Had a wreck, needing advice on what to do now.

as soon as you take the ditch, you have caused a preventable accident.

Either way, you are screwed. just one moreso than the other.

 

I'm the same way. I'm not dying for someone's stupidity. People have to remember. It's them or you. Now, I'm not trying to get into an accident ever. I use the SMITH system now, and if you've never heard of it, I suggest getting trained on it. But I'm not dying for anyone. I'll do what I can to save lives, but nobody should kill themselves for someone else's lack of attention or intelligence.

 

If I was you I would challenge the DAC report, I'd consider going to someone at the company and just telling them, "I don't want trouble, but I have to protect my record, and I'm prepared to take legal action to have this changed to non preventable" suggest they should just change it, give them a chance before shelling out for a lawyer. And finally hire a lawyer. If you plan on working in the trucking business it's best to do everything you can to get this changed to non preventable or it will haunt you again and again.

Always remember people are lazy, if you apply pressure and give them several opportunities to change their mind they often will. you just have to be persistent and consistent. And even if it all fails and it's still on your record at least you know you did everything you could.

 

And if you don't trade paint, the dash cam is moot.

 

My life, my freedom, my job, my CDL, my families bread maker. I will not allow my family to suffer because of negligence. Even if the opposing vehicle is a school bus loaded with kids, I will hit it instead of swerving.

Again, use the smith system. If you constantly use the smith system, you will rarely end up in this scenario.

 

To each their own

I will add an interesting note here, though. I trained at two different companies, both large major carriers that everyone here knows.

The first trained extensively on the Smith system, as in several days worth of training, followed by strict tests.

The second told us to throw most of that system out the window. They said the "Aim High In Steering" was valuable, but they said that the "Leave Yourself An Out" step was not how we were to do things. They stated that "the only out you have is your brakes and enough stopping distance, anything else is unacceptable."

It was definitely interesting to see the opposing points of view. Personally, I agree with the Smith system. The only problem is that sometimes the ditch really is your only way out. Those who have driven in Chicago at 5pm on a Friday afternoon know exactly what I mean by that. Can't leave yourself an out other than the ditch if there is traffic everywhere.

And the Smith system is specifically designed to completely PREVENT a collision at all, not to train new drivers to run over anything that gets in their way. Leave Yourself An Out means keeping an escape route open - and sometimes that's the ditch.

But like I said, to each their own. I'll drive my way, and you drive yours, that's the wonderful freedom of choice.

 

the ditch is still a preventable accident.

 

Leave yourself an out doesn't mean keep an escape route open. It means to keep the travel lanes next to you clear. In other words, don't drive next to someone for long periods of time. Accelerate or decelerate to keep the lanes next to you clear.

The smith system does not recommend using a shoulder or ditch, etc to avoid an accident. It's a oxy-moron to get yourself into an accident avoiding another. This may hold true for 4-wheelers, but not trucks. Most shoulders (especially those on secondary roads) are not designed to handle the weight of a 80,000 LB truck.

 

Contact the National Labor Relations Board. They're slow, but they're government. Companys don't like it when Uncle Sam comes snooping into the business. You'll get a fair shake from them. Goodluck

 

If it's not in his mvr it's called "no accidents or wrecks." Companies don't decide what's preventable and not preventable. Can't believe it's even an issue. Y'all worry too much.