What If the At-Fault Driver in Fort Collins Was Driving a Company Vehicle?

If you were in an auto collision caused by a motorist who was driving a company vehicle, you might be unsure how to go about seeking compensation for your medical bills, vehicle repair costs, and other losses. Times like these can be confusing, but a Fort Collins car accident lawyer from Zinda Law Group can offer the counsel you need to make the right choices.

An experienced attorney from our firm can advise you on your best course of action after an accident in Fort Collins involving an at-fault driver who was driving a company vehicle. We can also offer the representation you need to hold the at-fault party responsible for your losses, ensuring you get the compensation and justice you deserve.

Liable Parties in a Fort Collins Crash With an At-Fault Driver in a Company Vehicle

When you are involved in or injured in an accident, you have the right to seek damages from the liable party. That said, it may be difficult to determine who should be held liable in an accident caused by a driver who was operating their employer’s vehicle at the time of the incident. 

Luckily, a skilled car accident lawyer from Fort Collins can investigate the crash and determine who should be responsible for your injuries and losses. Depending on the details of the collision, one of the following parties may be held liable:

The Driver’s Employer

If the driver was on the clock and performing a job-related task at the time of the crash, the employer will likely be held liable for the incident. For example, if the driver was making a delivery for a shipping company, your car accident attorney will probably advise you to pursue compensation from the shipping company.

The employer may also be liable if the driver took a detour to fill up the car’s gas tank when the crash occurred. Although getting gas isn’t one of the driver’s specified job duties, it is still related to the company, making the driver’s employer the liable party. 

Lastly, the company can be liable if it failed to maintain the vehicle properly. For example, if the accident was caused by worn-out brakes or a broken car part that the company should have repaired, it can be held liable for the incident.

The Driver

If the driver wasn’t performing a job-related task or a task indirectly related to their job, they may be held liable for the pain and other losses you’ve suffered due to the crash. For example, if the driver was using the company car to visit their friend in between deliveries, your attorney will likely seek damages from the driver’s liability car insurance company.

Finding out what the driver was doing at the time of the collision is critical to determining liability, but it can be difficult. Fortunately, a Fort Collins car accident attorney can investigate the accident and determine who should be responsible for your losses.

Proving Liability After a Fort Collins Driver Causes a Crash in a Company Vehicle

If you were in a collision in Fort Collins where the at-fault driver was using a company vehicle, your lawyer must conduct an investigation of the crash to determine who you should file a claim against. They’ll gather the following pieces of information to learn more about the incident and establish liability:

• The official Fort Collins car accident report
• Photos of the accident scene
• Footage of the collision
• Evidence from the scene of the incident, like tire marks and damaged signs
• Testimony from an accident reconstructionist
• Witness testimony
• Your medical records

Using Evidence To Establish Negligence

Once your attorney has collected all the relevant evidence they can find, they’ll use it to establish negligence and prove that the at-fault party should be held liable for damages. To demonstrate that the at-fault party should be held responsible for the crash, they must use evidence to establish the following elements:

• The at-fault party owed you a duty of care
• The at-fault party breached the duty of care
• The breach caused the accident and your injuries
• You suffered losses due to the incident

If your Fort Collins car accident attorney can prove the above-listed elements, they’ll likely be able to hold the at-fault driver or owner of the company vehicle liable for the pain, emotional distress, and other losses you’ve suffered due to the crash. 

Damages You Can Obtain After an Accident With a Company Vehicle in Fort Collins

Whether your car accident attorney finds that the at-fault driver or the driver’s company is liable for the collision, they’ll pursue the damages you need to cover your accident-related bills and get back on your feet. If your claim is successful, you could receive several more of the following forms of compensation:

• Current and future medical expenses
• Cost of ambulance transportation, hospital services, and surgeries
• Rehabilitative therapy expenses
• Cost to repair your vehicle
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Schedule a Free Consultation With a Fort Collins Car Accident Lawyer

It can be tricky to determine what to do after an accident in Fort Collins where the at-fault driver was driving a company car. That’s why it’s important to work with an attorney who can use their extensive legal knowledge and investigation skills to identify the liable party and recover the compensation you’re owed.

At Zinda Law Group, our car accident lawyers in Fort Collins have handled countless car accident cases, including many that involved company vehicles. We have the experience, resources, and commitment to client success required to bring your case to a favorable conclusion. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and get started on your claim.