Accidents involving fleet cars/trucks cost businesses millions of dollars every year, which in turn can create higher insurance rates for business owners. As an Alabama business owner, training your fleet drivers on road safety should never be taken lightly and enforcing safety rules and regulations is a must for the success of your business. Do your fleet drivers know what to do following an accident? Safety training before an accident and learning why it happened after the fact can positively impact the success of your fleet drivers’ safety down the road.
Train Your Fleet Drivers
If your business utilizes fleet drivers, it is your job to ensure they are knowledgeable and skilled on vehicle safety education. If you have unprepared drivers, it reflects poorly on you as the business owner and could negatively impact the future of the business by incurring unsightly costs associated with accidents involving your fleet vehicles. Before any of your drivers hit the road, make sure they are trained to do the following should an accident occur:
- Immediately stop and move the vehicle if at all possible
- Report the accident to the police
- Before getting out, turn on the hazard lights and put out any emergency devices to alert surrounding traffic
- Check on others involved in the accident regarding damages and injuries
- Exchange insurance information with any other involved drivers, but don’t discuss fault
- Exchange name/phone number, address of other drivers and witnesses
- Secure photos of the accident and scene to document damages
- Notify your Alabama independent insurance agent concerning the accident
- Fill out required paperwork for your business and report to the appropriate people
How to Document the Details
It is normal to be upset and inattentive when an accident happens, but staying calm and attentive is crucial when it comes to documenting the details of the accident. Stay calm and focus on securing the following details:
- Photographs of all the vehicles clearly showing damages, vin#, model, and make
- Number of people in each vehicle involved
- Number of people claiming injury at the scene and whether ambulance was present for those injured
- Insurance information on the other driver(s) involved
- Name/address/contact info on all involved, including witnesses
- Photographs of the accident scene, including skid marks, debris, traffic signals, and roadway
Learn From the Accident for Future Safety
Regardless of how safe you are, accidents still happen, but you can reduce the likelihood of future accidents by being aware of what may have caused the accident. Burkett & Associates Insurance Agency can assist you with all of your Alabama insurance needs so if you have any questions about fleet vehicle safety for your business, call us at 256-704-7400.
