If you are injured in an accident in a company car, you may have several potential sources of compensation. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to pursue recovery through your employer’s auto insurance policy, workers’ compensation, and/or the at-fault driver’s insurance coverage.
After a collision, it is important to understand the types of compensation that may be available for the injuries you suffered and how the circumstances of the car accident may affect your claim.
What Is a Company Car?
A company car is a vehicle owned by a business that employees are allowed to drive. Company cars can also include work vehicles that employees pick up from the employer’s place of business at the beginning of the day and return to the employer at the end of their shift. Some businesses also allow employees to take company cars home and drive them for personal purposes. Workers may use company cars to transport equipment, make deliveries, travel between client locations, or drive to work-related functions.
Why Are Company Car Accidents Different from Standard Car Accidents?
Company car accidents can involve unique legal circumstances that differentiate them from standard car accidents. Specifically, a company car accident can involve an employer’s insurance coverage and potentially lead to employer liability, depending on the circumstances of the crash. As a result, car accidents involving company vehicles may lead to litigation concerning fault, which can determine whether the company that owns the vehicle bears liability for injuries and property damage.
How Is Fault Determined in a Georgia Company Car Accident?
Law enforcement officers, insurance companies, and juries determine fault for a car accident based on various kinds of evidence, which can help identify which driver caused the crash. Examples of evidence used to determine fault for a car crash include the following:
- Police accident reports
- Accident scene photos or videos
- Surveillance, traffic, or dashcam footage
- Witness statements
- Vehicle data recorder logs
- Post-accident vehicle inspections
- Vehicle repair and maintenance records
- Accident reconstruction expert reports or testimony
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Company Car Accident in Georgia?
Various parties may bear financial responsibility for injuries and property damage resulting from a car accident involving a company vehicle, depending on the determination of fault. Potential liable parties in a company car accident case in Georgia include the following:
- Employer – An employer may bear liability for a company car accident if its employee caused the crash while driving for work.
- Employee – An employee driving a company car may bear liability for an accident if they caused the crash, especially if the accident occurred while the employee drove their company vehicle on personal time or for personal purposes.
- Another driver – Another driver who hits a company car due to their negligence may bear liability for damage to the vehicle and for injuries suffered by the company car’s occupants.
- Third party – Other third parties can also bear liability for a company car accident, such as the vehicle’s manufacturer, if the crash occurred due to a defect.
Who Will Pay the Damages in a Company Vehicle Crash?
Compensation for property damage and injuries caused by a crash in your company vehicle may come from different parties, depending on the following circumstances of the crash:
- If you caused the accident while working – If you cause an accident while driving a company car on the job for work purposes, your employer will usually pay compensation for the injuries and property damage resulting from the crash. Your employer may bear vicarious liability for your negligence. Compensation may come from your employer’s commercial auto and general liability insurance policies or from your employer’s financial assets.
- If you caused the crash while using the company car for personal reasons – If you cause an accident while driving a company car for personal reasons, you bear liability for injuries and property damage for the crash. You may have personal auto liability insurance that may compensate for the injuries and property damage resulting from the crash.
- If another party caused the wreck – If you get into an accident caused by another driver’s negligence while driving your company car, the other driver and their auto insurance may bear liability. However, if the accident occurs in the course of your job, you may also have the right to pursue workers’ compensation benefits from your employer, with the workers’ compensation insurer placing a lien on any financial recovery you obtain from the at-fault driver in a car accident lawsuit.
What Should You Do After a Georgia Company Car Accident?
After an accident while driving a company car in Georgia, taking prompt action can protect your rights and interests. Things you should do after a company car accident include the following:
- Report the accident to law enforcement and obtain a copy of the police crash report.
- Notify your employer of the accident.
- Seek immediate medical attention to diagnose injuries you may have sustained in the crash.
- Keep copies of your recovery expenses and request copies of the medical records of your treatment and rehabilitation.
- File a workers’ compensation claim with your employer if the accident occurred in the course of your employment.
Finally, contact a car accident attorney as soon as possible to discuss the details of the crash and learn about your legal options or potential liability.
Contact a Georgia Car Accident Lawyer
If you were hurt in a crash while driving a company vehicle, you may wonder about your legal rights. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer from Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., can walk you through your legal options for financial recovery. For over 30 years, our attorneys have worked diligently to pursue optimal results in injury cases for accident victims like you. When you choose our firm to represent you in a car accident lawsuit, you can expect our legal team to treat you like family.
Contact Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., today to discuss your options in a free consultation with an experienced Georgia car accident attorney.
