You’ve driven your truck for eight years without an accident. Last December, out of the blue, another vehicle sideswipes you and causes $15,000.00 in damage to your tractor. You drive highly specialized equipment and you suddenly find yourself down for two weeks. What do you do?
The steps in protecting yourself and your trucking business actually begin before the accident occurs:
- Make sure you have good insurance coverage through a reputable insurance carrier. Keep a copy of your insurance card in your vehicle.
- Make sure you have a camera in your vehicle or a phone if equipped with a camera. You will want to take as many pictures as possible at the scene of an accident should one occur.
- Consider putting a tape recorder in the vehicle or making sure your smartphone is equipped with a recording feature. This is very helpful in case there are witnesses at the accident. Or you want to dictate the facts of the accident in your own words at the scene.
Please see Steps To Take If You Are In An Accident Part 2.
Kelsea Eckert enjoys helping clients resolve their insurance and downtime claims. She is active in the trucking community and is always willing to speak with groups about transportation topics.
Kelsea was raised in the Bloomington, Illinois area and has practiced law since 1988. She lives in Florida and Kentucky, representing clients across the United States.
Over the years, she has written numerous books, including: The Illinois Legal Filing Directory, Small Claims Court Without a Lawyer, How to Form Your Own Corporation, Getting Paid in Full, Lawsuits of the Rich and Famous, and Selling Internationally, Without a Product.
Kelsea regularly speaks at trade shows, podcasts, and radio shows on transportation issues. She writes articles for newsletters, magazines and the Eckert & Associates, PA blog. Some of her writings and interviews are available on Transport Topics, Landline Media, Expediters Online, Service Truck Magazine, and other transportation media networks.
Kelsea attended Illinois State University and University of Georgia during her undergraduate years. She graduated from Southern Illinois University School of Law. She is a member of the Illinois Bar and Florida Bar.
Kelsea is on the board of the Transportation Club of Jacksonville as the Driver Advocate Chair. She is involved in her community through volunteering, and she and her husband have two amazing children.