Our firm handles commercial vehicle accidents – also known as cases involving a company car. Any type of accident involving any type of vehicle – from a car to an 18-wheeler – where one vehicle is owned by a business is more complex than when a collision occurs between two passenger vehicles. A company vehicle is owned by a business and operated by employees or other agents of the company, often to transport passengers or to haul goods. Company vehicles are covered by commercial insurance policies rather than personal ones, and they are subject to specific roadway laws and legal requirements. An accident with a company car is thus different from a regular car accident, and needs to be handled differently.
If you are driving and get hit by a company car, what should you do? Many of the immediate actions to take in the aftermath of a company car accident are similar to those in passenger car crashes – such as seeking medical attention, contacting law enforcement, and noting identifying information of other drivers and witnesses. Things become more complicated, however, when the injured party needs to be compensated by the driver who caused the accident. While it’s always important to gather information if you are able at the scene of an accident, when hit by a company car, you’ll need to find out whether or not the person that hit you was on the job. If possible, find out their employer and who owns the vehicle.
Commercial Insurance For Company Vehicles
Generally speaking, companies are responsible for their employees’ actions while the employees are working or “on the clock.” This means that if the commercial vehicle driver was working at the time of the crash and is found to be at fault, the company that owns the vehicle and/or the company that employs the driver will be held at least partially responsible for the resulting damages.
Commercial insurance companies have vast resources available to protect their interests; and they use them to avoid paying out damages after a company vehicle they insure crashes. If a company car has hit you or someone you love, you must retain a knowledgeable commercial accident lawyer experienced in successfully resolving these matters and securing compensation for all damages.
Causes of Company Car Accidents
To hold an employer liable for the actions of an employee, the employee must be acting within the scope of his or her employment. This means, they must be on the road specifically for a work-related objective, even if driving a personal vehicle. Any number of factors can cause or contribute to a crash with a commercial vehicle. Some common examples of company car accident causes include:
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Negligent hiring practices
- A poorly maintained vehicle
- An improperly trained driver
- Unsafe road or weather conditions
- Failure to verify proper licensing/certification
Texas Company Car Accident Lawyers
If you or someone you care about was injured in a roadway crash with a company car, the lawyers at the Ezequiel Reyna Law Office can help. We have over 40 years of experience successfully handling all types of motor vehicle accidents – whether motorcycle, car, or big rig – and we want to put our experience to work for you. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about how we can help.
