Got in an Accident with Your Company Car? Do These Things First

Getting into an accident with a company vehicle creates stress and confusion for everyone involved. A crash in a company car raises complex liability questions that don’t come up with personal vehicles, whether you’re between client meetings or just running a quick errand.

Georgia Code §51-1-6 states that the at-fault party must cover damages in car accidents. The situation becomes more complex with company vehicle accidents. Your employer’s commercial auto insurance should cover the damages if you were performing job-related duties during the collision. The responsibility might fall on you if you used the company car for personal reasons – what legal experts call “frolic”.

Let us help you understand what steps to take right after a company car accident. We’ll explain liability scenarios, insurance implications, and possible effects on your employment. Learning these details now will help you handle such situations better if they ever happen to you.

What to Do Immediately After the Accident

A company vehicle accident can happen without warning, and your actions right after make a huge difference. Your safety comes first, then you need proper documentation to protect yourself and your employer.

Check for injuries and call emergency services

Right after the crash, check yourself and others for injuries. Call 911 right away if anyone seems hurt. The law in many states says you mandatory to report accidents involving injury or death to law enforcement. You should call emergency services even if no one seems hurt because some injuries take time to show up.

Turn on your hazard lights to warn other drivers while you wait for help. Don’t move seriously injured people unless they’re in immediate danger from leaking fuel or fire.

Move to a safe location if possible

Your vehicle should be moved to a safer spot away from traffic if it still runs and no one has serious injuries. This helps prevent more crashes and keeps traffic moving. The law in some states actually requires you to move your vehicle if it’s blocking traffic and can be safely moved.

All the same, you should keep the vehicles exactly where they are if someone is trapped or the crash caused serious injuries. Keeping everyone safe matters more than clearing the road.

Exchange information with other parties

After making sure everyone is safe, get all the important details from the other drivers. You need their:

Full name, address, and phone number
Driver’s license number
Insurance company name and policy number
Vehicle information (make, model, year, license plate)

On top of that, get contact details from anyone who saw what happened. Their statements are a great way to get clarity if there’s any disagreement about the accident later.

Take photos and document the scene

Photos make strong evidence for insurance claims and possible legal issues. Use your phone to take pictures of:

Damage to all vehicles from different angles
The whole accident scene showing where vehicles ended up
Road conditions, traffic signs, and weather
Skid marks, broken glass, or other debris
License plates and company logos (especially on commercial vehicles)

Show respect by not taking photos of injured people. Just focus on capturing the physical evidence at the scene.

Note that you should tell your employer about the accident as soon as you can. They probably have specific steps you need to follow for company vehicle accidents, including how to report it to their insurance company.

Understanding Liability in a Company Car Accident

Company vehicle accidents follow different liability rules than personal car crashes. Learning who’s responsible can save you much stress and money.

When your employer is liable

Your employer usually takes responsibility for accidents that happen while you do your job duties. The legal doctrine of respondeat superior (let the master answer) makes companies accountable for their employee’s actions during work. Your employer could face extra “negligent maintenance” or “negligent entrustment” claims if they didn’t maintain the vehicle properly or let an unfit driver use it.

When you may be personally liable

Personal liability kicks in if you use the company car for unauthorized personal errands. Legal experts consider major departures from work duties a “frolic” – like taking a 140-mile detour for personal reasons. On top of that, reckless actions like driving under the influence make you personally liable, even in a company vehicle.

What if the other driver is at fault?

The other motorist’s insurance should cover damages if they cause your company car accident. You can file a third-party claim against the at-fault driver to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages. Your employer will likely file a separate claim for vehicle damage too.

How ‘scope of employment’ affects liability

The “scope of employment” is a vital factor in determining liability. It has these key elements:

Job-related tasks you perform
Actions that benefit your employer
Company policies you follow

Courts look at these factors carefully. Small detours like grabbing coffee during a delivery route stay within employment scope, but major personal deviations don’t. Note that regular commuting falls outside work duties, unless you make work-related stops on your way.

These liability rules help protect you and your employer after a company vehicle accident.

How Insurance Works in a Company Vehicle Accident

Company vehicle accidents create a maze of insurance policies that work together. You need to know how these policies interact to protect your finances and get the right coverage for everyone involved.

Employer’s commercial auto insurance

Commercial auto insurance covers accidents that happen during work-related driving. The policy has:

Liability coverage for property damage and bodily injury
Collision coverage for vehicle repairs whatever the fault
Comprehensive coverage for non-collision incidents like theft

Businesses usually have commercial auto policies with “any auto” coverage or specific rules for non-owned and hired vehicles. This keeps the business protected when employees drive company cars or their own vehicles for work. You should call your employer right away after an accident. They’ll need your policy number and accident details to tell their insurance company.

Workers’ compensation eligibility

Workers’ compensation benefits might be yours if you get hurt in a company vehicle accident while doing your job. These benefits give you:

Medical expenses for your injuries
Some of your lost wages during recovery
Rehabilitation costs

The workers’ compensation system pays benefits whatever caused the accident. Your regular commute usually isn’t covered unless you make work stops on your way.

Personal insurance implications

Your personal driving record could take a hit even when the claim goes through your employer’s insurance. The accident shows up on your official driver record and could raise your future rates. You must tell your personal insurance company about the accident to keep your policy valid. Your personal policy usually won’t cover company vehicles.

What happens in no-fault states?

Drivers in the 18 states with no-fault insurance laws file claims with their own insurance companies whatever caused the accident. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage pays medical expenses and lost wages right away without waiting to find out who’s at fault. This system cuts down on lawsuits but often leads to higher insurance premiums in these states.

Legal and Employment Consequences You Should Know

A company car accident creates more problems than just insurance claims. You should know about the job-related and legal effects that follow. The results depend on who caused the accident, your job status, and what company rules say.

Can you be fired for crashing a company car?

Yes, your employer can fire you for crashing a company car, especially if you were careless or broke company rules. Most states use “at-will” employment rules that let companies fire workers for any legal reason. Your boss will likely look at:

How bad the crash was
Whether you caused it
Any broken company rules
Your driving history

The law protects you from getting fired just because you filed an insurance or workers’ comp claim after the crash. But your boss can still fire you for the accident itself, unless your contract says they can’t.

Will the accident affect your personal driving record?

The crash will show up on your personal driving record if you got a ticket or caused it. Insurance companies check your complete motor vehicle report when setting rates. This could make your personal insurance cost more for 3-5 years. You need to tell your personal insurance company about the crash, even with employer coverage. Skipping this step might void your insurance.

Should you hire your own lawyer?

You should get your own attorney if your needs differ from your company’s interests. The company might be responsible for what happened, but their way of handling things might not help you. Even in a minor car accident, a personal injury lawyer can break down your case, find who’s responsible, and defend your rights with insurance companies.

What if you’re an independent contractor?

Rules work differently for independent contractors than employees. Companies usually don’t take blame for accidents their contractors cause. If you drive a company car as a contractor, you might have to pay for damages yourself unless the company gives you insurance. Make sure you know your worker status and insurance coverage before driving any company vehicle.

Conclusion

Company car accidents involve more than just vehicle damage – they raise tough questions about liability, insurance, and employment. Your first actions after a crash matter most: stay safe, document everything, and understand who’s responsible.

Commercial insurance, workers’ comp, and personal policies all play a role, and your job or driving record could be affected. The best protection? Be prepared. Know your company’s vehicle rules, insurance details, and emergency steps ahead of time.

If an accident happens, clear thinking and proper documentation can protect both your job and finances.