If you have been hit by a work truck, delivery van, church bus, mailman, a county employee, etc., you should call a personal injury lawyer. These types of cases are far more complicated than an accident involving drivers of personally owned vehicles. If you get into an accident with your neighbor, the only people involved will be the two of you and your insurance companies. If, however, you get into an accident with your neighbor while they are driving their delivery truck, the case becomes more complicated. It is because of the concept of negligence or liability.
A Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help Prove Negligence
Whenever you are in an accident with a commercial vehicle, there is an elephant in the room: the business or government entity that owns that vehicle. No longer is the case cut and dry regarding who is to blame. Now an investigation must be done to determine if the owner of the vehicle contributed to the accident in any way. For example, did they let someone drive a vehicle that was in poor condition (bad tires, worn brakes, broken lights, etc.)? Did they allow someone to operate the vehicle who was not adequately trained on how to do so? These are questions that need to be asked and answered to determine who was really to blame for the accident.
Timing Is Important in a Personal Injury Case
It is always a good idea to file a personal injury claim and lawsuit as soon as possible, so you do not hit the statute of limitations. It is especially true when in an accident with a commercial vehicle because we want to conduct the investigation while everything is fresh and relevant. For example, if a transportation company has unsafe practices but you wait to sue them for a year, they may have cleaned up their act. While that is a good thing for other drivers, it could make it harder to prove your case. You want to start gathering evidence as soon as possible while it is fresh and readily available.
Important: A personal injury lawyer needs to name all parties to the lawsuit when filing it. If you settle your case and then later realize that a business had liability, you will probably be unable to sue them. Instead, you need to include all potentially liable parties from the get-go.
Whether you were hit by a vehicle owned by a business, government entity, or non-profit, it is wise to call a personal injury lawyer right away. The consultation is free and will be a good use of your time.