Car Accidents Involving Company Vehicles

Car accidents are always confusing situations. However, when an accident involves a company vehicle, either while you are driving it or the other driver is, issues of liability become even more complicated. Not only may victims need to deal with multiple insurance companies, but also there may be more parties than would normally be involved, each with their own interests to protect. The Miami car crash attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon offer experienced legal representation to victims who have been in a car accident involving a company vehicle. Our team can assist you through all of the stages of the legal process, from the investigation into how an accident happened until the resolution of any necessary negotiations or litigation. We represent people throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties, as well as elsewhere in South Florida. If you need legal assistance regarding your options following a serious car crash, you can contact our office today to speak with an attorney and discuss your legal rights.

Under the doctrine of vicarious liability, employers are held accountable for the actions taken by employees when they occur within the scope of employment. This includes any negligent acts. Negligence refers to when a person breaches a duty of reasonable care owed to another party, which causes injuries and results in damages. All individuals and entities are liable for their own negligent actions, but employers may be held accountable as well for an employee’s negligence. However, it must be shown that an accident occurred while an employee was performing duties at the behest of the employer, or to further a business interest. When a collision occurs while an employee is driving a company vehicle, a company may argue that the employee was not within the scope of employment if they were on a break or veered off course to do an errand, among other situations.

Aside from vicarious liability, a company can be held directly accountable by a personal injury attorney for its own negligent acts. For example, a company may fail to adequately train an employee or conduct a background check into their driving record before entrusting them with a vehicle. Under the ‘dangerous instrumentality rule’ contained in the common law, owners of inherently dangerous objects (which include cars and trucks) can be held liable for injuries resulting from those objects’ use. Car accident victims can sustain serious injuries, such as broken bones and spinal cord damage, as well as brain trauma. These victims often need financial assistance in covering medical expenses, time missed from work, and other costs associated with such severe injuries.

In Florida, all parties who act negligently in causing an accident and injuries share in covering the costs of a victim, including victims themselves. Courts award compensation under a pure comparative fault scheme, meaning that each negligent party contributes in proportion to its degree of fault. For instance, if a victim is found 40 percent negligent, they can still be awarded 60 percent of the damages from the other parties that are also liable.

Car accidents involving company vehicles tend to involve more complex issues than some types of accidents. Victims and their families often need to involve the legal system in order to receive financial support for the serious injuries and sometimes fatalities that can occur. The car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon are dedicated to making sure that our clients’ legal rights are vigorously asserted throughout the duration of their claims. If you need legal assistance after a car accident involving a company vehicle, you can call 877.499.4878 or contact us online to set up a free consultation about your case. Our attorneys represent people in Miami, West Palm Beach, and other South Florida cities who are dealing with the aftermath of a life-changing crash.