{"id":2355,"date":"2020-05-27T21:06:10","date_gmt":"2020-05-27T21:06:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quicktransportsolutions.com\/blog\/?p=2355"},"modified":"2020-05-27T21:06:12","modified_gmt":"2020-05-27T21:06:12","slug":"what-happens-after-trucking-wreck","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quicktransportsolutions.com\/blog\/what-happens-after-trucking-wreck\/","title":{"rendered":"What Happens After Trucking Wreck?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the average commercial vehicle crash that resulted in property damage cost $18,000. Collisions resulting in injuries cost an average of $331,000. Neither of these \ufb01gures include costs such as damage to business reputation, time out of service, or legal fees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And due to recent increases in labor and materials costs,\naccident management costs are only increasing. A serious collision could sink a\nsmall business. That\u2019s why it\u2019s critical to understand what you should do after\na collision\u2014 to minimize the impact to your business. A collision procedures\nplan can help protect your business despite the risks you can\u2019t control. You\nneed to be able to identify risks and take action that saves lives and money.\nBut when accidents do happen, a video safety solution helps you manage them,\nkeeping your business and reputation intact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, today we are going to take a holistic look at what\nhappens after you or one of your truck drivers gets into a wreck. We are going\nto go step-by-step with a comprehensive guide on what you need to know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swap Information<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A truck driver should immediately \ufb01nd a safe place to pull\nover in the event of an incident. If there are injuries, major vehicle damage,\nor a toxic spill, call 911. If the collision is minor, your truck driver should\nexchange insurance and contact information with the other party. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Complete contact information, and an accurate description of\nthe time, date, and circumstances of the collision will help expedite\ninvestigations and may help your insurance company minimize claims costs. Do not\ndiscuss further incident details with the other party at the scene. Provide a\ncontact information form for drivers to keep in their vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Call and Notify<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The driver should alert the o\ufb03ce that an accident occurred.\nA supervisor should advise the driver on what to do next and follow the\ncompany\u2019s collision procedures plan. It\u2019s also a good time to collect details\nabout the incident from the driver, while the memory is still fresh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, you want to call your insurance company to begin the\ninvestigation and claims process. The insurance company will decide whether to\nsend investigators and\/or adjusters to the scene. They may also interview your\ndriver and\/or manager to further assess risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notifying your insurance company and submitting accurate\ncollision data quickly may help your insurance company minimize costs. Insurers\ncan expedite claims when they receive the information they need within 24\nhours. Reporting accurate data as soon as possible to your insurance company\ncan help reduce claims costs, often by as much as 50%. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Go to the Scene<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will now need to decide if additional personnel should\nbe sent to the accident scene. In the case of a minor collision, you or another\nsupervisor may go to the scene to take photos and interface with law\nenforcement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, \ufb01nd out if the truck driver has already spoken to law\nenforcement. Introduce yourself to law enforcement, \ufb01nd out what they already\nknow, and what investigation they have started so you can tailor your\ninvestigation accordingly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Locate witnesses, if they have not already been sequestered\nby law enforcement, so you can get their contact information if the driver\nhasn\u2019t already. Begin looking for evidence at the scene to document the\ncollision. You need all the information you can get. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure to create an accident procedures checklist so it\u2019s\neasy to remember what to do when your company\u2019s safety representative is on the\nscene. When taking photographs, look for skid marks, tra\ufb03c signals, tra\ufb03c\nsigns, road conditions, debris, or objects in the road, and the vehicle point\nof rest after impact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deal with the Disruption<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The service vehicle is now out of service at least\ntemporarily. A customer service or account manager should notify any a\ufb00ected\ncustomers of the delays, and if there is any damage to their goods. Determine\nan alternate vehicle for providing the scheduled service or delivery. Your\ncompany also needs to create a plan to manage any future services or deliveries\nscheduled for the vehicle in the collision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comply with Department of Transportation (DOT) testing.  Your company must follow any applicable\nregulatory requirements for drug and alcohol testing of the driver. Information\nabout required DOT testing can be obtained from their website. (www.transportation.gov\/odapc<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Respond to law enforcement investigation. Police may investigate at the scene, including questioning your driver, the other party, and witnesses. You should advise your driver on your policy for interacting with law enforcement. Instructions could include answering only the questions asked and refraining from volunteering further information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Always remember, a video safety solution can serve as your\nunbiased witness. Police reports typically rely on driver and witness accounts,\nand sometimes those accounts con\ufb02ict. A video recording can expedite the\ninvestigation, corroborate your driver\u2019s story, and help you amend any errors\nin the law enforcement report if needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Engage toxic cleanup services, if applicable. If the crash\ncaused a hazardous material spill, cleanup must begin immediately, requested by\nyour company or law enforcement. Associated costs may be your company\u2019s\nresponsibility regardless of who contacted the spill cleanup company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Handling Media Exposure <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collisions involving company vehicles can attract attention.\nReporters may arrive at the scene with television crews to interview your\ndriver, the third party, witnesses, law enforcement, and cleanup crews. Ensure\nyour driver knows to refer the reporter to a designated company spokesperson.\nBe prepared to identify a spokesperson who can deliver the right message to the\nmedia and help protect your business\u2019 reputation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find crisis communication plan resources at small business\norganizations like SCORE and Ready.gov. Coordinate insurance company requests\nand assign an employee responsible for responding to insurance company\npaperwork and records requests. Depending on the severity of the accident, a\nsecond insurance company may be involved. Gather documentation to protect your\nbusiness from greater liability, preserve evidence such as vehicle data and\nvideo footage of the collision. Gather all relevant driver safety records,\nwhich may include, but are not limited to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n