San Bernardino Company Car Accident Lawyer

Company vehicle accidents in San Bernardino, California, bring unique legal challenges that standard car crashes don’t present. When you’re hit by a delivery van, commercial truck, or employee driving for work, multiple parties may share liability—the driver, their employer, the vehicle owner, and potentially others.

These cases involve commercial insurance policies with much higher coverage limits than personal auto insurance, but accessing that compensation requires navigating complex corporate and insurance structures.

San Bernardino’s position as a major logistics and distribution center means our roads see heavy commercial vehicle traffic daily.

Amazon vans race through neighborhoods making deliveries. Construction trucks barrel down the I-10 and 215 corridors. Government vehicles, utility trucks, and corporate fleet cars fill our streets during business hours.

When these company vehicles cause accidents, victims face aggressive corporate legal teams and insurance adjusters trained to minimize payouts.

Our experienced San Bernardino company car accident lawyers level the playing field for victims of company car accidents. At Krasney Law Accident Attorneys, we understand federal motor carrier regulations, California employment law, and the tactics commercial insurers use to avoid liability.

We know how to identify all responsible parties, preserve critical evidence before companies destroy it, and pursue maximum compensation from the substantial insurance coverage these cases typically involve.

If you’ve been injured by someone driving for work, you need company car accident attorneys in San Bernardino who can match corporate resources and fight for the full compensation you deserve.

Who Is Liable for a Company Car Accident in San Bernardino?

When an employee causes an accident while working, their employer is usually legally responsible. This legal rule is called vicarious liability or “respondeat superior,” which means “let the master answer.”

The employer is liable only if the employee was acting within the scope of employment when the crash happened. Scope of employment means any activities that benefit the employer or are part of job duties.

Some examples are

• Making deliveries: Company pays for damages
• Driving to client meetings: Company pays for damages
• Running work errands: Company pays for damages
• Personal lunch breaks: Driver may be personally liable
• Regular commuting: Usually driver’s responsibility
• Unauthorized personal use: Driver typically liable

Determining liability gets complicated with independent contractors and app-based drivers like Uber or Lyft.

Can I Sue the Company or Just the Employee Driver?

You can usually file claims against both the negligent driver and their employer. Suing the company is often critical because businesses carry commercial insurance with much higher limits than personal auto policies.

These larger policies provide better sources of recovery for serious injuries. Commercial policies often begin at $750,000 or $1 million, compared with the typical personal auto minimums of $15,000 in California, making uninsured motorist coverage particularly important when these higher limits may not apply.

Naming the company prevents the employer from blaming everything on their employee to avoid responsibility. This ensures all liable parties are held accountable for your injuries.

What Are My Rights if I Was Driving the Company Car?

Your legal options depend on your employment status when the accident happened. The paths to compensation are very different for employees versus independent contractors.

For employees, workers’ compensation is typically the exclusive remedy. This means you cannot sue your employer for your injuries. However, you can still file a personal injury lawsuit against another driver who caused the accident.

Independent contractors have different rights since they’re not covered by workers’ compensation. They may be able to sue both the third party and potentially their contracting company.

What if I Was Hit by a Company Vehicle?

If a company vehicle hit you,      you have the right to seek full compensation from the at-fault driver and their employer. San Bernardino’s role as a logistics hub means our roads are filled with commercial vehicles.

We handle accidents involving many types of company vehicles:

• Amazon, FedEx, and UPS delivery vans
• Construction trucks and heavy equipment
• Corporate fleet vehicles
• Government cars and trucks
• Rideshare vehicles during active trips

After a crash, take photos of the company vehicle, including any logos, markings, and license plates. This evidence helps identify the responsible business and their insurance coverage.

What Kind of Insurance Covers a Company Car Accident?

Company vehicles are covered by commercial auto insurance, not personal policies. Commercial policies have much higher liability limits and often include multiple layers of coverage.

Rideshare drivers have tiered insurance based on their app status. When the app is off, only personal insurance applies. When waiting for rides, limited contingent coverage is active. During active trips, full commercial coverage of $1 million applies.

Warning for government vehicle accidents: There is a strict deadline to file a formal claim notice against city, county, or state entities. This timeframe is much shorter than the standard two-year deadline that applies to other cases.

How We Immediately Preserve Crucial Evidence

Commercial vehicles contain electronic data that can prove what caused your accident. Companies often delete this information quickly to avoid liability.

Our skilled San Bernardino company car accident lawyers immediately send spoliation letters, which are legal demands requiring companies to preserve all relevant evidence. This time-sensitive evidence includes:

• Dashcam footage: Often overwritten within 30-90 days
• GPS tracking data: Shows speed, braking, and location history
• Driver logs: Reveals hours-of-service violations
• Maintenance records: Can show known mechanical problems

Without these preservation letters, critical evidence disappears forever. We send them the same day you hire our firm.

What Steps Should I Take After a Company Vehicle Accident?

Get Medical Care Immediately

Your health is the top priority. Seek medical attention right away, even if you feel fine. Some serious injuries don’t show symptoms for hours or days after an accident.

Insurance companies use gaps in medical treatment to argue your injuries aren’t severe in personal injury claims. Getting prompt medical care protects both your health and your legal claim.

Report and Document Everything

Call 911 to ensure a police report is created. Tell the responding officer that the other vehicle is commercial or company-owned.

Use your phone to photograph vehicle damage, company logos, license plates, and any visible injuries. These photos become valuable evidence if your case goes to court.

Gather Information from All Parties

Get the driver’s name, their employer’s information, and insurance details. Ask witnesses for their names and phone numbers since their statements can be crucial.

