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BACK TO BASICS: a review of defensive driving techniques
17: Loss Lessons: ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES
Every accident should be immediately investigated to determine its cause and preventability (see Back to Basics 18: Loss Lessons... Determining an Accident's Preventability) so that steps can be taken to prevent a reoccurrence. Such a determination can be made only after a thorough investigation of the incident, preferably by someone other than the driver. Use of someone who understands the driving operation but was not involved in the incident minimizes investigation deficiencies caused by shock or lack of objectivity. It is also much easier and less costly to train and equip one person for proper accident investigation that to train an entire driving staff. A specific format for documenting the information should be provided and the accurate gathering of data is significantly improved by the use of a camera and portable tape recorder. A photograph is much more accurate and encompassing than memory or notes and can provide incontrovertible evidence of the damaged vehicle, the accident scene, general conditions, weather, lighting, etc. The use of a tape recorder will greatly facilitate the investigation process by allowing more preservation of detail while also eliminating cumbersome hand written notes. It can provide a more precise record of comments made by the driver or occupants of the other vehicle, witnesses, or the investigating officer than is otherwise possible. In inclement weather the advantages of a tape recorder over hassling with soggy sheets of paper blown by the wind are obvious.
The investigation process should be initiated immediately upon notification of an incident. Make certain that steps have been taken to prevent further injury or damage. After the injured have been treated or transported and the damage-producing situation neutralized, begin the fact-finding process. Specify the date and time, and locate the accident by intersection, distance, and direction on a street from an intersection, or distance and direction from an easily identifiable landmark on a road. Try to photograph the accident scene before the vehicles are moved to document their relative positions. Capture any significant details such as damage to the other vehicle (both existing and that caused by the incident), license plate, skid marks, damaged property, etc. Also document any pertinent peripheral information such as congestion, construction, weather, or lighting conditions. It may be more important to show what is not there than what is... e.g., lack of skid marks, lack of damage to the other vehicle, apparent lack of injury to the driver or occupants of the other vehicle.
Witnesses, occupants of the other vehicle, and the other driver should be contacted before they disappear. Learn their perception of what happened... any discrepancies can be sorted later. Remember to get names, addresses, and both home and work telephone numbers. Obtain the state of issue and driver's license number for the other driver, verifying the license provided is the driver's. Get the full information of the vehicle owner if it is not the driver. When there is an investigating officer, note the name, badge number, and jurisdiction. Cite any tickets issued to either party. In your interviews with witnesses, the other driver, the investigating officer, and your driver, determine what happened: the street, speed and direction of each vehicle; the drivers of the vehicles; how the vehicles impacted, e.g., "left front corner of other vehicle struck right front of our van 2 feet behind the front wheel"; the perceived cause or causes of the incident; any traffic control devices or right-of-way issues; any outside influences such as darting bicycles, animals, pedestrians, etc. that may have contributed to the altercation but were not involved in it. Once the accident scene has been cleared the opportunity for any investigation is lost. Use the time wisely; transform an accident into a learning situation.
SUMMARY: ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES
Process should begin immediately after the accident
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First, prevent further injury
Second, neutralize any damage producing situations
Third, begin your investigation activities
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Should be done by someone other than the driver, if possible
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Minimizes investigation deficiencies
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From shock
From lack of objectivity
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Minimizes training time and cost
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Should use a camera
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Minimizes equipment cost
More accurate and encompassing than memory or notes
Provides incontrovertible evidence
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Should use tape recorder
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Easier and faster than hand written notes
More detail than hand written notes
Precise documentation of witness, occupant, or other driver comments
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Should obtain comments from and identification of
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Witnesses
Other driver
Passengers in other vehicle
Investigating officer (if present)
Your driver (and passengers if present)
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Should photograph the following
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Other vehicle
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Damage, both prior and present
Lack of damage
License plate
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Accident scene
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Skid marks
Lack of skid marks
General conditions (location, weather, road condition)
Specific obstructions (construction, congestion, etc.)
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Other driver and passengers (if apparently uninjured)
Damaged property
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Should establish
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When: date and time of day
Who: drivers' and passengers' names, addresses, work and home phone numbers
Where: city in or near; intersection or street plus direction and distance from landmark
What: direction and action of vehicles, e.g., "proceeding eastbound" or "turning south from westbound"
How: points of contact, e.g., right front bumper struck driver's door
Why: perceived causes from each driver, passenger, witness... may differ
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