Accidents involving company vehicles can be highly stressful, especially when they lead to injuries, major damage, or legal issues. For New Zealand businesses and drivers, knowing exactly what to do after a crash is essential.

This guide outlines the key steps to take after an accident in a company vehicle in New Zealand — from ensuring safety and meeting NZ compliance requirements to understanding liability and reducing disruption to your operations.

Protecting your fleet amid rising road fatalities

Despite advances in vehicle safety and road design, dangers on the road remain a daily reality for New Zealand businesses operating fleets. In 2024, truck-involved crashes accounted for 37 fatal crashes, 140 serious-injury crashes, and 441 minor-injury crashes*, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by commercial vehicle operators on everyday roads. While these numbers show the scale of truck-related incidents, they also underscore a persistent and unavoidable exposure for organisations whose employees spend significant time behind the wheel.

For fleet operators, the risk extends far beyond the statistics mentioned above. Driver distraction continues to be a major contributor to crashes, alongside fatigue, speeding and in-vehicle distractions — factors that disproportionately affect commercial drivers working under time pressure. At the same time, the financial and operational consequences of vehicle incidents are rising, with road-related injury claims and associated costs continuing to place strain on businesses, insurers and employers.

These realities underline a clear shift in responsibility for fleet-owning organisations. Road safety is no longer just a compliance obligation — it is a strategic business priority. Leading New Zealand employers are moving beyond reactive accident response and investing in preventative, data-driven fleet safety strategies, combining driver training, clear incident procedures, and technologies such as GPS tracking and dash cams.

1. Safety first

The first priority in any company vehicle accident is the safety of you, your passengers’, and other road users’. New Zealand roads present unique hazards, including narrow rural roads, high-speed highways, and challenging weather conditions. Staying calm and alert is critical.

Check for injuries: Assess yourself, passengers, and anyone else involved in the accident. If anyone is injured and requires immediate medical attention, call 111 for an ambulance.

Identify hazards: Look around for potential dangers, such as:

• Leaking fuel or other fluids
• Debris or broken glass
• Vehicles obstructing traffic

If the accident site is unsafe, stay clear of the road and try to warn other drivers.

Move to a safe location: If it’s safe and the vehicles are drivable, move them to a safe area away from traffic, such as a roadside layby, car park, or wide shoulder. This helps prevent secondary accidents.

Make yourself visible: Turn on hazard lights and, if available, use cones or warning triangles to alert other road users. Visibility is crucial, especially on high-speed roads, in rural areas, or at night.

Call emergency services when needed: For serious injuries, fire, or other critical hazards, call 111 immediately. For minor incidents without injuries, contacting local police may still be required depending on the region or district council regulations.

2. Collect evidence

Once everyone is safe, emergency services have been contacted, and the scene is secure, the next step is to gather as much information as possible about what happened. Accurate and detailed records make it easier to manage insurance claims, determine liability, and protect your business from potential disputes.

1. Exchange details

In New Zealand, drivers involved in a collision are legally required to exchange key details at the scene. Be sure to collect:

• Full name, address, phone number, driver licence number, and insurance details of the other driver(s)
• Vehicle make, model, and registration plate number for all vehicles involved
• Details of any passengers, pedestrians, or cyclists involved in the incident

If your driver collides with a stationary or unattended vehicle, they must leave their contact details on the vehicle (for example, under the windscreen wiper) and report the incident to the local police by calling 111 for emergencies or 105 for non-urgent reports.

2. Document the incident

Encourage your driver to make detailed notes while the situation is still fresh. Record:

• Time, date, and exact location of the accident
• Weather, lighting, and road conditions
• A brief account of what happened and the direction of travel for each vehicle
• Contact details of any witnesses, including bystanders or nearby business owners

If anyone has been injured, or if there is significant property damage or a traffic hazard, the driver must notify police immediately.

3. Capture visual evidence

Photos and videos are critical in understanding what happened and supporting future insurance or legal proceedings. Capture:

• Damage to all vehicles and property involved
• The broader scene, including road markings, traffic signs, and vehicle positions
• Any skid marks, debris, or environmental factors that may have contributed to the incident

If your company vehicle is fitted with a dash cam, save and back up the footage immediately. Dash cam evidence can be decisive when determining fault or defending your business against fraudulent or inflated claims.

Dash cam footage can be invaluable evidence when determining liability or supporting insurance claims for accidents involving company vehicles in New Zealand. Insurers and fleet operators increasingly recognise that dash cam videos — whether showing collisions, hit‑and‑runs or drive‑away damage — can simplify claims and support fair, fact‑based outcomes. If your company vehicles aren’t yet equipped with dash cams, you can get in touch with Radius — we supply dash cam solutions suited to a wide range of business fleet types, helping safeguard your drivers and assets.

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 Programmes 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

After a crash involving a company vehicle, the next critical step is to notify the relevant insurance providers:

• Your business’ fleet insurance provider
• Your personal insurance provider, if applicable

Provide as much detail about the incident as possible and follow the insurer’s claims process. This may involve submitting additional evidence, such as dash cam footage or telematics data from the vehicle.

In New Zealand, dash cam and telematics technology have proven highly effective in improving fleet safety and reducing costs associated with accidents. A 2025 article about newer safety systems (including dash cams / ADAS) noted that collision‑related insurance claims are declining, correlating with increased uptake of safety features among NZ fleets.

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, 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 programme, 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.