Commercial accidents involve any type of commercial vehicle, such as a car, a dump truck, or an eighteen-wheeler. Commercial vehicles, such as trucks, are vehicles that are owned by a business. So, if you or your loved ones get in an accident with a commercial vehicle, you should know that you don’t have an ordinary car accident case at hand.
Read on to learn more.
Truckers Are Professional Drivers
If you have been in a commercial truck accident, then there are several important things you must know about commercial truck accidents, as these are quite different from normal car accidents. One of the main differences you must know is that the truck driver is a professional driver. On the other hand, most people who are operating a motor vehicle, such as a car, do it for leisure, or they want to get to work. They aren’t professional drivers.
Truckers, on the other hand, are professional drivers, which is why they are held to a higher standard. This aspect perfectly illustrates why there are certain laws that apply that are essentially different from those for the average person driving a car.
The Importance of Contacting a Truck Accident Attorney
If you get into an accident with a truck, it is crucial to have an attorney look into not only the driver themselves and their driving history – but also the vehicle and the truck that was involved in the accident. Getting in an accident with a truck is much more severe than getting in an accident with another car, which is why contacting the best lawyers fighting the trucking industry is your best option, as you might have barely escaped death.
Why, you might ask? The truth is that most accidents that involve a truck and a car end very badly for the car driver, and they sustain lifetime injuries, if not death, in most cases. The damage to their car is also incredibly severe in most cases, which is why getting a lawyer on board who has experience with such types of cases is of the utmost importance.
The Importance of Preserving Evidence
When it comes to truck and car collisions, the preservation of evidence is incredibly important. The thing is that the trucks usually carry computers, and those computers will take a readout of how fast the truck was going and whether or not it was braking. The computers will also record important crash data, and if this crucial evidence is not preserved, you won’t have the evidence you need to reach the highest settlement.
So, it is incredibly important to call a truck accident attorney right away as they will know how to deal with this case and how to get the much-needed evidence.
When is the Business Responsible?
If you are in an accident with a commercial vehicle, you might be wondering about what exactly that business is responsible for the accident. The easiest answer to this question is that if the vehicle is driven by an employee of a business, they are the one who is on the job. In this case, that business is not only responsible for the accident because they own the vehicle, but they are essentially responsible due to them being responsible for the actions of their employees.
Possible Exceptions to Know About
Now, there are some potential exceptions to the business not being responsible for the commercial vehicle accident. For instance, the respective business is not responsible if its employees are not doing what they are supposed to be doing. The trucker might be off the clock, and in such circumstances, the business might not be held responsible for their employee’s actions.
On the other hand, if a business owns a commercial truck and its employee is driving it while on the job, then the business is indeed responsible for the crash and the subsequent damages.
If the Driver is Not An Employee of the Business
Another potential situation can arise when a commercial vehicle is being driven by someone else but with the permission of the respective business. In such circumstances, the business can be held responsible for the accident – however – this aspect might differ from one state to another, which is why it is in your best interest to speak to a lawyer and let them know about the situation first so that the lawyer can advise you about the best next steps to take.
If the Driver is on the Job But Driving A Personal Vehicle
There can also be another situation where the driver is on their job, but they are driving their personal vehicle. The driver might as well be on their job but driving another company’s vehicle. In this scenario, the business owner can be held responsible for their employees’ actions. Also, the owner of the commercial vehicle that is driven could be held responsible for the accident.
If the Driver is An Independent Contractor
There could also be an exception where the commercial vehicle might be driven by an independent contractor. This situation often happens in the case of eighteen-wheeler accidents where the driver of the commercial truck might own their own vehicle that they are driving as a contractor for a bigger company.
Typically, in such circumstances, the bigger company often provides coverage to the independent contractor. Additionally, the driver might have their own policy, which also includes responsibility for the accident.
These aspects perfectly indicate why it is incredibly important for you, if you are at the scene of the accident, to find out whether or not the driver of the commercial vehicle who hit you was on their job and the company they are working for.
Final Thoughts
If you get into an accident with an eighteen-wheeler or a commercial vehicle, it is in your best interest to immediately contact a lawyer and call the police. The responding police officer at the accident site will write a report, which will include all important details, such as who hit who and how the accident occurred.
