Checklist: Steps to Take After a Delivery Vehicle Accident

Being in the restaurant food-delivery business means auto accidents happen. Before an accident happens, it’s good to remind your delivery drivers that they represent your company and to always drive defensively. Every driver – at the time of hiring and before they make their first delivery – needs to understand their responsibilities if they’re in an accident.

If one of your delivery drivers is involved in an accident, use this Owner’s/Supervisor’s Checklist to help document important information, minimize stress, and make the claims process simpler.

What to do after an Accident

Upon notification of the accident, remind the employee driver to:

1. Stay calm and tell you their location.
2. Turn on the vehicle’s emergency flashers.
3. Let you know if they are injured. If they aren’t injured and they can safely exit their vehicle, ask them to check on the occupants of other vehicles. If they or the occupants of another vehicle are injured, the driver (or you, the owner/supervisor) should call for medical assistance.
4. Call the police. Remind employees to be respectful and cooperative. They should only provide facts about the accident and avoid admitting fault, placing blame, or giving their opinion about how the accident occurred.
5. Exchange information with other drivers: name, address, telephone number, driver’s license number, vehicle license plate number, make and model of vehicle, owner of the vehicle if different than the driver, and insurance information.
6. Take pictures of the accident scene (if they have a camera or cell phone) and ensure the pictures include traffic controls, street names, road conditions, vehicles, and any other property damage.
7. Obtain contact information from any person who witnessed the accident.
8. Contact their auto insurance provider to file an accident report.

Business Owner / Supervisor’s Next Steps

When the employee driver returns to the restaurant:

1. Have them complete a Written Statement of Facts of Loss, which should include:
   1. If the driver was delivering or returning from delivery.
   2. The direction of travel.
   3. If any traffic controls, weather, and road conditions may have been contributing factors in the accident.
   4. Any information regarding vehicles, damages, and whether anyone received a citation, if known.
   5. A list of witnesses along with information from the other driver.
2. Gather information to complete and submit an Accident Report to the claims department of your restaurant’s insurance company. (Refer to a separate Vehicle Accident Report Form.)
3. Review the cause of the accident and determine if it was preventable. The owner/supervisor should discuss the facts of the accident with the employee driver and, if preventable, review any store procedures to determine if any disciplinary action is required.

Following the steps outlined above should help lessen your worry and assist you in identifying and gathering the information needed to properly document the accident.

After the accident has been reported

1. If the delivery driver caused the accident, your insurance company may set up a claim with reserves. Follow up with your delivery driver within the first week after the accident to verify their auto insurance carrier is providing coverage to them. Your insurance company will follow up with you and, if your delivery driver’s insurance carrier is providing coverage, your insurance company will close your claim.
2. If the delivery driver was NOT at fault, your insurance carrier will set up a record-only claim.
3. If the driver’s carrier denies coverage, once you notify your insurance carrier, they will process the claim.
4. When the delivery driver is at fault and there are injuries, your insurance carrier should stay in contact with the restaurant’s owner or insurance contact. Your insurance company’s claims department will take over the handling of the claim and retain an attorney if necessary to represent the business owner and the driver. 

NOTE: The reporting requirements listed above are those that Intrepid Direct Insurance has in place. Check with your restaurant business insurance company to confirm the proper procedure to follow.

Food Business Insurance Cost Savings Start with Restaurant-Focused Claims Teams

When it comes to protecting your restaurant and delivery drivers, Intrepid Direct Insurance stands out with a claims team that truly understands the food service industry. Our in-house experts and licensed attorneys specialize in restaurant and food delivery claims, providing efficient and transparent support from start to finish. With tailored coverage and policies customized to you, we help protect you with restaurant business insurance designed for your unique risks.