Hit by a Company Vehicle in Louisiana? Here’s What to Do Next

Overview: An accident involving a company vehicle can leave you facing painful injuries, medical bills, lost income, and questions about who will pay for your losses. Whether a delivery van, work truck, service vehicle, or other business-owned or operated vehicle hit you, what you do after the crash can affect your ability to seek compensation in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, or elsewhere in Louisiana.

Key Takeaways

• In a crash involving a company vehicle, call 911 if anyone is injured or the scene poses a danger.
• Get medical attention and, if you can safely do so, take photos of the crash scene.
• Preserve all photos, medical records, and evidence that could help establish what happened.
• Don't give any recorded statements or accept a settlement before you understand the nature and extent of your injuries and legal options.
• Louisiana’s filing deadlines and fault rules may affect your claim, so speak with a Louisiana personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
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Commercial vehicle crashes can cause serious injuries because work trucks, delivery vehicles, and other large vehicles can weigh substantially more than many passenger cars. The consequences can be especially severe in a highway collision, especially with a semi, or if a pedestrian is involved. Beyond that, a crash involving a company vehicle can raise questions about who’s responsible.

For example, even if a driver caused the collision, their employer may be legally responsible for the driver's actions, and one or more insurance policies may cover the resulting losses. Business records and vehicle data can also provide evidence to explain what happened and who may be responsible. Knowing what to document and who to contact after a company vehicle accident can help support your claim.

At Fisher Injury Lawyers, we have extensive experience in this area. Following an accident with a company vehicle, we thoroughly investigate the circumstances, identify all potentially responsible parties, review available insurance coverage, and help our clients pursue compensation under Louisiana law. If you have been involved in an accident with a company vehicle in Louisiana, this blog post is for you.

What Should I Do Immediately After Being Hit By a Company Vehicle in Louisiana?

If a company vehicle hits you, your first priority should be your safety. Call 911, ask for medical assistance even if you think you don’t need it, and follow the responding officers’ instructions. Even if you feel fine immediately after the collision, seek medical attention promptly anyway. Some injuries take hours, days, or even longer to produce noticeable symptoms.

In addition, if you can do so safely, gather the following information at the scene:

• Photographs of the vehicles, including damage, license plates, company logos, vehicle numbers, road conditions, traffic signs, and any visible injuries
• The driver’s name and contact information, the company they work for, the license plate number, and any company name or DOT number displayed on the vehicle
• Witness information, including whether anyone saw the collision or has photographs or video, along with their contact information
• The responding officer's name and information on how to obtain the crash report
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If your injuries prevent you from collecting this information, do not put yourself at risk. Your lawyer can later seek medical records, receipts, repair estimates, and other accident-related documents that may help establish what happened.

However, it’s extremely important that you avoid admitting fault, giving a recorded statement to the company's insurer, or signing a settlement or medical authorization before speaking with a Louisiana personal injury attorney so you understand your rights and what compensation you may be entitled to.

Who May Be Responsible for a Company Vehicle Accident in Louisiana?

A company vehicle driver may be liable for a crash caused by speeding, distracted driving, or other careless behavior. The employer may also be responsible depending on whether the driver was working at the time and the circumstances around the accident.

Under Louisiana law, a company may be liable for an employee's actions if the employee causes a crash while on the job. For example, if a delivery driver hits another vehicle while out making deliveries, the employer may also be held responsible. Whether the company bears responsibility, however, will depend on the specific facts of the case.

Other parties may be responsible as well. A vehicle owner, maintenance company, contractor, or other business could face a claim in a crash if its negligence contributed to it. For example, a defective vehicle part may raise questions about the manufacturer or another party involved in the vehicle's maintenance or repair.

Identifying the right parties requires more than finding the company whose name is printed on the side of the vehicle. In addition, the vehicle registration, driver’s employment records, reason for being on the road, and insurance documents may help establish facts that point to who’s responsible. It doesn’t have to be just one party, either.

Relatedly, Louisiana's comparative fault rules can affect compensation. Because of recent changes to the law, how it applies to your case will depend in part on the accident date.

For accidents on or after January 1, 2026, Louisiana generally bars recovery when a claimant bears more than 50 percent of the fault, and reduces damages based on the claimant's share of fault when that share is 50 percent or less. Speak with a Louisiana personal injury attorney to understand how these changes may affect your claim.

Does the Company’s Insurance Cover My Injuries?

A company vehicle may carry commercial auto insurance to cover personal injury and property damage caused by an insured driver. Available coverage depends on the policy’s terms, how the vehicle is used, the driver's status (i.e., their relationship with the company), and the circumstances of the collision.

Some companies own their vehicles. Others may lease them or hire third-party drivers. These arrangements can affect which insurance policy your lawyer will pursue after a crash. A company may also have extra liability coverage that kicks in when the primary policy runs out. Identifying these relationships can help identify who may be responsible for paying the claim.

You may be asked to speak with a commercial insurance adjuster soon after the crash. Before doing any of the above, speak with a Louisiana personal injury attorney to avoid giving a recorded statement, a release, or anything else your attorney hasn’t reviewed.

Your lawyer will review all insurance information, communicate with insurers on your behalf, and pursue coverage for your losses. Providing a broad medical authorization or accepting a settlement too early could limit your ability to pursue compensation later for injuries that require additional treatment.

What if the Company Vehicle Driver Was Not at Fault?

