What Happens When You're In A Car Accident With A Commercial Vehicle?

You may not have noticed an increase in more commercial vehicles on the road these days, since many of them are normal vehicles that they are driving while on the clock for a company. A very popular category includes delivery drivers, which are driving across town to deliver food, groceries, or whatever items are being shipped to people's homes. Here is what you need to know if you're injured in an accident with a commercial vehicle like this. 

Who Is Responsible For The Accident?

It's possible that the responsible person's employer at the time of the accident can be held responsible for the crash. They are the one that has control over what their employee is doing and why they are on the road. It is best to get a lawyer involved so that you know about all the potential defendants in a personal injury lawsuit. Without the knowledge of what to do in the discovery process to uncover this information, you could be going after the wrong entity. 

What If The Driver Is An Independent Contractor? 

It gets a bit confusing when someone is an independent contractor. That's because the driver may try to push responsibility on the company that hired them, rather than themselves. Once again, this will require a bit of discovery around the person's employment to find out who is deciding if the driver must be on the road. Did the independent contractor have full control over their situation while driving, or were they doing a specific task ordered by their employer at the time? This can actually make a big difference. 

Who's Insurance Is Used In A Commercial Vehicle Accident? 

Some companies have additional protection for their employees while they are driving their own vehicles. For example, the popular rideshare companies out there provide additional coverage to their drivers while they are booked on a ride either picking up a passenger or taking one to their destination. You may find that this coverage is sufficient to handle the damages that you sustained.

When the commercial vehicle doesn't have this type of insurance policy in place, you would then look at the company that hired the driver and look at their insurance coverage, followed by the driver's personal insurance coverage on their vehicle. You would then have the option of using your personal uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage to cover the remaining bills that need to be paid.  

For more info, contact a local company like Martinez King Law Firm, PLLC.