Collision Decisions: Aftermath Of An Accident In A Commercial Vehicle

You value your position. You take your role as an employee seriously. Everything you say, and everything you do while on the clock is a reflection of the company you work for. You intend to add value to your employer’s business, and you do everything in your power to be an asset rather than a liability.

Unfortunately, whether we like it or not, the unexpected circumstances of life tend to sink in. When our guard is down, when we’re unprepared, accidents happen. And when those accidents involve the company vehicle we’re driving, there are serious repercussions.

You may be left unnerved in the face of an accident in a commercial vehicle. The stipulations for situations like this do not follow the same rhythm as a residential collision. There are lots of things to do, and many decisions to make by you and your company.

Seek Emergency Medical Services If Needed

Before anything else, check to see if you or anyone else involved in the accident needs medical attention. If so, call 911 and wait for emergency responders to arrive. Do not try to move injured people unless they are in danger of further injury (i.e., if they are trapped in the vehicle). Once everyone has been tended to by medical professionals, you can begin working on the next steps.

Assess The Damage

After making sure that everyone is safe and accounted for, it’s time to take a look at the damage. It’s important to document everything with photos and/or video. Be thorough in your documentation – this will be helpful later on when dealing with insurance companies.

Contact Law Enforcement

If there are no injuries and the damage appears to be minor, you may not need to involve law enforcement. But if the accident is more serious, you will need to file a police report. Be sure to get the name, badge number, and contact information of the officer who responds to the scene.

Get a copy of the police report for your company’s records.

Notify Your Employer

The next step is to notify your employer – regardless of who was at fault for the accident. Your company will need to deal with their insurance company, and they may have specific protocols in place for accidents. Be sure to follow your company’s procedures to the letter.

Cooperate With The Investigation

If your employer’s insurance company gets involved, they will likely conduct their own investigation into the accident. It’s important that you cooperate fully with this process. This includes giving a recorded statement, providing access to the vehicle, and anything else they request from you.

Depending on who the other driver’s are in the accident, you may find yourself on the giving or receiving end of a lawsuit. Whether it be personal injury or property damage, your company may wish to seek compensation.

Litigation differs depending on who you’re dealing with, and where the car accident occurred. For example, if you are involved in a collision in a large city like Chicago, you’ll need to contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers. This case will be in their jurisdiction and they will know what next steps should be taken.

Prepare For The Consequences

Depending on the severity of the accident, there may be some serious consequences for you as an employee. If you are found to be at fault, your employer may decide to terminate your employment. Even if you’re not at fault, your company may still suffer financial repercussions from the accident. These could include higher insurance premiums or even a lawsuit from the other driver(s) involved.

Get The Other Driver’s Information

In any case, you will need to exchange information with the other driver(s) involved. Get their name, address, phone number, email address, and insurance information. It’s also a good idea to get a copy of their driver’s license.

Call Your Company’s Insurance Provider

Once you have all of the necessary information, it’s time to call your company’s insurance provider. They will need to know about the accident so that they can begin their own investigation.

You’ll need to provide them with as much information as possible, including the police report (if available), photos and/or video of the damage, and the other driver’s information.

The insurance company will then work on its own investigation and get back to you with a decision. This could take some time, so be patient. In the meantime, your company may wish to file a claim with the other driver’s insurance company.

No one ever wants to be in an accident, but it’s important to know what to do if it happens. By following these steps, you can minimize the damage and make sure everyone stays safe.