move forward as a company.

Could you take the time to make sure that your employee is OK and follow every step that you need to take?

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