No matter how prepared you are after your CDL training, accidents can happen anywhere, at any time. You may think you know how you’d handle the situation, but until you’re there, there’s no telling how you’ll react, and sometimes even the most obvious actions you need to take are the most forgotten once there’s stress involved. Two of the most common factors in accidents are changing road conditions and fatigue. If you know what to do if you’ve been in an accident, you will be more calm and more likely to take the right steps to properly handle the situation immediately.
Make safety your first priority
After an accident, safety should always take top priority. Pull over immediately and check on the other people involved, if applicable. If medical assistance is needed, dial 911 as soon as you are able. Contacting 911 also alerts the police, who will be sent to the scene for assistance.
Don’t place blame on anyone
Although you may think you know exactly what happened to cause the accident, don’t blame anyone, even when you are speaking to the police. You should always tell the truth about the accident and the facts leading up to it, but don’t admit fault or point fingers at anyone.
After the police have been informed and you are sure everyone is safe, contact your employer
Trucking companies have specialized employees experienced in dealing with accidents. These people will help you through the process.
Document everything you can
Before leaving the scene of an accident, always document everything. Use a camera or the camera on your smartphone to take pictures and write notes about the details while everything is still fresh in your mind. You need to remember the accident correctly for later on, and documenting everything will help you have a clear picture of the situation and events leading up to it.
When driving the open road, there is no telling when to expect the unexpected. With three fully-supplied service vehicles to meet your emergency needs, we will get you back on the road quickly. Our service vehicles are each equipped with an air compressor, generator, welder, portable lighting, and cutting torch. Our technicians can normally repair your trailer on-site to get you back on the road and minimize your delay. If on-site repair can not be accomplished, our tractor will transport your unit back to our facility. Our maintenance division can handle anything from major roll-over repairs to rebuilds. Simply call us at 1-800-440-9523 and we’ll be right there to help get you back on the road.