DB 21-09 - Traffic Accident Investigation Procedures

Question 1

A completed Department accident packet containing all necessary related accident reports shall be forwarded by the responsible Administrative Battalion Chief to the respective Bureau Office within ______ calendar days.

Any extension needs Bureau Commander approval and notification to Emergency Operations.

Answer 1

7 days

Question 2

Who shall be notified on all accidents involving LAFD apparatus that are serious in nature, i.e. fatality, serious injury, etc?

Answer 2

-Assistant Bureau Commander
-On-duty 24-hour platoon duty Assistant Chief
-Risk Management Section (RMS) on-call Safety Officer
-Los Angeles City Attorney

Question 3

If applicable, who is responsible to request response of the LAPD Major Collision Investigative Team (MCIT)?
(I.e. City vehicle traffic collision with fatality or severe injury)

Answer 3

LAPD

Question 4

The FG-88 is required for all accidents.

Form General 88 (FG-88) Automobile Accident Report shall be completed by who?

Answer 4

The driver. (and the tiller person, if a ladder truck is involved.)

Question 5

Who shall complete the F-80 Requisition after a traffic accident?

Answer 5

Station Commander (or supervising officer).

Question 6

Station Commanders (or the next higher-ranking officer in the member’s chain of command for special duty personnel) shall collect, complete, and forward the following reports within _____ hours to the respective Battalion Office:

Answer 6

24 hours

• FG-88 Automobile Accident Report
• FG-84B Witness Card(s)
• F-80 Requisition

Question 7

All traffic accident documents are required in ALL accidents, including those with NO DAMAGE to Dept Apparatus.

A completed accident packet contains what documents?

Answer 7

• F-150 Accident Report
• FG-88 Automobile Accident Report
• FG-84B Witness Card(s)
• F-80 Requisition
• Investigating agency report (police report)
• Photographs of the damage caused by the accident

** Exception: Law enforcement report not required for accidents involving Dept apparatus versus City property where there is no damage to either

Question 8

Assistant Bureau Commanders should conduct an accident hearing normally within ______ days from RECEIPT of the accident packet.

Hearing dates may be adjusted if directed by the City Attorney due to litigation

Answer 8

30 days

Question 9

Which accidents shall be placed into the Complaint Tracking System (CTS)?

Answer 9

-clear violation of Department policy
-obvious neglect
-accidents causing extensive damage, injury or liability to the City
-members with multiple at fault accidents (two or more)

Question 10

Accident hearing interviews shall normally be conducted between 0800 and 1700 hours. weekdays, unless the investigation is time sensitive.

The ASSISTANT Bureau Commander will normally conduct the traffic accident hearing and serve as the HEARING OFFICER, with the following members in attendance:

Answer 10

-Administrative Battalion Chief
-Battalion Driving Coordinator
-member’s immediate supervisor
-the member involved and their representative, if member chooses to have one present

Question 11

Traffic Accident Hearing:

If a member chooses to exercise his/her right to representation, and the investigation is not time sensitive, you may need to schedule an interview at a later date.

Members are given _____ days to secure a representative.

Answer 11

14 days

Question 12

Traffic Accident Hearing:

If management determines that the matter is time sensitive, and the member is unable to obtain representation within _____ minutes, management reserves the right to DETAIL an available representative of the member’s choice to provide representation to the member.

Answer 12

90 mins

Question 13

Traffic Accident Hearing Report is categorized into 4 categories. Which category is the following:

“An accident which occurred because of an apparatus/vehicle operator’s MISJUDGMENT of clearance from other VEHICLES, DEFICIENCY in defensive driving techniques, or FAILURE to anticipate other vehicle’s movements.”

Answer 13

Category III

Question 14

Traffic Accident Hearing Report is categorized into 4 categories. Which category is the following:

“An accident in which fire department personnel EXERCISED REASONABLE JUDGMENT and precautions, exhibited good apparatus/vehicle operator’s and Officer’s skills and OBSERVED ALL state, local and fire department statutes, ordinances and rules.”

Answer 14

Category I

Question 15

Traffic Accident Hearing Report is categorized into 4 categories. Which category is the following:

“An accident which occurred because of INATTENTION to vehicle operator’s and/or Officer’s responsibilities or because of MISJUDGMENT of clearance in operating apparatus near STATIONARY objects.”

Answer 15

Category II

Question 16

Traffic Accident Hearing Report is categorized into 4 categories. Which category is the following:

“An accident in which fire department personnel FAILED to follow established Department Rules and Regulations, Policies and Procedures.”

Answer 16

Category IV

Question 17

Traffic Accident Findings:

If any corrective action is contemplated, i.e. F-______ or higher, a Traffic Accident Hearing is REQUIRED .

Answer 17

F-1104 Reprimand or higher

Question 18

Accident Hearing:

__________ orders the member to answer the questions asked of them under the threat of discipline if they fail to comply and the information they have provided CANNOT be used against them in a subsequent criminal proceeding.

Answer 18

Lybarger Admonition

“Any statement made under the threat of discipline cannot be used against a member being investigated in any subsequent criminal proceeding.”

Question 19

An accident hearing may be necessary even if the investigating law enforcement agency deems the cause to the other party and not the LAFD.

The hearing may be necessary for a Category ____ accident to consider if there is damage to third party vehicles or if LAFD was transporting a patient within the back of a Rescue Ambulance.

Answer 19

Category I

Question 20

Chief Officers shall provide the third-party involved in an accident with a City vehicle the necessary information regarding making a claim for damages with the City.

Claim for damages forms can be requested by calling the ________.

Answer 20

Office of The City Clerk

Question 21

The Traffic Accident Hearing Report is categorized into how many categories?

Answer 21

4

Question 22

Traffic investigations that are SERIOUS in nature are defined as: “Per the Penalty Guidelines, whenever a first offense violation has the potential for a penalty of “B” or greater.

A “B” penalty is a _________.

Answer 22

6 to 10 day suspension.

Question 23

Accident cause and DETERMINATION is made by the investigating _________.

Answer 23

law enforcement agency

Question 24

Traffic Investigations

Findings, as a result of a hearing, the Hearing Officer will include either a recommendation for no further action, or a request for review by PSD including participation in POST-ACCIDENT ENRICHMENT TRAINING, if an accident is determined to be a Category II, III, or IV accident.

The ______ shall initiate a complaint in CTS.

Answer 24

Hearing Officer