1. Safety first

The first and most important step is to ensure the safety of yourself and anyone else who was involved in the accident:

• Check for injuries: Assess yourself, other passengers and those around you for injuries. If anyone is injured and requires medical attention, call an ambulance on 999. 
• Look around: Are there any hazards or damage from the incident, such as leaking fluids, debris or broken glass, or are the vehicles involved in the way of oncoming traffic? If so, stay out of the road away from the vehicle, try to warn other road users of the danger and call 999. 
• Move to a place of safety: If it’s safe to do so, move the vehicles to a safe location off the road, such as a car park or layby.

2. Collect evidence

After a company car accident, it's important to gather as much information as you can about what happened. From details about the individuals and vehicles involved, to witness accounts and insurance information. Be sure to do the following:

• Exchange details: Ask the other driver(s) involved for their full name, address, contact details, driving license number and insurance details. Also take note of the make and model of any vehicles involved, as well as any registration plates.
• Document the incident: Note down the time and date the company car accident took place, as well as any key information such as weather, lighting and road conditions. If anyone witnessed the incident, ask for their contact details, too. If the vehicle you collided with was stationary and unattended, leave your contact information on their windscreen and call 101 to report what happened.
• Take photos and videos: Take photos of any damage that occurred to the company vehicle as a result of the crash, as well as damage to other vehicles or property involved. Photograph the area in which the incident took place, as well as any skid marks or road signs. If you have a dash cam fitted in the vehicle, review the footage to see if it captured the incident.

Dash cam footage can be invaluable evidence when determining liability or supporting insurance claims for accidents in company vehicles. In fact, a study of over 2,000 UK adults found that a third of drivers with dash cams said the footage helped prove they were not at fault. If you don’t currently have these devices installed in your company’s vehicles, get in touch with Radius, we can provide dash cams for a range of company vehicle types.

3. Follow your company vehicle accident procedure

Most companies that operate with the use of vehicles or provide staff with company cars will have a specific procedure in place for dealing with accidents. Firstly, get in touch with your manager to inform them about the accident as soon as possible. They should be able to inform you of the company’s vehicle accident procedure, which will likely include completing relevant paperwork and providing a written account of what happened.

Employee Assistance Programs should also be offered to those involved. Even if no harm was evident at first, accidents can have long-term physical and emotional impacts, making these resources extremely important for employee wellbeing.

4. Inform both personal and business insurance providers

The next step to take after a crash in a company vehicle is to contact the relevant insurance companies. You must inform both your business’ insurance provider and your own personal insurance provider (if you have one). Provide them with as much information about the incident as possible, and follow their claims process, which may involve providing further evidence, such as dash cam footage or telematics data. This data can be crucial in proving liability, with one study finding an 86% reduction in the cost of vehicle crashes since installing in-vehicle monitoring systems and providing supervisory coaching to drivers.

Company car accident: Who is liable?

Determining liability after an accident in a company car can be complex, but the first step is to establish who was at fault. Typically, liability will fall on the party whose negligence caused the accident. A number of factors are taken into account to determine this, such as:

• Driver Negligence: Was the driver of the company vehicle at fault? Were they speeding, using their phone, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or exhibiting bad driving habits such as harsh breaking or unsafe lane changes?
• Company Negligence: Could the company itself be held responsible? Did the driver have the adequate qualifications, experience and working conditions required to safely drive the vehicle? And was the vehicle itself properly maintained and appropriate for the journey it was making? 
• Third-Party Negligence: If the business wasn’t to blame, and the driver involved in the accident in the company vehicle was not at fault, then the accident may have been caused by the negligence of a third party. This could include the behaviour of another driver, pedestrian or cyclist, poor road maintenance or signage, or mechanical failure of another vehicle involved.

Please note: These are just a few common causes of accidents in company vehicles. It’s important to seek legal advice if you’re in this situation, as other factors, such as traffic laws, witness testimonies, and accident reconstruction reports play a vital role in the final determination of who is liable.

How to prove you weren’t at fault in an accident in a company vehicle

As mentioned above, witness statements and photographic evidence from after the incident are helpful in determining liability after a company car accident. However, none are quite as valuable in strengthening your case as real footage and tracking from the incident.

• Fleet Dash Cams: Dash cams, such as Vision-uno and Vision-duo, provide unbiased, time-stamped evidence of what happened both in the lead-up to and during the incident. This can be invaluable for proving who was at fault or even disputing false claims from other drivers. Dash cam footage can also help to corroborate witness accounts, adding weight to your defence.
• Fleet tracking: Telematics systems enable the monitoring and analysis of driver behaviour, even long before the incident took place. This information can be extremely helpful in demonstrating a driver’s history and adherence to company policies. In some cases, telematics software can be used to reconstruct the accident, providing valuable insights into the events leading up to the collision.

How to prevent future accidents in a company vehicle

Accidents in a company van, car or other vehicle can never be completely avoided. However, by regularly reviewing driving practices via fleet dash cams and telematics software and implementing a robust driver safety program, you can significantly reduce the risk of future incidents.

To find out more about how Radius can help protect your fleet and drivers, get in touch with a member of our friendly team today.

Disclaimer: the information provided in this guide is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice.