Running business vehicles as a part of operations is common for all kinds of organizations these days. Whether you operate a full-fledged transport or trucking company or just use vehicles for day-to-day errands, there is always a risk of being involved in commercial car accident cases. This is something you would want to steer clear of because there are countless other things that you need to manage.
So it makes sense to go the extra mile for curbing the risk to business vehicles and having a reliable strategy to deal with commercial car accidents if they do happen. Fortunately, there is much that you can do in this context, right from employee training to insurance coverage and legal guidance. Let us highlight the key measures that you must take for dealing with the concern.
Enforce hard and fast driving rules
You should not compromise at all when it comes to the safety of employees. It is important to have certain firm driving rules in place and make sure that every single person using business vehicles adheres to them. Make it clear to the employees that they have to follow the traffic rules and mandate the use of seat belts as well. Have a zero-tolerance policy for intoxicants because DUI cases not only translate into massive compensation but also impact your business reputation. Have strong regulations to curb cell phone usage as well because distracted driving is another cause of accidents that you can avoid.
Implement relevant guidelines for vehicle use
Apart from enforcing safety rules for the drivers, you must also implement the relevant guidelines and policies for vehicle use for business purposes. To start with, limit the use of business vehicles to work-related travel only though employees may want to use it for personal errands. Schedule meetings and assignments optimally to reduce stress for the employees and prevent rash driving or overspeeding. Instruct employees to always lock vehicles and park them insecure, well-lighted areas. Having a proper maintenance schedule for all business vehicles is significant. At the same time, you should invest in timely repairs as and when there is a need.
Have proper hiring and training practices
While business is responsible for the vehicles and employees who handle them, there is also a need to be careful about the people you get on board. Everything starts with the right hiring practices. A seasoned car accident attorney would emphasize the value of checking the driving record of every single person you hire for operating a business vehicle. If an accident occurs in the future, this action can single-handedly make or break your defense. While hiring, pay attention to their personality traits as well because someone who is short-tempered and impatient is more likely to cause accidents. Apart from proper hiring practices, you also need to have regular training protocols for both new and existing employees.
Create an accident-response program
Mishaps are likely to happen despite the best precautions, so creating a proper accident response plan is a no brainer. The aim is to clearly define the action that the employee and the business need to take in the event of a mishap. Employees using company vehicles need to understand that they should flee from the accident spot; rather, they must help the victim and cooperate with the authorities to prevent the situation from getting worse. Ensure that they report the accident and give all the details to the business so that you can handle the case accordingly. Having legal counsel at hand is equally vital to ensure that your defense is on track.
Be proactive about insurance coverage
The most crucial aspect of dealing with the risk of business vehicle accidents is having adequate coverage. Ideally, you should have enough coverage to pay compensation to the victim who gets injured in the mishap. If the accident happens due to the negligence of your employee while using the vehicle for business purposes, you will be liable for paying for the injuries of the victim. This can be a major expense if the accident and injuries are serious, as in case of trucking accidents. Being proactive about insurance is vital otherwise you may end up being burdened with a massive compensation amount. Apart from protecting you from accidents, an insurance coverage also helps if the vehicle is vandalized, stolen or damaged in a natural disaster.
Implementing these actions for securing your business vehicles can cut down your stress and save your organization from trouble in the long run. So you must absolutely go ahead with them sooner rather than later.
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