An ordinary plant or floral delivery can be derailed in an instant after a delivery vehicle accident. Even with careful planning and safe driving practices, delivery vehicle accidents still happen, exposing your business to greater liability. In 2025, there were 169,866 crashes involving commercial motor vehicles in the U.S., resulting in more than 80,000 injuries.
For horticulture businesses and florists that frequently rely on delivery drivers, knowing what steps to take after a crash occurs can help protect your employees and long-term operations.
What to do immediately after a delivery vehicle accident
Safety is the first priority after a delivery vehicle accident. Once you’ve checked for injuries and called 911, document the accident as clearly as possible and then begin your company’s reporting procedures.
If you are the delivery driver
In the immediate aftermath, do your part to keep everyone safe. After calling 911:
Check for injuries and provide first aid if you’re certified
Turn on your four-way flashers and set out warning triangles, following DOT regulations, if applicable
Notify your employer, providing details on your specific location and time, as well as descriptions of any injuries or damage and the condition of your truck
Follow your company’s accident procedures
Exchange information with involved parties and witnesses
Take detailed photos of the scene
Collect and preserve telematics or dash cam data
Here are some other items to keep in mind:
Don’t admit fault or discuss liability: Drivers should be explicitly instructed to not apologize, speculate on the cause, or admit fault to anyone other than law enforcement or their company representatives.
Cooperate with law enforcement and gather officer details: Remind drivers to obtain the investigating officer’s name, badge number, police department, and the official police report number.
Understand post-accident testing rules: If your drivers operate a commercial vehicle requiring a CDL, be aware of federal DOT requirements that mandate drug and alcohol testing after serious crashes (such as fatalities or injuries/tows where a citation is issued). For all other drivers, check and follow your company’s specific post-accident testing policies.
Cargo and spill inspection: For commercial or delivery vehicles, checking the security of the cargo and looking for any hazardous material leaks (including gasoline or diesel fuel) or spills is an essential safety step before leaving the vehicle or scene.
If you’re the employer or business owner
For employers and business owners, the steps you take immediately after an accident can help protect your employees, reduce liability exposure, and prevent operational disruptions. We recommend you:
Confirm your employee is safe and that emergency services have been contacted
Start internal accident reporting procedures, promptly notifying your insurance company
Preserve important records, including:
Telematics
Dashcam footage
GPS records
Delivery logs
Driver qualification files (if required to be kept)
Driver training records
Vehicle maintenance and inspection records
Hours of service (HOS)/ELD data
Keep the vehicle out of service and prohibit repairs, teardowns, or salvage until insurance adjusters have a chance to inspect it and it is cleared for operation by a certified mechanic or qualified professional.
Communicate with any affected customers if deliveries will be delayed
After the claim has been reported, review the incident to determine if additional driver training or changes to your safety program may help reduce future accidents
Keep an accident response checklist in every delivery vehicle, so your drivers have instructions on what to do and who to call after a delivery vehicle accident.
If you are hit by a delivery vehicle
We recommend you take these steps:
Check for injuries and call 911
Move yourself and your vehicle to safety if possible
Exchange contact, vehicle, and insurance information
Photograph the vehicles, damage, and surrounding area
Collect witness contact information
Notify your insurance company
How the delivery driver accident claims process may work
No two accident claims are alike. Depending on the number of parties, the types of vehicles involved, and associated insurance policies, the claims process can vary greatly.
However, common steps for employers like you include:
1. Reporting the accident
Drivers and employers promptly reporting a crash is an important part of kickstarting the claims process.
2. Collecting key details
Following an incident, gather the following information from your drivers and provide it to your insurer:
Police report, including names and badge numbers of police officers at the scene
Driver statements
Photos of the crash scene and all vehicles involved, including multiple angles to show damage
Any statements from witnesses
Vehicle inspection details, including where any towed vehicle is being taken
Medical information if applicable
3. Reviewing driver, vehicle, and delivery status
Next in the claims process, a claims adjuster will be assigned to investigate and examine evidence. They will likely reach out to the driver at this stage to gather additional details such as:
Did the accident involve a company vehicle or personal vehicle?
Was the driver working?
What was the route information?
What was the delivery schedule?
Is there dashcam footage or telematics data available?
4. Evaluating coverage and responsibility
Insurance providers will evaluate all contributing factors to the accident, and review damages in relation to relevant coverages. Your insurance provider may reach out to you to gather or confirm information during this step in the process.
5. Resolving or escalating the claim
Some claims are resolved quickly; others require more thorough investigation to determine fault and coverage. Serious accidents involving multiple parties often take longer to determine the outcome.
Ways to help reduce delivery vehicle accidents
Florists and horticulture businesses can’t eliminate accident risks, but a strong culture of driver safety can help reduce such incidents. Essential practices include:
Conducting a delivery risk assessment to understand the specific hazards your drivers face
Strengthening driver hiring practices through formal driving tests, assessment of accident histories, and verification of previous references
Reviewing and updating safety programs each year
Developing consistent delivery driver safety training on topics like defensive driving, vehicle maintenance and inspections, hazard awareness such as distracted or drowsy driving, and managing deliveries in poor weather or on rural roads
Ensuring all training is documented and related records are retained
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about delivery driver accident claims
Key details to gather include:
Driver and insurance information
Vehicle information
Photos of the scene and damage
Witness contact information
A police report
Specifics about the delivery (route, schedule, and whether the driver was on the clock)
Collecting this information promptly helps support a smoother claims process.
Commercial auto insurance may cover delivery vehicle accidents, but coverage depends on your specific policy language, the circumstances of the accident, and which insurance policies apply. Reviewing your policy with your insurance provider before an accident occurs can help clarify your coverage—and also help you identify any gaps.
When employees use personal vehicles for business deliveries, coverage can differ significantly from a standard commercial auto policy. Work with your insurance provider to help you understand how your insurance applies in these situations to limit unexpected, uncovered losses.
Common prevention strategies include:
Ongoing driver training
Regular vehicle inspections and maintenance
Thoughtful route planning
Distracted driving policies
Post-accident reviews to identify areas for improvement—using monitored dash cams and telematics data as available
Together, these practices can help you build a stronger culture of driver safety.
Need to file a claim?
If you’re involved in a delivery vehicle accident, we make it easy to file a claim, whether you’re a first- or third-party claimant. Our in-house claims team will work with you to help resolve your claim quickly and fairly.
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