Reporting the incident

During their fleet induction, all your drivers should be informed about how soon to report an accident and who to report it to (internal department or outsourced accident management company).

This information should also be available in the driver handbook. In an ideal world, drivers should report the incident at the scene if it’s safe to do so, or shortly afterwards.

Having been quickly notified, the appropriate department can both reassure the driver and instruct them to make a note of all the relevant accident details. Capturing details about the incident at the scene helps mitigate potentially expensive claim costs down the line.

Dealing with the third party

If your driver is at fault, controlling the third-party claim is essential. The aim here is to keep the third-party claimant happy and to get them back on the road as soon as possible for as little money as possible.

Accident management companies will swiftly contact the third party to arrange a courtesy car and the repair of their vehicle, and will also contact the insurer.

Repairing the vehicle

The sooner the vehicle is repaired, the sooner your fleet can return to full operation, which in turn limits the impact on your bottom line. Repair costs will, of course, depend on the extent of the damage and the cost of replacement parts, but another big factor is the chosen repairer.

Repairers will give an estimate of how long the repairs will take and quote labour costs. If you handle this process in-house, it’s always a good idea to chase the repairer to make sure the job is done on time.