Fleet Operations Tip of the Month

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Accident and damage reporting

Reporting vehicle damage as soon as possible helps keep you and your vehicle safe and gets it repaired faster.

At the scene of an accident

• Help anyone who is injured.
• Call the police if emergency services are needed.
• Call Element/CEI at 1-877-443-5777, option 4.
  • Element/CEI is an accident management company that will help you with next steps.
  • Claims specialists are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Tell the claims specialist that you are a Washington state employee driving a DES Fleet Operations vehicle.
  • If you cannot drive the vehicle, Element/CEI will send a tow truck.

Within 24 hours

• Call DES Fleet Operations at 360-664-9228.
  • We will notify the appropriate people at your agency about the damage.
  • We will also answer your questions about the repair process.
  • Leave a message if it is outside of business hours.

What happens next?

If you can drive the vehicle

Daily rental:

• Return the vehicle to the Fleet Operations Fones Road location after you report the accident. We will take care of getting it repaired.

Assigned vehicle:

• Element/CEI will contact you and tell you which approved body shop to use.
• Take the vehicle to the body shop for an estimate within five days.
• If the body shop returns the vehicle to you, continue driving it until a repair determination is made.

If you cannot drive the vehicle:

• Element/CEI will arrange to tow the vehicle to the approved body shop.

Estimate review

• The body shop will send the estimate to Element/CEI.
• Element/CEI will review the estimate and send it to Fleet Operations for approval.
• It may take up to 10 calendar days for an estimate to be approved.

Repair

• If the vehicle is still being driven, Element/CEI will contact you when repairs have been approved.
• Schedule an appointment for repairs with the assigned body shop.
• The body shop will complete the repairs and notify you when complete.

Important reminders

• A collision happens when your vehicle hits or is hit by another person, vehicle, or object.
• Report every collision, even if you do not see any damage. Hidden damage can affect the safety of the vehicle.
• Report any damage or vandalism, even if the vehicle was parked or no one else was involved.

Questions?

DES Fleet Customer Account Representatives
360-664-9210 | mpmail@des.wa.gov