Getting into an accident is never on the to-do list, but it happens – a lot. On average, a truck crash occurs in the U.S. every 15 minutes. As summer weather rolls around and more passenger cars are on the road, the risk of a driver getting into an accident increases drastically. Drivers who know what to do in the event of an accident can make all the difference.
There are a few key steps to follow once an accident occurs. The first and foremost is to contact local authorities, request medical help for anyone injured and ask the police for documentation. Then make a call back to dispatch to let them know so insurance can be contacted. Depending on the severity of the accident, insurance companies will send an adjuster, attorney or someone to reconstruct the accident to the scene.
Those involved should work to secure the scene, if possible, and check for injuries. The driver should obtain as much information as possible, including the number of injuries, vehicle damage, any witnesses, pictures, investigating agencies and an accident report number.
Back at the office, the real work begins. Everything the driver collected should be handed over to the safety manager or the safety team as soon as possible. The quicker the accident gets reported to insurance, the better the result could be in case of future litigation. The safety manager or safety team should determine if a post-accident drug and alcohol test is needed.
Daniel Vega, director of safety at Reliance Partners, recommends “having the driver make a written statement. Review all information to include Dash Camera, ELD Information (speed/hard braking) and pictures. Determine if the accident is preventable, or non-preventable. Based on the outcome, the company should provide additional training to the driver involved if needed. Also, this information should be used to determine if policies and procedures need to be changed or more training should be given to all company drivers.”
For any carrier that can swing it, an accident review board is recommended – a group of two to three people, management and drivers, who review all the information. It’s crucial to have driver representation on the review board.
Drivers knowing what to do in the middle of a chaotic situation all comes down to training in policies and procedures. Vega recommends “having an accident kit with all the required information that needs to be obtained/completed by a driver inside the vehicle. Safety personnel should also obtain this accident kit so that everything is consistent and they’re familiar with all accident procedures.”
It goes beyond just reviewing safety policies at employee orientation. Anyone who would potentially be involved in the accident chain needs to know what to do. That includes dispatchers, safety team members and claims.
When it comes to preparedness, the biggest hurdle in having established and clear procedures isn’t training. It’s having anything at all. More commonly among small to medium-size carriers, there is no policy in place. It’s up to each driver to figure out what to do in the moment, which, depending on the driver, could be a smooth process or a nightmare – especially if it’s a newer driver who is not familiar with all the paperwork and documentation that comes with accidents.
Vega adds: “There has to be some type of plan in place because sooner or later your company is going to be involved in some type of accident. Every company should have policies and procedures no matter the size of operations. Management should be reviewing expectations, policies and procedures, and proper accidents steps during driver orientation. Getting these drivers to buy into your company’s safety culture and follow all policies is important.”
Having nothing in place only sets up everyone for failure and potential litigation. Plus it’s important to get insurance involved right away, not days later, potentially with missing information that opens the company up to liability. Hiding accidents from insurance companies or not reporting them can result in loss of coverage, damage to the company’s reputation and a host of additional issues.
Develop a plan, make sure drivers have an accident kit in the truck and provide retraining on safety policies annually to mitigate harm from an accident.