Accident Response Best Practices

A severe trucking accident is a catastrophic event that can often lead to “bet the company” litigation. Immediately following the accident, the company, its insurers, adjusters, investigators, experts and, most importantly, its attorneys, must mobilize to investigate and respond to the accident. The attorney should be present at the scene to coordinate the investigation, interface with public officials and control the company’s story to the media. Preservation of evidence is crucial to avoiding later claims of spoliation. An established protocol for rapid response is essential to have in place well before the accident so that those on the team know their roles in investigating the people and vehicles involved as well as the roadway itself. Proper evidence gathering and preservation will facilitate a more accurate accident reconstruction analysis.

In this course, Cipriani & Werner Partners Matt Mitchell and Bill Pentecost address what you need to know to understand the importance of establishing a rapid response team to have in place to mobilize immediately upon alert of a trucking accident. They discuss the mechanics of establishing the team, the roles and missions of each member and how their collective work will benefit the company by way of a thorough investigation and evidence preservation. Examples from real-world cases illustrate the importance of the rapid response team.

Learning Objectives:

I.      Understand the purpose of a rapid response team

II.     Recognize the roles of adjuster, investigator, experts and attorneys on the rapid response team

III.    Understand the risks of spoliation and how they can be avoided by proper use of the rapid response team

IV.    Identify the key areas of investigation at the accident scene and key areas of follow-up