What is a commercial vehicle?
A commercial vehicle is any type of vehicle that is used for the benefit of a company, business, corporation, or other similar corporate entity. The vehicle will generally be registered and insured under the name of the company, and not the name of an individual. A commercial vehicle could be a truck, car, van, semi-truck, limousine, taxi, Uber or Lyft any other shared vehicle, or bus, for example.
Commercial companies are responsible for the careless conduct of their drivers and must pay for all damages caused by their drivers after a collision.
Who is responsible when a commercial vehicle causes an accident?
Of course, if you were responsible for the traffic accident, you will be the one responsible for paying the damages. But, what if the commercial vehicle is to blame? In that case, the Trucking Company, corporation, or other similar corporate entity, will be responsible for your injuries.
Even if the company driver was the negligent party, the Trucking Company itself will be the one that will be responsible for your medical bills, loss of income, and pain and suffering. This fact is significant for accident victims, because a company or business, in general, has more money to pay for compensation than an individual employee.
Accidents with delivery vehicles
Delivery companies often employ drivers to transport packages to various locations. Most companies and drivers understand the rules of the road and follow strict rules regarding the safety of the driver. Unfortunately, there are many companies that do not care about traffic laws, and openly put the lives of other people and motorists in danger. It is the responsibility of the delivery company to hire capable, adequately trained and cautious drivers who possess all the necessary licenses and qualifications. It is also their job to create a safety culture and properly educate drivers before they are allowed to start working for the company.
Drivers must also exercise a reasonable amount of judgment. Inexperienced, inattentive, and exhausted drivers pose a great threat to other drivers. Delivery drivers must make sure that they are properly trained and rested before attempting to operate a company vehicle. The delivery company must also take the necessary measures to ensure that all of its vehicles are thoroughly inspected and safe to drive.
Product liability (Defective delivery vehicles)
As mentioned above, delivery vehicles must be thoroughly inspected not only by the delivery company but also by the vehicle manufacturer. When a car manufacturer releases a vehicle with defective parts or one that has not been properly tested, it is unknowingly placing the lives of numerous people in danger. Each year, defective cars, both passenger and commercial, take the lives of motorists around the world, and deaths caused by commercial vehicles have become commonplace in recent times. If a defective commercial vehicle causes an accident, the driver of the commercial vehicle, anyone in the other automobiles, or anyone involved as a pedestrian, have the right to request compensation.
The role of insurance companies
If you are involved in an accident involving a delivery company, you will have to deal with an insurance company at some point. Contrary to what they may say, the insurance provider of the delivery company is not there to help you. Its main objective is to avoid having to pay you the compensation you deserve, even though it was the fault of their insured client. It is not uncommon for “lowball” insurance companies to offer an extremely small amount of money to accident victims in the hope of avoiding litigation. Dealing with an insurance company can be extremely difficult, and more than likely, you will need a legal professional on your part.
Commercial vehicles vs. private passenger vehicles
In contrast to incidents involving passenger vehicles, cases involving commercial and delivery vehicles can take a considerably longer time to settle. This is because more than likely, the commercial company will have a team of lawyers and insurance experts on their side whose main objective is to avoid having to pay for your injuries. In many cases, it may take years before an accident victim finally receives any type of compensation.
If you have been involved in an accident in Houston with a commercial vehicle, you may not be sure what action to take. Consult with the attorneys of PMR Law as soon as possible to discuss your options and your case. They will help you figure out who is responsible for the injuries and damages you suffered, as well as your next steps.
An accident with a commercial vehicle in Houston
Commercial accidents are in their own category. This is because when you want to take legal action after a commercial accident it is no longer simply a matter of a personal injury claim against an individual, but instead an issue involving a company or corporation’s liability.
Commercial accidents occur unexpectedly and the injuries suffered can be severe.
Injuries from commercial accidents may include:
-Broken bones
-Back injury
-Neck injury
-Brain damage
-Wrongful death
The request for payment for your bodily injury and property damage should be made and filed against a commercial company’s insurance carrier instead of an individual citizen. The lawyers of PMR Law can help you deal with these big companies and represent your rights.
Overworked truck drivers usually cause commercial accidents. They work long and hard for their companies so that they can earn more money. This can result in the careless disregard for some regulations, such as mandatory breaks. Commercial vehicle accidents in Houston are more common than you would think. If you have been involved in an accident, contact the attorneys of PMR Law immediately.
Commercial truck drivers have a duty to other drivers on the road to observe high-safety standards, and a PMR Law attorney can help hold these truck drivers to these high standards after they have caused damage.
Our goal is to educate our clients so they not only understand the legal process ahead, but also the fundamentals of Houston injury law and their legal rights.
Affected in a truck accident in the Houston Metro Area?
If you were injured in an accident with a large truck or another commercial vehicle, it is important that you understand your legal rights. Even if you were partially at fault, you may still be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
Our team of attorneys at PMR Law have extensive experience with truck accident claims and will be able to consult with you about your legal rights and open an investigation into the cause of the accident to help determine true liability. Fill out the form here or call us at 832-639-0717 so we can evaluate your case for free.