Are you preparing drivers and other personnel on what to do in case of a crash? Fleets should prepare for and practice what to do in the event of a serious accident just like they do for fire drills — from top management to dispatchers to drivers. What drivers and other company personnel do immediately following an accident can help you win a lawsuit or cause you to lose one.
These seven steps should be taught in orientation, practiced, and reviewed on an ongoing basis. Laminated cheat-sheets outlining the steps that are kept in the vehicle can help drivers remember the steps in the confusion of an actual crash aftermath.
1. Remain calm. Before you do anything, take a deep breath. Don’t admit fault to anyone — even a simple “I’m sorry” could be construed by a court as an admittance of guilt.
2. Stop. Do not move the unit from the crash site unless told to do so by police or signs posted on the highway instruct you to do so.
3. Secure the scene. Failure to secure the scene properly can result in major liability issues. Put reflectors out as soon as you can.
4. Get help. In most cases, that will mean calling 911 with your cell phone. However, if for some reason that doesn’t work, send many people for help in many directions. If you just send one person, once they get away from the scene they may decide someone else will make the call and just go on their way.
5. Get witness information. Don’t get aggressive or harassing about it, but do get the name, address, phone number, and license plate number of any witnesses. Keep in mind that your behavior will help determine whether their testimony is favorable to you or not. If you can’t, at least snap a picture of their license plate.
6. Notify your company. Make sure that when a driver calls in, the person taking that call is trained and prepared. Any message they send, anything they say, any notes they write can be used in court. If a driver calls, do they know the information the company needs? Do they have a form to fill out?
7. Take photos, take photos, take photos. These days, most drivers have cell phones that can take pictures. Train them how to use the time-stamp feature. This is another good activity for orientation — show them how, then have them take a picture with a time stamp and send it to you. That’s the best thing that can happen, if drivers send photos directly from the scene.
Read the original article in its entirety.
