Has Your Employee Been in a Car Accident While on the Clock? Here’s What You Need to Know

Car accidents are never pleasant. But what do you do when your employee has been in an accident while working for you? Here are a few of the steps you can take to protect your workers and your business.

Guide Your Employee to Respond Appropriately

There are specific steps that drivers should take at the scene of any car accident. Assuming your employee can call to notify you about the crash, ask them to do the following:

• Check themselves and any passengers for injuries, no matter how small they might seem
• Move to safety
• Call the police
• File a thorough report
• Exchange information with any other drivers
• Take photos of the crash and the scene

Your employee is likely going to feel anxious and stressed. Your reminders can be helpful when they are not thinking clearly.

Obtain a Post-Accident Drug Test

To protect your employee and your business, send your driver for a post-accident drug test. Standard practice is that you arrange for transportation to the drug testing facility. If they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you do not want to allow them to drive another vehicle.

If your employee is a commercial driver subject to Department of Transportation rules, this test must be performed within two hours of the crash. If the driver is not subject to these rules, it’s still a good idea to get the drug and alcohol test completed as quickly as possible.

Start Your Insurance Claim

Quickly notifying your insurance company is to your advantage. Your agent can explain issues of liability and guide you through the claims process. Consider getting an estimate from a car repair shop like American Automotive, too.

Issues of Liability

As an employer, you are generally liable for the actions of your workers. Your responsibility extends to employees in auto accidents while on the road as part of their job. You can expect to pay for injuries and property damage caused by an employee while driving a company vehicle.

In most cases, your business insurance will protect your employee against third-party lawsuits. This keeps your worker from personally having to pay for injuries or damage to other people or property.

When Your Employee Is Liable

There are times when you would not be responsible for a car accident, even on company time. For example, if your worker was running personal errands in your vehicle during work time and had a crash, they are responsible. Your employee would be liable if the accident victim decided to file a lawsuit.

You can refuse responsibility for the accident if you discover your employee committed a crime, such as driving under the influence. If that were the case, your worker would be personally responsible for the accident and any damages or subsequent lawsuits.

Car accidents are stressful. They are more complex when they involve your employee driving on work time. Knowing what to do and where your responsibilities begin and end can put your mind at ease.

Photo by Artyom Kulakov from Pexels