It might be scary when you have an accident while driving a company car, but the same principles apply as in any other accident. The first priority is your safety, as well as the safety of other people involved, if there were any. After that, you should report the accident to the proper authorities and move on with your life. If you have the proper insurance and the car servicing is up to date, there is nothing to fear.
Here are some tips on what to do when you get in an accident in your work car:
1. Observing the Proper Procedures
You should immediately call the police and report the incident when you are involved in an accident of any kind. These calls to the police create a record of an event and give the authorities an opportunity to respond and intervene. In some cases, an officer will simply stop by and see that everything is okay.
In the event of larger accidents, criminal charges may be filed and drivers may be taken into police custody. Always keep your insurance information on hand, in case it needs to be presented in such situations. If you have a car lease for the vehicle you are driving, all damages may be covered by insurance.
2. Keeping the Company Car in Working Order
Regular maintenance and servicing checks for the company car should not be considered optional. These checks are necessary to keep a car running the way it ought to. Whether it is changing the oil, replacing transmission fluid, aligning the wheels, or any other number of items that need fine-tuning on a regular basis, these preventive measures must be observed.
If the car ends up missing scheduled service checks and other updates, everyone involved may be held liable, depending on whether the car was being used specifically for business purposes or if it was being used on a personal errand.
Of course, liability is something decided in the courtroom. The most important factor is your safety and the safety of those in the car with you, along with anyone whom you might come into contact with when on the road.
3. Understanding Personal and Company Liability
Many court cases that have been tried in recent years have made the issues regarding liability much clearer. In most cases, when an employee is driving a company car, the employer will end up being liable for accidents that occur when the employee is at the wheel. It can even extend to times when an employee is driving home, if an employer has asked them to do something work-related on the way.
When you get into an accident in a work vehicle, there is no reason to be too worried. If you have observed proper maintenance and have insurance, you will not be liable for further damages. Just be sure to report accidents immediately and let the authorities handle them.
