What’s Different About a Car Accident With a Commercial Vehicle?
A motor vehicle accident becomes a commercial vehicle accident when a business owns or operates one or more of the vehicles involved. When two passenger vehicles collide, the liable party’s insurance will generally cover any resulting damage and other associated expenses. When one of the vehicles involved in a collision is a commercial vehicle, determining who is at fault and how you can recover becomes more complex.
Determining Liability In A Commercial Vehicle Accident
Automobile accidents are largely caused by human error. In accidents involving a commercial vehicle, while some of the responsibility for an accident still falls on the driver, their actions likely implicate their employer and/or other companies, exposing them partially or fully to liability for the accident. If a commercial vehicle damaged your car and injured you or your passengers, you will likely be able to recover from the employer of the driver, as the business is usually responsible for the actions of its workers.
There are often disagreements about whether the employee driver was working at the time of the accident. Things can get complicated if an employee was driving their work vehicle outside of business hours and/or while doing things other than their explicit job duties. Law enforcement should be called to the accident scene to find out whether or not the person who hit you was on the job. If so, this official will find out the contact information and insurance information for the employer and/or vehicle owner.
Six Reasons Business Vehicle Accidents Differ From Car Accidents
- Compliance with applicable federal and state regulations
- Increased severity of injuries and property damage
- More likely to be fatal
- Different and more evidence
- More complicated science
- Potentially multiple responsible parties at fault for the accident
Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyer
Only an experienced lawyer for commercial vehicle accidents knows how to manage the differences between a motor vehicle collision with a passenger vehicle versus one with a commercial vehicle. Craft Law Firm has successfully handled business vehicle accident cases throughout Texas and across the country. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, contact us today.