Preventable Accident/DAC Report

So Yesterday early morning I was delivering to one of my stops. Well this stop has garbage and debris scattered all over their fence lines which results and less maneuverability for me. As I was finishing my backing and had to pull forward towards this fence. There were these metal brackets and the just tossed in front of the fence and they were just BARELY above my bumper. Well it snags my bumper and because it was 20 degrees outside the passenger side corner just crumbled. Now I made the monumental mistake of telling them instead of fixing it myself. I’m mechanically inclined and have already looked over the bumper, it would’ve take me 20 minutes to make the repair. It’s a 2020 Cascadia Freightliner which have those crappy plastic bumpers. I had went out and bought an OEM bumper and reinforcement bracket to make the repair. Now my question is, even though I reported it to the company and they put a claim on for insurance. What would happen if I told them I already had it repaired so there’s no need to continue with the claim? Will they still put it on my DAC report? I’m not trying to get away from accountability, but I did not see the garbage brackets sitting on the ground in their lot, so there was no reason to GOAL as they shouldn’t have been there to begin with. I went there today and they had moved them to another spot. Needless to say I’m furious. What are my options since my DA already reported it? Is there a way out of this? Will my company look at me sideways if I tell them I already had it repaired so there’s no need for the claim to go through? I have a zoom meeting with safety Monday and I have a feeling I won’t fare well in it. If it’s already fixed, how could they put it on my DAC as a preventable if no money was paid out for the repair? Just need input, because this industry is extremely tough and brutal and nobody really cares about us. You honestly can’t be too honest these days because it could end up ruining your life. I know me fixing it isn’t ethically right, but like I said I’mechanically inclined and nobody would have known the difference. It’s not something worth even reporting. But I panicked because my boss called me and I assumed it was for that reason but it was for something completely unrelated, just coincidental. Any advice would be appreciated! Been working in California and all I can say to anyone is to avoid this State at all costs. I’ve managed to go my whole career without incidents but ever since I’ve been here I got put OOS for a leaking tire from a broken link from a chain and this happened. All with the same company so I believe I’m done for here. And before y’all tell me to man up, cool great. I’m not interested in that because all that does is ruins your life because it’s all out of your control. Being honest in this world is honestly for gullible fools In my opinion considering our leaders and people in positions of power constantly lie to us just like law enforcement and the list goes on.

 

I mistakenly reported it to the company when I’m more than capable of fixing it myself. I bought a new OEM bumper and bracket and planned to repair it myself. However, my company is already aware of it and I reported it to the accident line. I’m just curious if it’s already been fixed by me and insurance doesn’t have to pay for it, wouldn’t the claim just be thrown away and my company couldn’t report it to my DAC since insurance never repaired it?

 

So I’m basically SOL since it’s been reported, even though it’s already been repaired? My DAC report is going to be affected regardless?

 

I planned on calling the accident report line Monday morning and informing them it’s already been fixed so a claim is no longer needed. Will that prevent it being reported on my DAC?

 

it’s kind of a larger company. It used to be CFI but it was bought out by Transport America. Like I said I’m talking with Safety Monday. I wonder how well they will take me fixing it myself? Probably fireable?

 

Okay well I’ll hope for the best. I should’ve just fixed it and not said anything. Major learning lesson. Not that I don’t want to be honest, but things like this can really damage your career. And again, nobody really cares how it affects your life unless it’s affecting them. I just another body to fill the seat in their eyes. And I’ve driven through Donners Summit everyday for the past 5 months safely even with all the terrible weather. I’ll be ###### if some garbage in a customers lot that I didn’t see does this to me.