As a car accident lawyer can share, collisions involving company vehicles often raise additional questions about liability, insurance, and who is ultimately responsible for the damages. If you’ve been injured in a crash where a business-owned vehicle or commercial driver was involved, your legal options may look different from a typical accident.
Liability May Extend Beyond The Driver
When a company vehicle is involved, the driver may not be the only party legally responsible. In many cases, the driver was performing job duties at the time of the crash, which can bring the employer into the legal picture. This is especially true if the company failed to properly train the driver, maintain the vehicle, or follow safe hiring practices.
Depending on the facts of the case, legal claims may be brought against both the individual driver and the business entity. Instances where the company is held liable for the accident include situations where they failed to maintain the vehicle or failed to properly train and equip the driver. The driver can be held liable for the wreck if they were driving under the influence, driving recklessly, or were distracted while driving.
Insurance Coverage Can Be More Complicated
Unlike private drivers, companies often carry commercial auto insurance, which has different policy limits and claim procedures. These policies may offer higher coverage amounts, but they may also involve more aggressive adjusters and in-house legal teams.
According to our friends at the Law Office of Daniel E. Stuart, P.A., identifying all applicable insurance policies early is critical. This might include the company’s commercial policy, a personal auto policy, or even an umbrella policy held by the business.
Documentation Becomes Even More Important
Accidents involving commercial vehicles often trigger internal investigations by the company or their general counsel. To protect your claim, it’s essential to gather as much documentation as possible early on. This includes police reports, photos of the scene, witness statements, and your medical records.
If available, information about the company’s vehicle maintenance history or the driver’s employment records can also be useful. Having documentation of maintenance is helpful when attempting to prove company negligence, especially if the vehicle suffered a mechanical failure that lead to the crash. Additionally, if the driver of the vehicle has no prior experience as a company driver, your legal counsel can argue the company was negligent in not hiring experienced personnel and/or not providing adequate training to new personnel.
Timelines Can Shift
While the standard statute of limitations still applies, cases involving company vehicles sometimes require faster action. Corporations may have internal reporting protocols or insurance timelines that move more quickly than a personal injury case. Waiting too long to act can result in lost records or missed opportunities to secure key evidence.
Your legal team will know how to manage these time-sensitive steps and initiate the necessary communications with all parties involved.
While a business defendant may offer more coverage or assets, they also tend to defend claims more aggressively. Larger companies often rely on legal departments or retained counsel to limit exposure. This makes it all the more important to have a legal team who understands how to build a strong case and negotiate effectively.
Don’t assume that just because a company is involved, the process will be easier. The opposite is often true. If you or a loved one has been in a car accident, contact your local lawyer about your options today.