Accident Protocol For Truck Drivers

Accidents are the one thing that every truck driver’s number one priority is to avoid. An accident in any vehicle can be terrifying and stressful, but an accident involving a vehicle that weighs 80,000 pounds, has heavy goods in the back, is travelling at speed, and has 18 wheels makes it much more dangerous and has the potential to end not only a career but also a person’s life. Your employer should provide you with training and information about the protocol to follow in the event that you are involved in a crash. This is because immediately after a situation like that occurs, drivers are more likely to be unsettled and anxious, and the steps that need to be taken are often the last thing on their minds. Your employer should provide you with training and information about the protocol to follow in the event that you are involved in a crash. but If you are driving a truck and have the misfortune of being involved in an accident, the following is a list of things that you should try to keep in mind regarding what actions you should take and what actions you should not take immediately after the incident.

What to do in the event of a collision: advice and helpful hints for truck drivers 

Maintain your composure; even though it may be easier to say than to do, maintaining your composure during this time will be extremely important. The primary concern should be to ensure that you, as well as anyone else who was involved in the collision, are unharmed and are able to exit the vehicles and get away from the immediate scene without incident.

It is absolutely essential that you do not apologise to anyone about anything. Do not apologise, even if you think it’s possible that you were the one who caused the problem. Apologizing is the best way to demonstrate understanding and compassion, and it’s often the first thing that comes to mind when dealing with something stressful. However, in the event of a collision, these two words can be used against you as an admission of guilt and held against you as evidence. 

You are required to make sure that you swap details with other parties; you are required to take their full name, address, and contact telephone number, as well as details regarding their insurance company and employer contact information, if applicable. If it is a severe accident, law enforcement should be contacted so that they can come and investigate; however, if there is no need for them to attend, you are required to make sure that you exchange information and witness details. 

Securing the scene: If you are able to, secure the scene as quickly as you possibly can in order to stop any potential liability issues and prevent any additional accidents or injuries from occurring. Place reflectors along the highway if doing so does not endanger anyone and they are within reach. However, you are not allowed to move the vehicle in any way, unless specifically instructed to do so by law enforcement. 

Take pictures: If you have a phone that comes equipped with a camera, as the vast majority of us do these days, make sure to take pictures of any damage, no matter how minor it may seem. If you are able to do so, activate the time stamp feature on your camera and take photographs of the accident scene from as many distinct perspectives as possible and from all sides of the vehicle, including your own truck and any other vehicles that may have been involved. 

Seek medical advice: It is really important to seek out medical attention after an accident, even if you do not think that you are injured. This is true even if you do not believe that you have sustained any injuries. It’s possible that adrenaline and shock can temporarily dull our perception of pain, and it may not be until much later that we realise we sustained any injuries. Accidents on the road can cause a variety of injuries, including those to the back and neck, which can be life-threatening if they are not promptly diagnosed and treated. Your ability to seek compensation in the future with a truck accident lawyer, should you find that you require it, may also be hindered if you do not seek treatment. 

Accident Protocol For Truck Drivers