Work and commercial vehicle accidents present a set of complications that are simply not an issue in most traditional motor vehicle accidents. In nearly every commercial vehicle accident case, multiple parties will be involved—creating a situation where each party will try to shift the blame for the accident onto someone else. This multiple party situation also means that more than one insurance company and more than one team of defense attorneys will be added into the mix—creating a complex scenario at a time when all you want to do is recover from your injuries and move on with your life.
At the Marrone Law Firm, LLC, our work and commercial vehicle accident lawyers have the skills necessary to effectively and efficiently handle these complex scenarios. We understand the legal theories behind allocating responsibility in work-related commercial vehicle accidents, and are not intimidated by the arguments that the corporate defense attorneys and insurance adjusters will pose in your case. If you have sustained injuries in an accident where a commercial vehicle was involved, call our offices today so that we can go to work to ensure you get the compensation to which you are rightfully entitled.
Work and commercial vehicle accident cases can be complicated by the fact that it can be difficult to determine who is actually financially responsible for the accident. Commercial vehicles are often owned by one company, operated by another company and driven by an employee. Because of this, even if the accident was clearly caused by driver error or negligence, it may not actually be the driver who is financially responsible in the end. The employment relationship that exists between the driver and the company may render the company itself accountable for any negligent actions of its employees that occurred while the employee was at work.
Our work and commercial vehicle accident lawyers will investigate to determine whether the company that owned or operated the vehicle may be held liable because of:
Yet another complication involves determining which company can be held liable for the driver’s actions, or the accident itself if driver error or negligence was not the cause. We will work to establish whether any of the following types of companies can be held responsible:
At the Marrone Law Firm, our veteran team of work and commercial vehicle accident lawyers have decades’ worth of experience successfully representing clients who have sustained injuries in accidents involving any type of commercial vehicle, including:
Even if there were no witnesses to the accident, commercial vehicle accidents are different in that we can uncover evidence that the various companies involved are legally required to maintain, including:
Call the offices of The Marrone Law Firm, LLC today, or fill out this online form, to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss any questions that you have relating to your case or injuries.
Yes. The employment liability theory only holds true if the driver was actually an employee of the company that owned the vehicle. If the driver was an independent contractor, the company that contracted to retain that driver cannot be held responsible based on an employment liability theory. In these cases, it is usually the driver (and his or her own insurance policy) that will be held responsible. A second situation where the driver can be held responsible is where the driver’s actions were intentional in causing the accident. Finally, if the driver was acting outside the scope of his or her employment—for example, if the driver stopped at a bar on the way to a work site—the driver can be held responsible. These situations can become complicated, making the advice of a skilled commercial vehicle accident lawyer even more valuable.
One of the most common causes of a commercial vehicle accident involves mechanical errors in the vehicle’s brake system. In addition, although commercial vehicles drivers must complete extensive training and obtain a CDL license, driver error and driver fatigue are two of the leading causes of commercial vehicle accidents. Commercial vehicle drivers are usually driving for work, and are often in unfamiliar areas and have been on the roadways for much longer than the average driver. Drivers who are under tight deadlines are also motivated to drive much more aggressively, often at excessive speeds given the size of most commercial vehicles.
Legal questions? We’ll take it from here. Contact our top-rated attorneys.
