If I was in an accident while delivering pizzas and had been told that liability was “good enough” but it isn’t, can my franchisee be held responsible?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
If I was in an accident while delivering pizzas and had been told that liability was “good enough” but it isn’t, can my franchisee be held responsible?
I had inquired twice about insurance. Both times I was told that liability would cover me. If she can be held responsible is there any way of pointing this out without going to court?
Asked on December 2, 2011 under Accident Law, Minnesota
Answers:
L.P., Member, Pennsylvania and New Jersey Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
Thank you for submitting your question relating to liability for employees and franchisees involved in an automobile accident. First you should know that states vary regarding the minimum requirements for the type of insurance and amount on the policy in order to be considered legally insured. Usually when people say that liability insurance is “good enough” that means that legally you are required to cover a minimum amount of coverage for liability, but not necessarily for collision. This in turn means that while you have to pay premiums to cover you in case you cause damage to someone else’s vehicle, you do not necessarily have to carry insurance to pay for your own vehicle if it should become damaged.
Plaintiffs in accidents with company drivers can sue both the driver and the business. A company can be held liable for the negligence of their drivers under a legal theory called “respondeat superior.” Under this theory of law, the injured party would need to demonstrate that the company exercises some form of control over the driver (such as company policies explained in a employee handbook) and that the driver was operating the vehicle during the course of employment.
Plaintiffs have an additional factor to prove in these actions. Not only do they need to show that the driver failed to exercise a reasonable duty of care while operating the vehicle and that the plaintiff sustained compensable injuries, but they also need to demonstrate the required relationship between the business and the driver to list the business as an additional defendant. The insurance company for the plaintiff will likely pursue the party that has the money to pay for the accident, which in most cases is the business entity.
If you should need further assistance, you should contact an insurance defense attorney in your area that could lend more guidance on your specific set of circumstances.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.