When it comes to motor vehicle accidents, liability can be a complicated issue.
For example, if you sustain injuries as the result of an accident with a delivery truck, who is liable for the damages?
Most likely, the company that owns the truck is liable
According to FindLaw experts, most cases result in the owners of the truck assuming liability. This generally applies to situations where the driver is acting in the scope of their employment and somehow causes an accident. In these situations, the employer takes responsibility for the actions of the employee and assumes liability for your injuries.
There are exceptions to the rule
As with most things, however, there are exceptions to this rule. They include, but are not limited to:
- The company fails to extend collision coverage to employees
- The driver is in the process of committing a crime when the accident occurs
- The employee is not acting in the scope of their employment at the time of the accident, such as running personal errands on company time
- The employee has intoxicants in their system at the time of the accident
These situations may result in the employer refusing liability for the accident. In that case, it is most likely that liability would fall to the driver themselves. In those instances, you must seek damages from the driver’s insurance company instead of the company’s insurance company.
It is important to put your efforts into the right place to avoid expending unnecessary energy while you are healing. Filing claims with the correct insurance companies can speed up the claims process, allowing you to receive compensation more quickly.