A company vehicle's involvement does not automatically make its driver or employer liable. Another motorist, pedestrian, bicyclist, or some other party may have caused or contributed to the collision. Meaning, in some accidents, multiple parties will share responsibility.

For example, if another driver caused the crash, you may have a claim against that driver's insurance. Depending on the facts, your own auto insurance may also provide benefits, including medical payments coverage or uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.

Police reports and witness accounts can help show who caused or contributed to a crash. Photos, video, and vehicle damage can help explain how it happened and who may have been at fault. Smartwatch data may also help establish when the crash occurred and how hard the impact was.

Company records, such as GPS data, can show where the driver was traveling at the time of the accident, while dashcam footage and dispatch logs may help explain what happened before the crash and further connect the dots. Similarly, speed and vehicle records can also help determine whether the driver’s actions somehow caused or contributed to the collision.

Some of these records may be overwritten or deleted through routine business practices. That is why speaking with a Louisiana personal injury lawyer as soon as possible is crucial. If you suspect company records could help explain the collision, an attorney can request that the company preserve this information before it’s gone.

What Compensation May Be Available After a Company Vehicle Accident?

If another party's negligence caused your injuries, you may be able to seek compensation for your financial losses and how your injuries have affected your daily life afterward.

For example, you may be able to recover the cost of medical care, lost income, property damage, and other accident-related losses. Depending on your injuries, you may also be able to seek compensation for future treatment, reduced ability to earn a living, pain, emotional distress, permanent scarring, disability, or the loss of activities you can no longer enjoy.

The amount you can recover will depend on your injuries, how they affect your daily life and ability to work, and the insurance coverage available. As mentioned earlier, if you share some of the blame for the crash, Louisiana law may also reduce or limit your recovery.

To strengthen your claim, save your medical bills, prescription receipts, and appointment and travel records related to any treatment. Also, track any work you miss and the wages you lose. You can also note what has become harder since the accident, whether that's driving, sleeping, or caring for your family. Those details can help demonstrate how the accident has affected your life.

Avoid estimating future medical needs (injuries can show up later) or agreeing to a final settlement before you understand the course of your recovery. If you are unsure what to do, speak with a Louisiana accident lawyer today.

How Long Do I Have to File a Company Vehicle Accident Lawsuit in Louisiana?

In Louisiana, you generally have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit if your accident took place on or after July 1, 2024. If it happened before that date, the deadline is generally one year.

Depending on the circumstances, exceptions may apply. So, talk to a Louisiana personal injury lawyer to find out which deadline applies to your case. Because company vehicle accidents may involve employers, contractors, insurers, and electronic business records, waiting to investigate can make it harder to collect the information you need for your case.

Insurance negotiations can drag on for months or even years, but they will not automatically extend the deadline to file a lawsuit. With this in mind, we work to preserve your rights, secure a fair settlement, and will take your case to trial when necessary.

Speak With Fisher Injury Lawyers About Your Company Vehicle Accident

Fisher Injury Lawyers has represented injured people across Louisiana for more than 35 years, from Baton Rouge and New Orleans to communities all throughout the state. We also work with out-of-state attorneys who need local counsel in Louisiana. When you contact our legal team, we will explain your options, answer your questions, and help you understand what comes next.

If you were injured in a company vehicle accident specifically, Fisher Injury Lawyers can review your case and help you pursue compensation from any responsible parties. Contact our team at Fisher Injury Lawyers to discuss your accident and learn about your legal options in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, New Orleans, or elsewhere in Louisiana. We are here to support you in every way we can.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I’ve been involved in an accident with a company vehicle in Louisiana?

Call 911, seek medical attention, document the scene (only if you can do so safely), and collect the driver's and employer's information. Keep records of your injuries and expenses, and consult a Louisiana personal injury attorney before giving a recorded statement or signing a settlement agreement.

Can I sue a company if its employee hit my car?

You may have a claim against the employer if its employee caused a collision while acting within the course and scope of their employment. Liability, however, will depend on the specific facts of the case, including the driver's role and activities at the time of the accident.

Will a company vehicle's insurance cover my injuries?

Commercial auto insurance may cover injuries caused by a driver of an insured company vehicle. The available coverage depends on the policy, the driver's status, the vehicle's use, and the circumstances of the crash.

What if the company vehicle driver says I caused the accident?

The driver's version of events is only one part of the picture. The police report, witness accounts, photos, video footage, and data from the vehicles or smartwatches may tell a different story. Louisiana's comparative fault laws also affect how much compensation you can recover if you share responsibility for the crash. The rules that apply depend on when the accident happened and how fault is divided.

What compensation can I recover after a company vehicle accident?

Depending on the facts, you may be able to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, future treatment, reduced earning capacity, property damage, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other losses related to your injuries.

How long do I have to file a company vehicle accident lawsuit in Louisiana?

In Louisiana, you generally have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit for an accident that happened on or after July 1, 2024. If your accident happened before that date, you may have only one year. The deadline depends on when the accident occurred and whether any exceptions apply. A lawyer can review the details of your case and tell you how much time you have to file.

Should I hire a personal injury lawyer after a company vehicle accident in Louisiana?

If a company vehicle caused your accident, you may have to deal with the driver's employer, several insurance companies, or disagreements over who was at fault. A Louisiana personal injury lawyer can investigate the crash, gather evidence from the people and businesses involved, handle calls and negotiations with insurers, and help you seek the optimum compensation for your injuries and other losses.