What Happens When A Company Truck Collides With A Passenger Vehicle?
Fleet vehicle collisions are complicated. Not necessarily the actual collision… But the legal aftermath that ensues. So many parties involved. Insurance companies. Rigorous timelines. Who’s covering what?
That gets complicated fast.
This article breaks down the top liability issues affecting commercial drivers and their employers following a fleet accident.
Let’s dive in!
In this guide:
- Why Fleet Accidents Are Rising Fast
- Who’s Actually Liable After a Fleet Crash?
- The Statute Of Limitations Injury Deadline You Can’t Miss
- Employer Responsibilities (And Where They Fall Short)
- How Drivers Can Protect Themselves
- The Employer’s Playbook After a Crash
Why Fleet Accidents Are Rising Fast
Commercial fleet crashes have been climbing for years… And 2024 didn’t slow the trend.
NSC’s latest data shows that 5,218 large trucks were involved in a fatal crash in 2024, and injury crashes reached 120,724.
Here’s why the numbers keep climbing:
- More vehicle miles traveled as the economy rebounds
- Ongoing driver shortages putting inexperienced people behind the wheel
- Distracted driving continues to spike
- Tighter delivery schedules pushing drivers past safe limits
You combine that with trucks driving significantly more miles than the average driver… Crashes become more frequent. When crashes occur, they’re more likely to be serious.
That’s where the tricky legal questions kick in.
Who’s Actually Liable After a Fleet Crash?
Here’s where fleet accidents get really tricky…
In a typical rear-end collision two drivers blame each other. In a fleet collision you can have:
- The driver behind the wheel
- The company that owns the vehicle
- The maintenance contractor
- The company that loaded the cargo
- The vehicle manufacturer
You could blame any or all of these parties. That’s what makes fleet accident cases so complicated with dozens of attorneys, adjusters and expert witnesses. It takes time to sort it out… something that accident victims are often short on.
Which leads us to one important deadline. In Texas, the statute of limitations injury law only gives you TWO YEARS from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. If you miss that deadline, you lose your case forever. Many seasoned lawyers for accident victims suggest filing your injury claim within weeks of the accident – not months – since fleet cases require more investigation than your average car wreck.
Why does justice take so long? Because you must prove who was culpable.
The Statute Of Limitations Injury Deadline You Can’t Miss
The statute of limitations injury rule is strict. Really strict.
Texas courts strictly enforce filing deadlines. They don’t care if you’re one day late. If you’re beyond the two-year deadline you lose your right to file a lawsuit. Regardless of injury severity.
But it gets more complicated with fleet crashes.
Some situations shorten your window:
- Accidents with a government owned fleet vehicle (ie. City truck) must be reported within 6 months
- Wrongful death claims start the two-year clock on the date of death
- Some cities require notice within just 30 to 90 days
And some situations can extend the deadline:
- Injuries not discovered right away (the “discovery rule”)
- Minors who were under 18 at the time of the crash
- Victims who are legally incapacitated after the accident
Moral of the story? Don’t assume when it’s due. Ask for help determining your timeline early.
Employer Responsibilities (And Where They Fall Short)
When you are a fleet employer, you have significant legal liability. Far more than you may think.
Under a legal doctrine known as “vicarious liability”, an employer can be liable for the actions of their driver while on the job. This allows a company to be sued directly for a driver’s negligence.
Here’s what employers are supposed to do:
- Screen drivers properly before hiring
- Provide ongoing safety training programs
- Maintain vehicles on a regular schedule
- Monitor driver hours and prevent fatigue
- Enforce distracted driving policies
- Keep detailed records of everything above
Unfortunately, many businesses fail at meeting these obligations. The stats prove it – collisions involving fleet vehicles cost employers roughly $70,000 per loss on average, nearly twice a typical workplace injury.
That’s a lot of money… and that’s why fleet safety is becoming an issue at the executive level.
Even with improved programs accidents will occur. When they occur, the blame game begins.
How Drivers Can Protect Themselves
Being a Commercial Driver can be like being stuck between a rock and a hard place. The rock? Your employer is leaning on you. The hard place? Potential legal ramifications from the crash. No one’s favorite place to be.
If you’re a fleet driver, here’s what you should do after any crash:
- Report the accident to your employer right away
- Don’t admit fault to anyone at the scene
- Get medical attention (even for “minor” injuries)
- Document everything with photos and notes
- Ask for a copy of the accident report
- Contact a legal professional before making statements to insurers
Your employer’s insurance company has one goal: To take care of their customer, the employer. Not you. Keep that in mind. Because their interests may not align with yours.
Drivers who cooperate early are almost always in a better legal position. Drivers who delay typically have diminished claims.
The Employer’s Playbook After a Crash
Employers also have responsibilities following a fleet accident. Performing these responsibilities correctly can significantly impact liability.
Right after the crash, employers should:
- Preserve the vehicle for inspection
- Collect telematics and dashcam data
- Interview the driver while events are still fresh
- Notify their insurance carrier immediately
- Document maintenance and driver training records
- Cooperate fully with any investigating officers
The issue is that companies often hurry through these steps. Or don’t follow them at all. That’s how minor oversights become big legal headaches later on.
Smart technology is evolving within fleet safety programs. Dashcams, telematics, and GPS tracking allow employers to see exactly what occurred. This may help or harm them legally, depending on the situation at hand.
Bringing It All Together
Fleet vehicle accidents cause legal headaches for all involved parties. From the commercial driver to the employer to the injured victim:
- Complicated liability questions with multiple parties
- A ticking statute of limitations injury clock
- Insurance companies with competing interests
The best news is that drivers and employers can protect themselves by taking the right steps at the right time. Accident victims can collect the compensation they deserve.
Texas has a two year statute of limitations and doesn’t care about your excuses. Hurry up, keep records and seek legal advice. Don’t wait!
