We’ve all seen the TV ads and billboards: Big-name lawyers advertise all the time for people who have been involved in wrecks with “company vehicles,” or “big trucks.” But why be so specific? In a nutshell, personal injury attorneys who advertise for “company vehicle” cases are hedging their bets that wrecks involving company vehicles will mean more available insurance coverage and bigger injuries.
Commercial Insurance versus Personal Auto Insurance:
Companies usually carry commercial liability insurance, especially if they operate a fleet of vehicles. Typically, commercial insurance policies provide higher limits of liability coverage for the company and their employees, usually around $1 Million. Additionally, companies may also have excess (or umbrella) coverage on top of their liability limits.
In contrast, Louisiana requires private individuals to have personal liability limits of only $15,000 per person, up to $30,000 per accident (15/30). That’s not much!
The bottom line is that there is a much greater chance that a company vehicle or big truck will have higher insurance coverage limits than a non-company vehicle.
The Bigger the Vehicle, the Bigger the Injury?:
Big TV lawyers also know that wrecks with bigger vehicles often (but not always) result in more serious injuries due to a few factors.
First, and most obvious, most commercial vehicles are usually bigger than regular vehicles, especially delivery vehicles and tractor-trailers. For example, a UPS delivery truck weighs about 16,000-24,000 lbs., depending upon cargo. In contrast, the average midsize car weighs only 3,300 lbs. That’s a huge difference when talking about impact potential during a crash.
Second, bigger commercial vehicles are commonly used more on highways and interstates instead of on city streets and neighborhoods. Combine higher rates of speed with heavier vehicles and the result is the potential for more devastating wrecks.
Have You Been Injured In An Accident And Have Questions About The Ins And Outs After A Car Wreck?
At Flattmann Law, we know that our clients don’t get to choose who they get in a wreck with, and certainly would avoid the wreck altogether if they could. We help people in all situations, whether a big-rig caused their accident or they were rear-ended by a Tesla.If you have been injured and have questions about the ins and outs after a car wreck, contact us online or call our Covington office directly at 985.590.6182 to schedule your free consultation today. Flattmann Law serves clients on the Northshore, including Covington, Mandeville, Abita Springs, Bogalusa, Franklinton, Folsom, Madisonville, Goodbee, Hammond, Lacombe, Pearl River, and Slidell.
