Snellings Law PLLC Attorneys are Personal Injury Trial Lawyers
Any Driver Who Hits You on the Job
We’ve all been guilty of getting in a rush when there’s a big project to finish or an important task to complete before the day ends. You get pumped with panic and adrenaline, and you won’t let anything get in the way of getting that task done.
Sometimes, that adrenaline can hinder us from being able to think and act with a clear head. For example, say a business must get a check in the mail by the end of the day, but the person in charge of getting it to the post office forgot until the last minute. The employee gets in his car and rushes to the post office. Because time is running out, he runs a red light to get there faster and ends up colliding with another vehicle.
This scenario is actually a potential example of a commercial vehicle accident. While the at-fault driver wasn’t driving a company-issued vehicle such as an 18-wheeler, they were likely still performing work-related duties and were therefore driving a commercial vehicle.
What Is a Commercial Vehicle?
A commercial vehicle is any vehicle used for work or business-related functions. A commercial vehicle can be a company-issued vehicle like an 18-wheeler or a delivery van. It can also be something more inconspicuous, like an unmarked delivery van or an Uber. No matter the type of vehicle, if it is being used to perform work-related tasks, then it is a commercial vehicle. To learn more about spotting commercial vehicles, read our blog, “What Is A Commercial Vehicle And Why Are Commercial Vehicles Different?”
On-The-Clock Drivers
Sometimes, workers will use their personal vehicles to perform work-related tasks. They might need to drop off a check, run to the store, or take mail to the post office. Instead of taking a company-owned vehicle, they will use their own car to run the errands. These personal vehicles fall under the commercial vehicle umbrella because the driver is using the vehicle to perform work tasks for their employer.
What Does This Mean for You?
In a standard car crash between two people driving their own vehicles on their own time, the only relevant entities in the claims process are the people driving or riding in the cars and the two insurance companies. However, if a driver of a commercial vehicle causes a crash, their employer could be held vicariously liable. This is also true for drivers who are driving their own vehicles while on-the-clock and performing work-related tasks. Instead of dealing with just the at-fault and their insurance, you now also have to deal with the employer and their insurance. Filing a claim with a company’s insurance and proving vicarious liability is much more complex than filing a claim with someone’s regular auto insurance, so it’s important to consult an experienced commercial vehicle accident attorney.
There are some exceptions that relieve the driver’s employer from being held vicariously liable. If the driver was commuting to work or on their lunch break, the employer is most likely not liable for the crash. If the employee was hired as an independent contractor, the employer most likely cannot be held liable for the driver’s actions as well.
No matter what, if a commercial vehicle is involved, you will likely be dealing with a commercial vehicle insurance policy. These policies are not the same as those that regular drivers have. Commercial vehicle policies potentially have much larger limits, and commercial vehicle insurance claims are handled by extremely savvy insurance adjusters. These insurance adjusters are paid to guard their company’s policies and minimize the amount the company pays you. They know plenty of tricks to “prove” that you are not as hurt as you claim so that they don’t have to pay you what you deserve. It’s important to have someone on your side to fight for you when you’ve been hit by a commercial vehicle.
One of our firm partners, Rocio Gosewehr Hernandez, explains more about what makes commercial vehicle cases different. Watch the video above to learn more.
What You Should Do if You Get Hit by A Driver Who Is on the Job
Like you would after any crash, you should call the police immediately. The police will make sure the scene is safe for traffic to flow and for you to exit the vehicle. They will also create a police report, which will be helpful when you file your claim. You should also exchange information with the at-fault driver so that you can file a claim with their insurance. For more in-depth detail, read our blog, “What To Do If You’re Hit By A Commercial Vehicle,” and watch the video below.
Additionally, it might be hard to find out if the driver who hit you was on the job if they were driving their own personal vehicle. For this reason, it’s even more important to hire an experienced commercial vehicle accident attorney. An experienced attorney has the knowledge and experience to investigate the crash. They can find out if the driver was on the job and if their employer could be held vicariously liable for the crash.
Call Snellings Law if You’re Hit by a Driver Who is On the Job
At Snellings Law, we handle the personal injury process differently. We’re the best at what we do because we handle each case with extreme care and collaborate with our entire team. Unlike other personal injury firms, we’re not trying to get you a quick settlement. Instead, we work hard to ensure your claim is fully evaluated and the full value is obtained, whether that is through settling or taking your case all the way through trial. Our attorneys at Snellings Law are equipped to help you every step of the way through the personal injury process.
Helping injury victims in North Texas is all we do. Our mission is to get you back to life as you knew it before your crash as seamlessly as possible, and we have the knowledge and experience to do just that. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means we don’t get paid unless you do when your case is closed. We also offer free strategy sessions so that you can discuss your case with an attorney and determine what next steps to take with your case. Call us at (214) 387-0387 to schedule your free strategy session today.
Free Strategy Session Reveals How To Avoid the Traps Insurance Companies Set for Victims to Destroy Claims.
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How it works:
- Call us now or give us your basic information in the Free Strategy Session box
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There is zero obligation. We want all injury victims to understand their rights and the process.
After your Free Strategy Session, you will understand where insurance companies can set traps for you and what needs to be done to avoid these traps. You will also understand the personal injury process as well as how we can help, or if you need the help of an attorney. The strategy session typically will have one of three outcomes. You:
- Decide to move forward with our law firm.
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- Say, “I’ve got this,” and decide you do not need an attorney.
Again, there is zero obligation and you will be informed and understand your rights and the process. We want to arm you with knowledge to avoid the traps insurance companies set to harm your claim.