How to Handle a Collision Between a Delivery Vehicle and a Private Car?
3 Answers
Turn on the "hazard warning lights" and place the triangular warning sign in the designated area behind the vehicle. Do not move the scene recklessly. Ask and check the condition of the people involved in the accident, whether anyone is injured, the severity of the injuries, and whether immediate medical attention is required. Take photos of the scene as evidence, ensuring safety. If the vehicle is severely damaged or someone is injured and requires hospitalization, be sure to report the incident to the authorities and do not settle privately. After reporting, the police and insurance company will handle the resolution. After reporting, the police and insurance company will organize the resolution.
When my car's rear bumper was hit by a courier's tricycle, the first thing I did was to pull over to avoid blocking traffic, then got out of the car, turned on the hazard lights, and placed a warning triangle. The courier was probably in a hurry to deliver packages, so we exchanged phone numbers and took photos of the scene, making sure to clearly capture the collision area and the positions of both vehicles. Remember to call 122 immediately to report the accident—the police will determine liability. Never settle privately on the spot to avoid future disputes. Then proceed with the insurance process by calling your own insurance company to file a claim; they will contact the courier company to assess the damage and arrange repairs. Courier vehicles usually have third-party liability insurance, so you don’t need to pay for repairs out of pocket—just contact the other party’s insurer. If the other party is uncooperative, keeping the accident report and suing the courier company can be very effective.
Having driven for over a decade, I've encountered several minor accidents, and collisions between delivery vehicles and private cars often occur at intersections or residential area entrances. There are three key points in handling such accidents: safety, evidence, and claims settlement. First, ensure everyone's safety and move the vehicles quickly to avoid secondary accidents. Then, collecting evidence is crucial—I usually take videos to document the collision points, ground marks, and the other party's license plate number. Nowadays, smartphones have GPS timestamps, which are very helpful. After calling the police, avoid arguing with the delivery driver and wait for the traffic police to determine liability; generally, delivery vehicles are more likely to be fully at fault. For claims, proactively contact the other party's insurance company, get repairs done at a 4S dealership, and keep the maintenance receipts. Don’t forget to claim compensation for lost wages and transportation costs. Delivery companies usually have insurance claim departments, and dealing directly with them is more efficient than going through the delivery driver.
