Automobile Accidents May Involve Multiple Defendants in Tennessee
Many people are aware that there may be defendants other than the truck driver, who can be sued for damages arising from an accident involving a passenger vehicle and a tractor trailer. What you may not know is that even if a Tennessee automobile accident involves only passenger vehicles, there could still be multiple defendants who could be held responsible for the injuries sustained by accident victims. If the driver who caused the accident was on the job, there is the possibility that their employer could be liable for some of the damages that were caused by the crash.
Liability of businesses for damages resulting from automobile accidents reaches beyond employees who are using company vehicles. Employees of many businesses both large and small often use their own vehicles to run errands during the work day, such as trips to the bank, the post office, and even to pick up lunch. People who travel for business must often rent vehicles in order to be able to perform the work that is needed at each location. Companies who sub-contract delivery vehicles during busy periods in order to ensure that all of their products reach their destinations on time may also be liable for damages caused by one of the delivery drivers. Sales representatives may be reimbursed for the use of their personal vehicle while on the job, and that arrangement also creates the possibility of business liability.
When an employee has an accident while driving a company-owned vehicle as they carry out the duties of their job, the company’s automobile insurance provides coverage and pays for the damages sustained by accident victims. When the employee is using his or her own car for employment-related purposes, the employee’s personal automobile insurance policy will be the first source of payment to be made to the accident victims to compensate them for their damages. Sometimes, though, there is not enough coverage through the employee’s own insurance policy to pay for all of the damages. Since personal automobile insurance policies have coverage limits, different drivers choose to carry different amounts of insurance coverage. If a driver who carries the minimum amount of coverage that is required by state law causes an accident which leaves multiple people severely injured and causes thousands of dollars’ worth of property damage, there is a good chance that the driver’s policy will fall short of fulfilling all of the accident victims’ claims for damages. If the driver was an employee who was using his or her car for work, then the accident victims may be able to turn to the driver’s employer’s insurance policy for payment of the remainder of their damages.
The knowledgeable Tennessee Automobile Accident Attorneys at Bailey & Greer, PLLC offer top quality legal assistance to automobile accident victims and their families. Please call us at 901-680-9777 to schedule a time to discuss your case. At Bailey & Greer, PLLC, we are small enough to care, big enough to fight, and experienced enough to win.
Since graduating magna cum laude in 2005 from the University of Memphis School of Law, Thomas has helped make a difference in the lives of victims of serious personal injury, wrongful death, and professional negligence. Thomas has extensive trial experience in both state and federal court. Among other victories in the courtroom, Thomas obtained several impressive jury verdicts and settlements
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