Getting hit by a neighbor’s sedan is one thing. Getting smashed by a heavy-duty pickup truck branded with a corporate logo is an entirely different legal battle. In the Rio Grande Valley, our roads are flooded with commercial traffic—from Amazon delivery vans rushing down Nolana Avenue to oilfield service trucks speeding off Expressway 83.
When a company vehicle causes a crash, the stakes are higher. The insurance policies are larger (often $1,000,000+), and the corporate lawyers are more aggressive. If you treat this like a “normal” fender bender, you will lose.
Common Commercial Threats in the RGV
We frequently handle collisions involving these specific types of company fleets:
- Delivery Vans: Amazon, FedEx, and UPS drivers are often under extreme pressure to meet quotas, leading to reckless speeding in residential neighborhoods.
- Utility & Service Trucks: Spectrum, AT&T, or AEP Texas trucks carrying heavy equipment that can turn a minor rear-end crash into a major injury.
- Oilfield & Construction: “Hotshot” pickups hauling trailers to the port or refineries. These are often overloaded and poorly maintained.
The “Deep Pocket” Strategy: Respondeat Superior
Why does it matter if it’s a company vehicle? Because of a legal doctrine called Respondeat Superior (“Let the master answer”).
If the driver was “on the clock” and acting within the scope of their employment, the company is liable for your injuries. This allows us to access commercial insurance policies that are 10x or 20x larger than a standard personal policy.
4 Steps to Protect Your Claim
1. Capture the Corporate Identity
The driver might not admit they are working. You need proof. Take photos of:
- Any logos or decals on the door (even if they are small magnetic signs).
- The DOT Number painted on the side of the cab.
- Equipment in the truck bed (ladders, tools, packages) which proves they were on the job.
2. Call the Police Immediately
Corporate insurers will try to deny the crash ever happened if there is no police report. Demand that McAllen PD or DPS file a formal crash report.
3. Watch Out for the “Off the Clock” Defense
The company will almost always argue: “He was on his lunch break” or “He was driving home, not working.”
We destroy this defense by subpoenaing the driver’s GPS logs, timecards, and dispatch radio records. But we have to act fast before those records are deleted.
4. Send a Spoliation Letter
This is a legal demand sent by your attorney that forces the company to preserve all evidence. Without it, they can legally wipe the truck’s black box data and delete dashcam footage. The Law Office of Chris Sanchez sends this letter immediately.
Make the Company Pay
Don’t let a billion-dollar corporation stick you with the medical bills. We fight specifically for victims of commercial vehicle accidents.