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[Video] DOT Accidents: What is Preventable and What Isn’t?

January 17th, 2023

Laurie Hayward

Laurie Hayward

Laurie joined the ATS team in 2014 as a safety specialist working closely with claims, operations, orientation and recruiting. She supported the operational safety managers across all divisions. In 2016, she took the position as safety manager for the van division. In late 2017, she became the safety manager for all divisions. Laurie is afforded the opportunity to work closely with the operations teams to assist drivers in protecting themselves, their CDLs and the motoring public by making roadside decisions that support our goal of being the most sought-after transportation company in the world. She enjoys her days at ATS as no day the ever the same. Prior to ATS, Laurie worked in an industry regulated by the government (but not trucking). She was a gambling manager for a local nonprofit organization.

 

What’s a DOT accident and what is a non-preventable accident? The difference between preventable and non-preventable is important. 

A DOT accident is a collision that results in either a fatality, an injury that requires immediate medical treatment or disabling damage to any vehicle involved. They’re tracked to monitor safety and are reported to the government. They remain on your driver record for the next five years. 

The FMCSA defines several types of accidents as non-preventable. A few examples include being hit in the rear, being hit while parked and being hit by someone under the influence.

If you’re unsure if your crash fits into one of these categories, visit https://dataqs.fmcsa.dot.gov/ for more information. This site will also allow you to submit an inquiry if you think you were involved in a non-preventable accident but it wasn’t labeled as such.

Learn more about how DOT accidents affect your CSA score