Accidents happen. While an accident to one’s personal vehicle can be embarrassing, it only gets worse when it is the company vehicle. While one cannot prevent the embarrassment created by such an accident, one can control his reaction to an accident, and fortunately, there are some essential steps to take when an accident happens. By following these steps, one can minimize the problems caused by the accident.
Preparing For Crashes Ahead of Time
While you can never predict when a crash will happen, there are steps one can take to mitigate the situation. First, a company needs to make sure that all vehicles are commercially insured, and that each vehicle has its own “identification booklet”; this should carry insurance information on the vehicle, its maintenance history, and history of any repairs made to it, no matter how minor.
A log should also be kept of who uses the vehicle in question and for how long. If the company has its own dispatcher, maintaining vehicle logs should fall under the purview of that person.
The company should also establish some sort of policy for vehicle crashes. This should cover how to conduct an investigation into the accident, as well as what happens to drivers involved in crashes, such as mandatory time off, doctors signing off on the person’s returning to work, and even conditions of termination.
The policy should also contain information such as how to replace vehicles, information on the insurer, and any other policy-relevant mandates to vehicles. In short, this guidebook should have all the information for anyone to be able to determine what happened in any given crash and the steps necessary to resolve the situation.
The Essential Problem
For most crashes, the driver has to deal with the damage to himself, the driver of the other vehicle and any passengers, the damage to the vehicles, and any repercussions because of the accident. The drivers and passengers should be dealt with first, followed by the damage, and then the repercussions.
The drivers should make sure that they are okay, followed by their passengers, and then should attempt to remove anyone from the vehicle who can be moved to a safe spot in a non-harmful way. During this, 911 should be called to deal with any injuries. Bear in mind that the police are likely to show up along with any other emergency crew.
The damage of the vehicles needs to be assessed. Notes should be taken, as well as photographs of the damage. While the mechanic is likely to provide a more thorough list of damages to any involved vehicles, this preliminary report is important and can help get the insurance ball rolling. Insurance information should also be exchanged as necessary. The company’s dispatcher should also be notified about the crash; most companies have their own protocols for crashes that need to be followed in order to determine any following steps.
The Repercussions of the Crash
Each company will be different in how it deals with vehicle crashes, but there are sure to be a range of repercussions depending on the situation. At the very least, the person who was driving should not be allowed to drive for the company until the person has been cleared; as drugs or alcohol may have been responsible, or the driver may have been distracted. Those potential causes need to be eliminated.
If the driver was determined to be at fault, especially with the involvement of drugs or alcohol, termination may be in order, or at least a written note in their record.
The vehicle may need to be replaced. As some businesses use specialized vehicles, this may mean that finding a replacement may require looking in other cities or even states, thus requiring access to a company that can deal with auto shipping. At the very least, the vehicle’s paperwork will need to be substantially updated in order to allow for the time spent at that mechanic’s.
By following these directions, a company vehicle crashing should not put the company out for long. Again, accidents happen and it only helps to be prepared for them. Having protocols in place is crucial for safety and productivity, and following them is an efficient way of dealing with the accident. By following established protocols, the business can recover from the accident quicker and thus return to full business as quickly as possible.
