Employee Damages Work Truck - Who Pays?

Bluepenguin

Hello, I'm wondering if anybody can offer advice - we have a leased work truck, and our employee had a minor accident that unfortunately left us needing a new tailgate and door. Question is, who pays for this? The company insurance, or should the employee pay? He's a very good guy, and we want to be fair.
thanks!

jmic

Unfortunatly the employer.

__________________
___"Remember You Never Get A Second Chance To Make A First Impression"______________________
Joe

Bluepenguin

I thought so..

SK Builders

Was the accident work related? If it is, your insurance should cover it. It should be a no-brainer, if he was doing work for you, that is part of the deal...jmo

rbsremodeling

You the employer pays. That's what you have insurance for. Even if he drove it off a cliff you still pay.

I know it sucks but we got to pay the cost to be the boss sometimes

__________________

dubz

Is this your company? This is one of the silliest questions I've heard. Who's name is on the insurance policy?

__________________
http://brianwilsonconstruction.net

Bluepenguin

thanks for the replies guys!

SelfContract

Every employer likes to have these put on:

1. GPS device in car (hidden); (mileage/gas control)

2. Backup/front camera (record with tape)... not so sure about this technology available yet... maybe not? (accident control)

Employees will be detered and driver MORE careful if they know these devices are in their cars.

Chris Johnson

Pay for magnetic signs and give him couple hundred bucks a month for advertsing, let them drive their own vehicle.

When you do that, make sure that you have a copy of his insurance and it is valid at all times. Should he be in an accident during working hours they can come after you...signs or no signs.

__________________
Chris

Celtic

Who pays the ticket when the police stop him for no commercial plates?

__________________

rbsremodeling

Here that would not be an issue unless the vehicle needed ddot numbering.

Anything under that weight class we can and do what Chris suggested in the past

__________________

JumboJack

Same thing here too.As long as it has the proper markings,company name, lic.# ect.He is ok...

__________________
in texas with framing and cornish people will do it for 3.00 a foot. What do yall think about that? Just laber

TxElectrician

My guess is the leasing company knows who to hold responsible.

Celtic

...maybe it's a NJ thing?

Years ago, I was driving the company van and was pulled over by the police...the only ticket issued was for a comm. vehicle w/plates but w/o any signage as to what we did.

__________________

Tom R

Yep, - - in Jersey you've got to have signs if you have the commercial plates, - - and you've got to have commercial plates if you have the signs.

Some areas have been know to assign cops along their highways to look for this alone.

rbsremodeling

You don't even need a sign or licensing info on your trucks in DC.

__________________

Celtic

That happened to a friend of mine a few years back.

He is a "legit" EC...his vehicle - not so much
The cop pulls him over in his van [no comm. plates or signage]..
Cop asks him if he is a contractor..
He replies: Yes...
...and wins a $100 ticket.

__________________

Five Star

the employee is not responsible for the damage,any ticket for the accident though is another story.

dont try to make hime pay because he can turn around and sue you for disability if he claims pain and suffering then you gonna have legal issues and bills

keep him happy, go over safety polices you have tell him you,ll cover the damge to the truck,tell him its not worth hurting himself or others to speed.

__________________

JDavis21835

From what I understand, any vehicle used to make money requires a DOT number now. Doesnt cost any, im sure that is in the works. I know it hit a lot of plow guys in our area this year. No number on the side, means a stop from the DOT man. Pretty hard to prove your not making money with a truck when you are plowing commercial lots

pcplumber

About 25 years ago, my employees had to park their trucks in the company's parking lot after work. On Fridays, the employees picked up their pay checks after work. The employee picks up his check, leaves his personal vehicle on the property, cashes his check and goes to a bar until 2 in the morning. He has his helper drive the truck from the bar and they roll the truck upside down. The plumber in charge of the truck is the passenger, he breaks his arm, totals a brand new truck that had only 1400 miles, he sues me and wins $50,000 from my insurance company, plus worker's comp pays him a bundle.

__________________
"The glass is always half full"
FREE MANUAL AND SOFTWARE
http://www.contractortalk.com/f65/up...ps-free-72501/