Accidents can happen to anyone at any time. However, if you have been harmed by another driver, that other driver matters a lot. While you hope the other driver has auto insurance, you might have been hit by a driver using a company vehicle. Dealing with commercial interests presents victims with both challenges and opportunities. To find out more, read on.
Who Is to Blame for the Accident?
If the other driver that ran into you was at fault, you are probably owed compensation. However, if the other driver was employed by a commercial entity, it is the company that owes you compensation and not the driver. Businesses must screen, hire, check, and train employees to drive their company vehicles safely. Businesses of all sizes usually carry insurance to cover things when an accident occurs. However, certain factors could change things for the victim.
What Are Deep Pockets?
While not an official legal term, "deep pockets" is often used to refer to accident situations involving large businesses. Companies of a certain size are often well-insured and may offer victims more compensation than usual. Another factor with large, well-known companies is bad publicity. Accidents that end in a settlement benefit both the victim and the plaintiff. Settlements from deep-pocket companies may come quickly to avoid bad publicity. They seldom wait for a trial to occur, and they may cut the settlement process short by offering a larger check from the beginning.
On the other hand, these large companies are also able to hire personal injury lawyers to fight against claims. That means you should not cut any corners when it comes to hiring your own personal injury lawyer. You need a good, airtight case with plenty of proof to go against a big company with a team of lawyers to defend them.
Punitive Damages
The last issue that sets this type of accident apart is the potential for punitive damages. Even though you hope to settle the case out of court, the potential to be paid punitive damages exists and can influence settlement offers. Some large companies may be negligent in the way they hired or trained their drivers, and it could affect other cases and cause company-wide problems. Punitive damages can more than double what you would normally be paid. Speak to a personal injury lawyer to find out more.
Contact a local law firm, such as Siben & Siben LLP, to learn more.
Share27 October 2022
There are so many legal situations that you can find yourself involved with, but do those situations really require that you hire an attorney? Some instances you may not need an attorney working with you, but in other situations, an attorney is definitely a necessity. This blog contains tips and advice for working through the different elements of the legal system. You will find information that can help you determine if/when you need to hire an attorney to represent your best interests. Knowing this information can help you avoid the costly mistake of taking on the legal system without someone who knows how the system works.
