As a driver, you not only share the road with cars and trucks, but also
commercial vehicles such as buses, shuttles, 18-wheelers, and even minivans used for transporting
goods and people. While a motorist is usually the one liable for an accident
between vehicles, fault becomes much more complex when there’s a
commercial vehicle involved.
Driver Liability
A commercial vehicle driver can be held accountable for an accident for
several reasons:
- A driver may be liable if they get in an accident while taking personal
time on the job. For example, if a UPS driver gets in an accident on the
way to friend’s house while on the job, this detour could land the
blame on the driver.
- A driver of a commercial vehicle can also be liable for an accident if
it was purposeful, whether it was because of road rage, abuse of alcohol
or drugs, or negligence.
- If a driver is an independent contractor, they can also be held liable
for an accident, since they are not a formal employee.
Company Liability
In addition to the driver, the company that owns the commercial vehicle
can also be held responsible for an accident for the following reasons:
- If the driver was working within the scope of their employment, following
their route and paying full attention to the road, but still managed to
get in an accident, the company may be liable for damages.
- A truck that’s in poor condition due to the owner’s negligence
can result in an accident, and the fault would lie on the one responsible
for its maintenance, which could be the employer.
If you’ve been involved in a commercial vehicle accident, contact
our New Orleans personal injury lawyers at the Womac Law Firm today.
Call (504) 470-3935 or
contact us online
for a consultation.