When you think about a commercial vehicle accident, an 18-wheeler or semitruck may come to mind first. However, you do not have to be traveling beside a massive truck on the highway to be involved in a serious crash with a business vehicle.
Many types of work vehicles travel the regular roads of Clarksville and surrounding communities every day. If one of them hits you, whether the driver was working at the time may affect who is responsible for your injuries.
Business vehicles come in many shapes and sizes
Depending on the work a business performs, you may encounter vehicles such as:
- Flatbed trucks
- Dump trucks
- Large cargo vans
- Delivery trucks
- Utility and bucket trucks
- Cement mixers
- Trucks transporting liquids or chemicals
Not every business vehicle falls under the same state or federal commercial vehicle regulations. Specific rules can depend on factors such as the vehicle’s size, weight, cargo and use.
Regardless of classification, drivers must use reasonable care behind the wheel. A delivery van, dump truck or utility vehicle can cause serious injuries in a crash even though it may be smaller than an 18-wheeler.
When can a business share responsibility?
If a careless driver hits you while performing duties within the scope of their employment, the business may also bear responsibility for your injuries. For example, a crash could involve a delivery driver making scheduled stops or a utility worker traveling between job sites.
The driver’s work relationship, purpose for the trip and actions at the time of the crash can help determine whether the driver alone or both the driver and business may bear responsibility.
Understanding who may be responsible
After a crash with a business vehicle, identifying the driver may be only part of determining responsibility. The driver’s work duties and relationship with the business can also affect your claim.
You do not have to sort through those questions on your own while dealing with injuries and other effects of the crash. A personal injury attorney can investigate the driver’s employment, determine which parties may be responsible and identify insurance coverage that may apply.