In association with Renault Business
What should I do if I have a crash in my company car? Five steps to take
Even minor collisions can be a pain if you drive a fleet car but doing a few simple things will get you back on the road. Here's our five-point guide to dealing with a crash in a company car...
There you were, driving along quite the thing in your shiny company car, and suddenly you’ve been involved in an incident. Or a road traffic accident (RTA) as the authorities sometimes term it. Whatever it’s called, it’s going to take the shine off your day.
Once the shock and disappointment has dissipated you’re faced with the issue of how to go about getting your car repaired, and the procedure is different depending on whether the incident was your fault, or if it was caused by someone for whom driving safely was some way down the to-do list.
1. Check everyone is safe – and if not call 999
Safety is the first thing to think of, so check yourself over for injuries, then anyone else in your car. After that, get out, make sure you can step out of the car safely, and check on the occupants of the other vehicle. If anyone is hurt, call 999 immediately.
If the vehicles are leaking fluids, try to get everyone away from them to a place of greater safety, but beware of debris. You don’t want to escape from a crash without injury, then hurt yourself by cutting yourself on a piece of broken glass. Call 999.
Read more: The safest car models tested by Euro NCAP
2. Gather evidence of what happened
It’s vital that you start to get together as much evidence as you can right away. The good news is that smartphones have made that much easier because you can write down and store everything in your phone’s notes app, and take as many pictures as you need.
The first thing to do is to exchange details with the other party involved. You need to get the other driver’s name, address, contact details and insurance details. And if you can get their driving licence number, all the better.
Write down the make and model of their vehicle plus its registration number.
Read more: The best company cars in the UK
Then you need to write down where the incident has happened, what the road lighting was, the weather conditions and the road conditions. If there were any witnesses, jot down their names, addresses and phone numbers too.
Take photos and videos: make sure you have imagery that shows the damage to both vehicles, any skid marks and broken bits of metal, plastic and glass, and any subsequent damage, such as to lampposts, fences and so on.
And if you have a dash cam fitted to your vehicle, make sure that any footage of the incident has been saved.
If the other vehicle involved in the incident was both unattended and stationary, you need to leave a note with your contact information on the windscreen, and call the police non-emergency number (101) to report what has happened.
Read more: The best dash cams you can buy
3. Understand blame and negligence on the road
The driver who was negligent will usually be seen as the responsible party after an accident. However, the blame game doesn’t stop there.
The subsequent investigations will seek to establish if the driver at fault was speeding, driving recklessly, using their phone, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The guilty party’s employer will also be scrutinised, to ensure that the driver had all the necessary qualifications for the vehicle, that the vehicle itself had been properly maintained, and that the driver had not been work to a point where exhaustion could have been a contributory factor in the crash.
There’s also the issue of third-party influence. Could the behaviour of a third party, such as a pedestrian, cyclist or even an animal, have been the root cause of the crash? Poor road signs and a badly maintained road surface could also be causes. Again, dash cam footage and witness statements will be vital in establishing this.
Read more: Who is responsible for insuring a company car?
4. Stick to your company’s accident regulations
Companies that provide employees with fleet cars will have a specific procedure that you must follow following a shunt, so you need to contact your boss to let them know what’s happened. They’ll let you know about what you need to do, such as providing a written report into the incident.
You might also be offered support following the crash.
5. Know your responsibilities as a company car driver
If the accident is deemed to be your fault, and you were driving perfectly legally on company business at the time, your employer’s insurance policy will be liable.
However, bear in mind that your employer could take a dim view if you were doing personal miles in the vehicle without prior permission, or if you were driving illegally (such as speeding or driving carelessly). In such situations, your employer might hold you accountable for the cost. Your employment contract could also be at risk.
Summary
If the worst happens and you’re involved in a crash in your company car, the important thing is to try to remain as calm as possible.
Once everyone is safe, try to record everything you can at the time, even if it involves making voice notes into your phone. That way you’ll be far better prepared to deal with difficult conversations afterwards.
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