Write down exactly what the driver says at the scene. Admissions like “I was running late” or “I didn’t see you” can help prove fault later.

Decline Recorded Statements

Company insurance adjusters will call quickly asking for recorded statements. Politely decline until you’ve spoken with your attorney.

These statements are designed to limit or deny your claim. Adjusters are trained to ask questions that can hurt your case later.

Contact Our San Bernardino Law Firm

Call us as soon as possible so we can start investigating and send evidence preservation letters immediately. Early action protects your rights and strengthens your case.

What Is My Company Car Accident Case Worth?

Commercial insurance policies have higher limits, so settlements in these cases are often larger than standard car accidents. The value depends on your injury severity and total losses.

We fight to recover maximum compensation for all your damages, often exceeding average car accident settlements in California due to the higher insurance limits in commercial cases:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering from your injuries
• Property damage to your vehicle
• Punitive damages for reckless company behavior

Each case is unique, but commercial vehicle accidents often result in higher compensation due to the serious injuries they cause and the insurance coverage available.

How Long Does a Company Vehicle Lawsuit Take?

Company vehicle lawsuits often take longer to resolve than ordinary car accident cases because they involve complex investigations and multiple parties.     

Several factors can extend the timeline. Multiple defendants, like the driver, company, and vehicle manufacturer, complicate the process. Commercial insurance involves multiple coverage layers that must be navigated carefully.

Companies often resist sharing safety records and other internal documents. This leads to discovery battles that can delay resolution but they are necessary to build strong cases.

What Deadlines Apply to Company Car Accident Claims?

California gives you two years from the accident date to file most personal injury lawsuits. However, critical exceptions require much faster action.

Government vehicle accidents have a six-month deadline for filing formal claim notices. This applies to accidents involving city, county, or state vehicles.

Wrongful death cases must be filed within two years of the death date, which may differ from the accident date. Minor children have until their 20th birthday to file claims.

Missing these deadlines usually means losing your right to compensation forever. Early action protects your legal rights.

What if My Loved One Died in a Company Car Crash?

Losing a family member in a preventable accident is devastating. While money cannot replace your loss, wrongful death claims provide financial stability and justice.

These claims allow surviving family members to recover funeral expenses, lost financial support, and compensation for losing their loved one’s companionship.

We handle these sensitive cases with the compassion your family deserves during this difficult time.

Punitive damages are more common in commercial vehicle deaths, especially in wrongful death cases when companies ignored safety regulations or pushed drivers to meet unrealistic deadlines.

Why Hire a San Bernardino Company Car Accident Lawyer?

Company vehicle cases require specialized knowledge beyond regular car accidents. We understand federal motor carrier safety regulations and how they apply to your case.

Large corporations have teams of lawyers and investigators working to minimize their liability. You need experienced advocates who know their tactics and how to counter them effectively.

We have the resources to hire accident reconstruction experts, obtain surveillance footage, and fight corporate legal teams. This levels the playing field and gives you the best chance at fair compensation.

Why Choose Krasney Law Accident Attorneys

We represent accident victims in San Bernardino County. When you hire our firm, you get direct attention from experienced attorneys, not case managers.

We have offices in San Bernardino and Rancho Cucamonga, making us accessible to clients throughout the Inland Empire. Our attorneys speak Spanish and understand the diverse communities we serve.

Unlike large firms that handle thousands of cases, we take on a limited number of clients to ensure personal attention. Your case won’t get lost in the shuffle or handed off to inexperienced staff.

We know the local courts, judges, and opposing attorneys in San Bernardino County. This knowledge helps us develop effective strategies tailored to your specific case.

Free Consultation and No Fee Unless We Win

You shouldn’t worry about legal fees while recovering from injuries. That’s why we handle all company car accident cases on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless we win.

Your initial consultation is completely free with no obligation. We’ll evaluate your case, explain your rights, and outline the steps needed to protect your claim.

We advance all case costs,  including expert witnesses, medical records, and court fees. You’re never asked to pay these expenses upfront or out of pocket.

FAQs: Company Car Accidents in San Bernardino

Can I sue if the company driver was using the vehicle for personal reasons?

It depends on whether the driver had permission and if the personal use was incidental to work duties. We investigate the specific circumstances to determine if the employer can still be held liable under California law.

Am I entitled to both workers’ compensation and a personal injury lawsuit?

Yes, if a third party caused your work-related accident, you can typically pursue workers’ compensation benefits and file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver or company. These are separate claims with different types of compensation.

What happens if the company claims their driver is an independent contractor?

Companies often misclassify employees as contractors to avoid liability, complicating the process of determining fault in auto accidents.

We examine the actual working relationship, including who controls the work, provides equipment, and sets schedules to determine true employment status.

Why do government vehicle claims have shorter deadlines?

California law requires claim notices against government entities within six months because of governmental immunity protections. The state grants government agencies special legal protections, and the shortened deadline is part of the process you must follow to hold them accountable.

This timeframe gives the government entity time to investigate and potentially resolve your claim before you file a lawsuit. Missing this deadline typically bars your claim permanently.

Should I accept the company’s initial settlement offer?

No, initial offers are usually far below fair value and designed to close cases quickly. We evaluate all your damages, including future medical needs and lost earning capacity, before recommending any settlement.

How quickly does electronic evidence get destroyed in company vehicles?

Dashcam footage and GPS data may be overwritten if they are not legally preserved. We send spoliation letters immediately to prevent this critical evidence from being destroyed or deleted.