Individuals that operate company vehicles
usually receive training on how to prevent
accidents, but many don’t know how to respond effectively when one occurs. By taking a proactive stance, you can decrease the
liability caused by an uninformed driver making a bad situation even worse.
“Training your drivers on what to do when
they have a vehicle loss can have a great
impact on the outcomes of the loss for the
driver and your company,” says Robert
Bowers, executive in claims home office staff
operations at Westfield Insurance. “It can
also affect the ability of the insurance carrier
representing the driver and the company to
investigate and resolve the loss fairly.”
Smart Business spoke with Bowers about
minimizing damages by training drivers on
how to respond after an auto loss.
How should drivers respond after an accident?
Remain calm and immediately check for
injuries, and then contact 911 to report the
accident. If people have been injured,
remember to only move them if it is critically
important. Otherwise, wait for medical professionals to arrive and take proper action.
The welfare of all of the people involved
takes precedence over all other issues.
Unless you are required to move your vehicles or it is unsafe for them to remain in their
current location, do not move them. Leave
them in their position while you wait for the
emergency personnel to arrive. Vehicle placement provides significant information
regarding how the accident occurred.
Many states are comparative negligence
states. This means both parties can share
negligence in an accident. Evidence and vehicle placement can assist your insurance professional in determining the appropriate percentage of negligence on each party. Collect
information at the accident, such as:
- The names of everyone involved, including both drivers and passengers
- Addresses, phone numbers, license numbers, dates of birth, social security numbers
— if provided — and insurance agent/company information for all individuals - The names and phone numbers of any
witnesses - The make and color of all vehicles and
license plate numbers - Descriptive information about the vehicles and occupants that may assist in the
investigation of the claim - Anyone who left the scene in a hit or skip
- The vehicle owner’s name, address and
phone number if the titleholder is someone
other than the driver - The exact location of the accident and
the identity of the specific authority that
came to the scene, such as city police, sheriff,
highway patrol or fire/rescue
After obtaining the critical information,
drivers should inform the towing company
about where to take the vehicle. If your company or insurance carrier has a preferred
shop, vehicle operators should have the
address and phone number of that shop. This
reduces downtime for vehicles and expensive storage costs.
What materials and information should companies provide for vehicle operators?
Businesses should conduct periodic training for and provide accident kits to individuals who operate business vehicles. These
classes should review proper safety procedures and how to use the contents of the kit
including:
- Instructions on what to do after a loss
- Required contact information
- Additional necessary information
- Disposable camera
- Accident diagram notepad
These materials help ensure that people
respond effectively in the middle of a high-stress situation. A disposable camera can
help to accurately capture the incident. Many
people also have a camera on their cell
phone, which can be used in lieu of a disposable camera. People who are in a safe position to do so can take photographs of the
accident scene or other evidence before it is
moved or destroyed.
An accident diagram notepad also can help
to record important items. This information
can assist with later investigation into vehicle
placement, intersections, construction equipment, speed limits and other pertinent facts.
What are some common mistakes?
One common mistake is neglecting to contact 911 or the police because the accident
seems minor. If disputes regarding liability,
previously unknown injuries or other issues
arise, an official reporting can assist in resolving the situation.
Not obtaining complete insurance and contact information from the other people and
witnesses can also lead to problems. In the
heat of the moment, a driver can become
confused and forget to ask for key facts.
Another common pitfall is making statements to police or other parties that can later
be used to imply your negligence. Businesses
should instruct drivers to not only be honest,
cooperative and helpful, but also be mindful
not to make any commitments with regards
to liability or fault, as all statements can be
used at a later time.
ROBERT BOWERS is an executive in the claims home office
staff operations at Westfield Insurance. Reach him at (330) 887-6840 or [email protected]. In business for more
than 158 years, Westfield Insurance provides commercial and
personal insurance services to customers in 17 states.
Represented by leading independent insurance agencies, the
product we offer is peace of mind and our promise of protection
is supported by a commitment to service excellence. For more
information, visit www.westfieldinsurance.com.