When the vehicle that hit you had a business name on the door, or was being driven for work even if it did not, the claim is usually larger and more complicated than a crash between two private drivers.
The Law Offices of David W. Holub handle these claims in Merrillville and across Northwest Indiana. Consultations are free. Call (219) 736-9700 to talk about what happened.
Why a Work Vehicle Changes the Claim
There is often more than one party responsible. The driver was driving, but someone employed that driver, chose that driver, trained that driver, set the schedule the driver was keeping, and maintained the vehicle. Where any of that contributed, it becomes part of the claim.
There is usually more insurance. Commercial policies are generally written at higher limits than personal auto policies. On a serious injury that difference can be the whole difference between a claim that covers what happened and one that does not.
And the other side moves faster. A business with vehicles on the road has a process for this. Insurers and sometimes defense counsel are involved within days, often before the injured person has left the hospital. The evidence that matters most gets collected by their people first.
The Kinds of Vehicles This Covers
Sales and service vehicles, including pickups and vans. Company cars driven by employees. Contractor and trade vehicles. Municipal and utility light vehicles. And vehicles driven for a business by someone using their own car.
For heavier commercial vehicles, see our truck accident page. For passenger-carrying vehicles, see bus accidents. For rideshare drivers, see Uber and Lyft.
The Question of Whether the Driver Was Working
This is usually where these cases are fought. A business is in a different position when its driver was doing the job than when the same driver was running a personal errand in the same vehicle. Expect the business to take the view that the driver was off on their own at the time.
Our office works that question from the record rather than the argument: the driver’s schedule and route that day, dispatch and job records, fuel and toll records, telematics and GPS where the vehicle carried it, phone records where they are obtainable, and the driver’s own account given early rather than after coaching.
What We Look At Beyond the Crash Itself
A business that puts vehicles on the road takes on a set of responsibilities about who it lets drive them and in what condition. Where the facts support it, we examine how the driver was screened and what the business knew about their record, what training the business provided, whether the schedule the driver was keeping was realistic, maintenance and inspection records for the vehicle, and whether prior incidents involving the same driver or the same practice had been reported.
Records like these are held by the business and do not arrive on their own. Our office moves to secure them early, because the gap between a crash and a lawsuit is the window in which they are most likely to be lost.
Related reading: collecting evidence, filing a claim, insurance claims, and recoverable damages.
If You Were the One Driving for Work
Someone injured while driving for their own employer is in a different position again, with more than one possible source of recovery depending on the circumstances. That is worth a conversation rather than a web page. We also handle construction and worksite injuries.
Cost
These matters are handled on a contingency basis. There is no fee for the first conversation, and our fee comes out of a recovery rather than out of pocket. The written agreement sets out the terms and our office goes through it with you before you sign.
Talk With Our Office
If the vehicle that hit you belonged to a business, or the driver was working at the time, a first call covers what happened, the injuries, who has contacted you, and what the options look like.
Call our Merrillville office at (219) 736-9700 or use our contact page.
This page is general information about our services and is not legal advice. Every situation is different. Contact our office to discuss yours.