First Accident Ever, Made Stupid Mistakes

Hey there, I'm in my first week here, got through swifts crazy school and mentorship. Keeping things short, I went to make a righthand turn, and swung out to the left. Didnt swing far enough, damaged my trailer tire and rim. I pulled up about a quarter a mile to be out the intersection and got it repaired.

Now thats where things get tricky, when I looked in the mirror I thought I had just been close to hitting a pole and that the bumping I felt was the fairly high curb. Apparently I did hit the pole and even scratched off a pedestrian crosswalk button!

My bad obviously, I started to walk over there to assess the damage. It just so happens at that moment a police officer pulled up, and now I'm in some trouble here. I'm hit with failure to report accident due to pulling away that quarter mile. And the damages. I completely understand this is entirely my fault, I have very little driving experience generally (just turned 21) and this is the first time ive ever actually had an accident in my life. I wasn't aware of these processes, and I'm paying the price for my ignorance.

What I'm making this thread for besides putting my stupidity on display is that, I'm nervous. I reported everything and kept up on that with the company, and I am more than willing to pay the damages for my mistake, but I am worried what the odds are that they'll even keep me hired at this point anyway. Any insight? And if it is coming to that, what are my options in this industry?

When you talk to safety own up to it like you did here. Obviously you understand what your mistakes were. The chance that they will terminate you are not high. Im not saying it isn't a possibility, but attitude is everything.

Most likely you will have to take the close quarters class and then be back at it.

Fight the tickets and charges in court. There is a good chance with a clean record they may reduce it. If you were really leaving the scene you would not have gone back.

First, hitting things on a right turn: it's all by sight, you will not hear/ feel any bump or scrape (from truck vibrations). You're sitting way up front in the cab. And if you do hear a sound, you know it's too late.

On a right turn with a curb where nothing got hurt I watched the tire go up and over the curb and drop off. I saw the trailer shake as it dropped but heard & felt nothing.

Second, yes you'll at least talk to Safety and you should still drive for Swift. They keep a count for 12 months and it drops off.

In a right turn, that right-hand mirror is your life until you clear the turn. Other than watching where you're going forward, eyes in the mirror.

The quarter mile pull over may be too far, but try saying you wanted to stop in a secure & safe roadside location.

One thing that safety will (or should) ask you is "what would you have done differently?" How you answer that question can determine the outcome of their decision to handle your case. It's an easy answer. Just what would you do different?

When you talk to safety own up to it like you did here. Obviously you understand what your mistakes were. The chance that they will terminate you are not high. Im not saying it isn't a possibility, but attitude is everything.

Most likely you will have to take the close quarters class and then be back at it.

Fight the tickets and charges in court. There is a good chance with a clean record they may reduce it. If you were really leaving the scene you would not have gone back.

Thank y'all for responding, I entirely understand and take full responsibility, willing to do what it takes to make up for it and all. I was just a bit freaked out that I was gonna lose my job as it went down, but all is going all right. I've got no record at all, in fact this was honestly the first time I've ever talked to a police officer personally.

I'm going to make absolutely certain I'm nowhere near hitting anything from now on, I completely misjudged the width of the corner I turned from.

Ill definitely never forget that sound and feeling resistance isn't just a curb as well, not that I ever intend on hitting something again!

Welcome to the club. Swift driver here. I did something relatively similar in West Virginia. Swift isn’t the boogie man everyone thinks. They also know that right turns are typically where ppl mess up. Just be honest when safety gives you a call and you’ll be fine.