Vehicle accidents can happen when working on the job, even to cautious, defensive drivers. Whether driving a personal work truck for a business or a company-owned truck, if you are in a fender bender you need to take specific steps following the accident. How you respond in the hour after the mishap can have a positive or negative impact on you and the company down-the-road. Following these guidelines will keep you on the straight road legally, medically and financially.
Pull to Safety
If possible, move your truck to the side of the road, encouraging the other driver to do the same. Turn on your hazard lights and look around to make sure you are out of the flow of traffic.
Assess Your Health
Make certain you are mentally and physically stable. Take note of how you feel: Are you dizzy or does any part of your body ache? If you are in shock you may not be aware of any injury. If you have any concerns at all, call for medical assistance or follow-up with your primary care physician by the next day.
Assess the Vehicle
When you can climb safely out of the truck, do a walk around taking pictures of the damage. If you can, take notes as well, comparing what you find with any previous dents and scratches in order to create a backup to support your claim down the road. Any details you can provide will help help your company choosing a quality used truck rear end or other part replacement.
Call the Law Enforcement
If you have not done so already, notify the police. A traffic report could prove invaluable for your driving record and insurance claims. Having an objective viewpoint is critical to keeping emotion out of the process as you move toward the next step.
Exchange Information
To avoid getting scammed, you need to identify the other party involved in the crash and the extent of insurance coverage they hold. Trade the following information: driver’s license number, insurance, registration, car make and model, license plate number and phone number. It might seem logical to take pictures of each other’s identifying documents, but do not do so. For security reasons, you do not want these images placed on a stranger’s phone.
Contact Your Employer
Call your supervisor at work as soon as you can. You will probably receive instructions from a list of procedures the company has in place for such an event.
These outlined procedures are necessary to follow in the event of a minor mishap. By memorizing them or keeping a written plan in place, you can be prepared to deal with an accident calmly and logically.
Tags: Truck Accident
