Horse Trailer Accidents on the Road

the regularly traveled portion of the roadway. If you cannot move the rig breakdown flat tire etc. place warning reflectors or flares out as soon as possible. Traffic approaching from behind may have to move into the oncoming lanes to avoid you so consider vehicles coming from both directions. Always be aware of all potential hazards.
In any motor vehicle incident see to injuries first see to the vehicles next and then try to minimize the effect on the rest of the traffic. If you can move the vehicles safely then do so as soon as possible. If the scene is a potential traffic hazard then get reflectors out to warn oncoming traffic.
If the trailer is upright tend to the horses in a calm and orderly fashion. If they are safe inside the trailer DO NOT unload them!
If the horses are loose quietly herd them to a safe area as far away from traffic as is practical. If they find a relatively safe spot to graze leave them there until alternate transport arrives.
If the trailer has overturned or the horses cannot be safely unloaded in a conventional manner leave them be until the responders arrive. You will need all the help you can get to prevent further injury to them.
If any of the horses have suffered injuries contact the nearest veterinarian and ask if they can attend the scene if injuries are severe. Callout fees can be expensive but vet bills tend to be a lot cheaper than horses.
NEVER enter an overturned trailer alone when there are horses on board! Frightened horses will most often act instinctively and even well trained and trusted animals can react unexpectedly in a crisis situation
We dont like to think about this but in any crash there is a very real possibility of our being injured and unable to direct or inform responders. Keeping a list of horses names and descriptions can help responders sort out whos who. Adding your veterinarians contact information and that of an emergency contact at home will assist others in helping the horses. Keep the list in a place easy for responders to find such as your wallet or purse. Dont leave it loose in the tow vehicle as it could easily become lost.
Heres a little piece of hardearned wisdom about crash scenes Take notes exchange license and vehicle information then shut up! Offer details and statements to the police only.
Give only your full name drivers license number vehicle registration number and plate number to others involved in the crash. Under no circumstances should you hand your license to the other driver to allow him or her to copy any information from it. Think about it your address is on there. Read the numbers off to the other party without handing it over to them. The same rule applies for vehicle registration papers.
After the obligatory exchange of information is complete go back to taking notes taking pictures caring for the horses or whatever else you deem necessary. Liability comes in many guises and the utterances made at a crash scene are an open invitation to litigation. Anything you say at the scene of an accident can and will be stuffed down your throat if it ends up in court. Pictures notes diagrams and any other material evidence gathered at the scene are admissible in a courtroom and may supersede any such information collected afterwards. Police know this which is why they collect as much data at the scene as possible. Statements made at the scene can be taken in favour of formal ones taken afterwards. An innocent remark can spin the truth completely out of control with disastrous personal and financial consequences.