Do truckers pay out of pocket for accidents?

Are you referring to company drivers or O/O's?

 

If you are a o/oYes you pay the deductables and most company's have a escrow account. if that's not enough to cover the deducible I guess they would seize your equipment or get a judgment against you.

 

I've heard of one or two companies backcharging drivers the deductible in the case of accidents, and I'm honestly of two minds on the issue.

If the accident occurred due to driver idiocy, then yes the driver should pay the deductible at least. Stupidity should be painful. But what if the driver could not avoid the accident? Or did avoid the major accident but had a some what more minor accident? For example, driver swerves to avoid the idiot 4wheeler who tried to aim for the driver's left side steer. 4wheeler is successfully avoided and continues on his merry way completely oblivious, but truck driver ends up on his side in the ditch. Should driver have to pay deductible? I don't believe so, since the driver DID avoid the greater accident of getting struck by the 4wheeler and possibly killing the idiot 4wheeler driver, resulting in the inevitable wrongful death suit that will be filed by the idiot 4wheeler's family (usually before the body is cold cause "gotta git paid!").

 

What I underlined.....DON'T SWERVE, PERIOD.

I have told my family countless times now, that if someone does such a thing, "aim for me", that's his death warrant. What I find galling is that some 4 wheelers try to play some sort of sick game of chicken, then they drive away, and the truck driver as you say ends up in a ditch. I have told my family, I am taking prisoners as I WILL NOT DIE ALONE.

Those idiot 4 wheelers that play such games, then drive away, to maybe perhaps turn around, go back to the scene and take pics and laugh at what they did.

Is it crass for me to think this way..?? Maybe so, but we have ALL SEEN the shyte out there, and why should I DIE for some thrill seeking acehole..??

I simply will not, I refuse to.

As to the o/p, NO, DON'T EVER PAY for any deductible if you are a company driver. If they fire you because they tried to make you pay, guess what, you'll most likely be fired anyway. THIS IS what INSURANCE IS FOR.....~!!!!!!~

 

For the company I work for, that absorbed my starting company, no deductibles were paid. I did a rookie mistake about a year in and popped a batwing off, and they never charged me for it. My former co-worker had a car try and go around her while she was turning, and she shoved it up against the guardrail, and she didn't have to pay.

 

We have a clear company policy about when the driver is responsible for the deductible. Like if they backed up in to one of our excavators because they weren't paying attention or they flipped the truck dumping a load on uneven ground. Each incident is dealt with on it's own because maybe they hit the machine doing what the flagger told them. So far we haven't had to charge a driver the deductible.

 

Years ago working at Western express they charge the driver $500 they take it out of several pay checks.

 

I am an owner/operator, have been for 20 yrs. Never had an accident, and like most owners my deductable is $2500. I respect my fellow drivers on the road regardless of the size the vehicle they drive, I keep my licence clear of any infractions as I believe most who consider them self a professional driver do. I know the for a fact (source United States Department of Transportation) that in any accident involving a heavy commercial vehicle (18 wheeler) and a 4 wheeler, 80% of the time the 4 wheeler is at fault. So I am not concern with the deductible, I am how ever always concerned about 4 wheelers.