Monthly Archives: July 2017

July 19, 2017 at 8:19 pm | Driver vs. Company Liability: Who’s Responsible for My Accident?

If you’ve recently been in an accident involving a commercial truck, you will want to hire an experienced lawyer to represent you for your physical injuries as well as those to your vehicle.  Commercial trucks are typically larger than passenger motor vehicles and have a much higher potential to damage your car and cause injuries due to their size. However, even if the truck driver was clearly at fault the responsibility for whether he pays your damages or his company/employer is responsible can often be difficult to determine.   You will need a Bucks County truck accident attorney to help you navigate your claim and determine who is legally liable.

Typically, a truck accident falls under the legal theory of “respondeat superior.” A Latin phrase that roughly translates to “Let the master answer.” This maxim and legal principle essentially means that a master is liable in certain cases for the wrongful acts of his servant, and a principal for those of his agent.  Thus, a company is often liable for actions of their employee including if they cause an accident.  Not only is the company responsible for their employee’s actions, but they are also responsible for training and ensuring that only qualified, safe, and competent employees are on the road and acting in the interests of the business.

The first thing that you will need to do to hold a company legally liable for damages caused by their employee or agent, is to show that the driver is an employee of the company and that the accident occurred while the employee was acting within the course and scope of his employment responsibilities.  An experienced truck accident lawyer in Bucks County will help you to navigate the differences between an employee and an independent contractor.

Other factors also will determine who can be held accountable for an accident, where drugs or alcohol are involved or if there is an issue about an accident being intentional rather than an accident.  The bottom line is, if you’ve been involved in a truck accident, make sure that you have an experienced and qualified lawyer on your side.

If you wish to learn more about liability, you can contact our expert legal team at the Law Offices of Rovner, Allen, Rovner, Zimmerman & Nash today by calling 215-259-5958 or filling out a contact form on our web site, www.dial-law.com. For over 40 years we have been representing injured clients in Philadelphia, Bucks County, Montgomery County, New Jersey, and the entire Delaware Valley.  If you are injured in an accident call us right away at 215-259-5958 for a free consultation and to learn your rights.