Does a Commercial Auto Policy Necessarily Mean Higher Insurance Limits?
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Long Beach and learn the at-fault driver was covered by a commercial auto insurance policy, you might assume that means higher policy limits, and maybe even a greater chance of full compensation for your injuries and losses. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case, and a recovery is never guaranteed after a crash.
At McGee Lerer Ogrin, our Long Beach car accident lawyers frequently handle claims involving company vehicles and business insurance, so we’d like to tell you what you need to know before you make assumptions about commercial auto insurance coverage.
What is a Commercial Auto Insurance Policy?
A commercial auto policy provides coverage for vehicles used for business purposes, such as:
- Delivery or courier vans
- Contractor trucks or utility vehicles
- Rideshare or service vehicles
- Company fleet cars or employee vehicles used for work
Commercial auto policies protect businesses when employees cause an accident while on the job. But not all commercial policies are equal, so not all offer significant payouts.
Do Commercial Auto Policies Always Have Higher Limits?
A commercial policy doesn’t automatically mean high coverage limits. Some commercial vehicles, such as big-rig trucks and tow trucks, are required to carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage, and many even have policies in the millions of dollars. However, smaller businesses, like local contractors or delivery services, often carry minimum coverage under smaller policies, similar to what you’d find in a personal auto policy. Some carry as little as $25,000 for medical care per person.
After a car accident, you’ll want to know the other driver’s policy limit, especially if your injuries were serious or if multiple people were injured and now need to file claims. It can be risky for your recovery to assume that a commercial auto policy means high policy limits. If, based on that assumption, you run up large medical bills on a lien, and later find out the policy limit is too small to cover your medical bills, you could be personally on the hook for those bills.
Find Out What the Commercial Auto Policy Limits Are
If a driver with a commercial auto policy hits you, how can you find out the limit of their policy? A simple way is to come to McGee Lerer Ogrin and put our attorneys in charge of your case. When working on a client’s claim, learning the limit of the other driver’s policy is one of the first steps we take.
To figure out the commercial auto policy insurance limit in your case, we can:
- Demand written disclosure of all policy limits
- Request copies of umbrella or excess coverage
- Confirm whether the at-fault driver was acting within the scope of employment
- Identify all applicable policies, which could include personal and commercial coverage
We’ve represented countless clients who had been injured in auto accidents involving commercial insurance policies. Our team knows how to investigate and navigate complex insurance situations and uncover every potential source of recovery.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Long Beach that involved a commercial or company vehicle, contact McGee Lerer Ogrin today. We know how to determine every source of compensation and fight to recover the maximum amount you deserve. For a free consultation, dial (310) 775-2491 – we accept calls 24/7.