Types of Commercial Vehicle Accidents
Delivery Trucks: Amazon, FedEx, UPS, and local delivery vehicles are everywhere. Pressure to meet delivery quotas leads to speeding, distraction, and improper parking that causes accidents.
Buses: School buses, public transit, charter buses, and tour buses carry passengers with heightened duties of care. Accidents may involve government entities with special legal requirements.
Dump Trucks and Construction Vehicles: Heavy vehicles with poor visibility and unique hazards like unsecured loads and swinging components.
Utility and Service Vehicles: Company trucks for plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and other services are often driven by undertrained employees.
Box Trucks and Moving Vehicles: Rental trucks operated by inexperienced drivers cause many accidents.
Buses: School buses, public transit, charter buses, and tour buses carry passengers with heightened duties of care. Accidents may involve government entities with special legal requirements.
Dump Trucks and Construction Vehicles: Heavy vehicles with poor visibility and unique hazards like unsecured loads and swinging components.
Utility and Service Vehicles: Company trucks for plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and other services are often driven by undertrained employees.
Box Trucks and Moving Vehicles: Rental trucks operated by inexperienced drivers cause many accidents.
Different Rules for Different Vehicles
Not all commercial vehicles are subject to FMCSA regulations. Generally, federal rules apply to:
• Vehicles over 10,001 pounds
• Vehicles designed to transport 16+ passengers
• Vehicles transporting hazardous materials
Smaller commercial vehicles may be subject only to state regulations. However, all commercial drivers must exercise reasonable care, and their employers can still be held vicariously liable.
Bus accidents involving public transit may involve government entities, requiring compliance with tort claims acts and shorter filing deadlines.
• Vehicles over 10,001 pounds
• Vehicles designed to transport 16+ passengers
• Vehicles transporting hazardous materials
Smaller commercial vehicles may be subject only to state regulations. However, all commercial drivers must exercise reasonable care, and their employers can still be held vicariously liable.
Bus accidents involving public transit may involve government entities, requiring compliance with tort claims acts and shorter filing deadlines.
Insurance Coverage Differences
Insurance requirements vary by vehicle type:
Federal requirements (interstate commerce):
• $750,000 minimum for general freight
• $1 million for hazardous materials
• $5 million for certain hazmat classes
State requirements for intrastate vehicles vary widely. Some delivery and service vehicles may carry only standard commercial auto policies of $500,000-$1,000,000.
Government vehicles may have different coverage through self-insurance or government risk pools, with potential caps on damages.
Determining available insurance coverage is critical in commercial vehicle cases.
Federal requirements (interstate commerce):
• $750,000 minimum for general freight
• $1 million for hazardous materials
• $5 million for certain hazmat classes
State requirements for intrastate vehicles vary widely. Some delivery and service vehicles may carry only standard commercial auto policies of $500,000-$1,000,000.
Government vehicles may have different coverage through self-insurance or government risk pools, with potential caps on damages.
Determining available insurance coverage is critical in commercial vehicle cases.
Building Your Commercial Vehicle Case
Commercial vehicle cases require thorough investigation:
• Identify the vehicle owner and operator (often different entities)
• Determine applicable regulations (federal, state, or local)
• Locate all insurance policies
• Obtain employment records and training documentation
• Gather vehicle maintenance and inspection records
• Review company policies regarding vehicle operation
• Determine if delivery schedules or quotas encouraged unsafe driving
Our attorneys handle all types of commercial vehicle accidents and know how to navigate the varying legal requirements and insurance structures.
• Identify the vehicle owner and operator (often different entities)
• Determine applicable regulations (federal, state, or local)
• Locate all insurance policies
• Obtain employment records and training documentation
• Gather vehicle maintenance and inspection records
• Review company policies regarding vehicle operation
• Determine if delivery schedules or quotas encouraged unsafe driving
Our attorneys handle all types of commercial vehicle accidents and know how to navigate the varying legal requirements and insurance structures.