Claim Guide
What to do after a fleet accident
Make the scene safe, photograph everything before any vehicle moves, exchange and photograph documents, capture witness details, report facts without speculating about fault, file a police report where appropriate, report the claim promptly, then get the vehicle documented before the estimate is finalized.
At the Scene
The first hour decides the claim
Evidence gathered at the scene cannot be recreated later. Everything here takes minutes and is worth doing every time.
- Make the scene safe firstHazards on, cones or triangles out if the vehicle is obstructing traffic, and everyone clear of the roadway. Nothing else matters until that is done.
- Photograph before anything movesAll four sides of every vehicle, wide shots showing position, and close shots of each damaged area. Scene photographs taken before vehicles move are the most valuable evidence in the entire claim.
- Exchange and record detailsPlate, insurance card, driver license and contact details for every party. Photograph the documents rather than transcribing them.
- Capture witnesses before they leaveA name and phone number from anyone who saw it. Witnesses disperse within minutes and cannot be recovered afterward.
- Report facts, not conclusionsState what happened. Do not speculate about fault, cause or fitness of the vehicle. Speculation recorded at the scene follows the claim for its whole life.
- File a police report where appropriateAny injury, significant damage or disputed account. The report becomes an independent record that carries weight with both carriers.
- Report the claim promptlyDelay is one of the most common reasons a carrier questions a claim. Get the claim number and the adjuster's direct contact.
- Get the vehicle documentedBring it in for a documented assessment. Photographs, structural measurement where impact is involved, and an itemized report before the estimate is finalized.
Next Steps
Once the vehicle is off the road
- Bring the vehicle in for documented assessmentA documented assessment before the adjuster inspection frequently shortens the whole approval cycle, because the evidence is already assembled when they arrive.
- We submit the estimate and deal with the adjusterThe estimate goes to the carrier with supporting photographs and measurements attached. From this point the technical conversation is between us and the adjuster.
- Teardown, and a supplement if hidden damage appearsHidden damage is normal on a commercial vehicle collision. What matters is that it gets documented and submitted before the work proceeds rather than absorbed or discovered by you at pickup.
- Repair, verification, and releaseStructural repairs are measured again after correction. Anything disturbed during the repair is checked before the vehicle goes back into service.
What To Avoid
Four things that cost operators money
- Admitting or assigning fault at the scene. Report what happened, not why you think it happened.
- Letting the vehicle be repaired before it is documented. Once panels are off, the evidence is gone.
- Assuming the initial estimate is final. On a commercial unit, hidden damage found at teardown is normal.
- Accepting delivery without post-repair verification. Structural work should be measured again and signed off.
Vehicle damaged?
Bring it to our Yorba Linda facility and we will document it properly before anything is submitted.