On congested roads in Mobile, smaller commercial vehicles are everywhere, including delivery vans, utility trucks, and box trucks. These vehicles may not be as big as 18-wheelers, but they’re still classified as commercial under Alabama law. And when one causes a serious accident, the legal implications can be just as complex and high-stakes.
Commercial vehicle crashes that don’t involve tractor-trailers are frequently overlooked in public reports and insurance negotiations, but they cause severe injuries across Alabama every day. These cases involve unique liability issues, larger insurance policies, and more aggressive corporate defense strategies that make legal experience important from day one. That's why if you or someone you love has been injured in an accident with a commercial vehicle, you need to talk to an experienced lawyer as soon as possible to review your legal rights and options.
Alabama Roads See More Than Big Rigs
Interstate 10 and I-65 carry a heavy volume of semi-truck traffic through Alabama, but they’re not the only highways where commercial vehicles operate. Box trucks, utility vans, rental vehicles, and maintenance trucks are just as active on state routes like Highway 90, Dauphin Island Parkway, and Highway 59 through Baldwin County.
Vehicles that may seem “ordinary” could actually qualify as commercial under state and federal law, bringing additional legal and insurance considerations into play. Unlike long-haul trucks, these vehicles travel local routes, navigate residential streets, and make frequent stops. They’re often driven by employees on tight schedules, sometimes undertrained, overworked, or under pressure to cut corners. When an accident happens, the result can be devastating.
The following types of vehicles are frequently involved in serious crashes across Mobile, Saraland, Theodore, and other communities in the region:
- Delivery Vans and Box Trucks: FedEx, UPS, Amazon, and independent contractors often operate in dense neighborhoods and shopping corridors. Drivers are often on strict timelines and may take risks to meet quotas.
- Utility Trucks: Power companies, cable providers, and HVAC service fleets operate large, top-heavy trucks that may have limited visibility or poor maneuverability.
- Construction Vehicles: Dump trucks, flatbeds, and equipment haulers are common on road projects in and around Mobile. Their size, blind spots, and weight make collisions especially dangerous.
- Landscaping and Service Trucks: Often towing trailers loaded with equipment or debris, these vehicles may not be properly secured or maintained.
- Rental Trucks: Box trucks rented from U-Haul or Penske are driven by everyday drivers with little or no training. When these trucks are part of a business operation, the company may still carry liability.
- Garbage Trucks and Sanitation Vehicles: Municipal and private trash trucks make frequent stops in residential neighborhoods throughout Mobile and Baldwin County. These trucks often reverse down narrow streets, operate early in the morning, and may block sightlines or move unpredictably. When drivers aren’t cautious—or when mechanical systems fail—serious injuries can occur.
- Food and Beverage Delivery Trucks: From beer trucks restocking bars downtown to grocery deliveries headed into midtown, these medium-sized vehicles make daily rounds and park in tight spaces. Drivers may double park, swing wide in intersections, or speed through yellow lights, trying to keep a schedule.
- Maintenance and Municipal Trucks: City or county vehicles, like water department pickups or road work trucks, also count as commercial vehicles under the law. They may be exempt from certain traffic rules, but are still held to a duty of care when it comes to safe driving and equipment handling.
Each of these vehicles brings unique dangers—and legal complications—when they’re involved in a crash. Identifying the commercial status of the vehicle is a crucial first step in holding the right parties accountable.
Key Legal Differences in These Claims
When a crash involves a commercial vehicle, even a small one, the legal issues can quickly grow more complicated than a typical personal injury claim. The employer, vehicle owner, contractor, or even a parent company might bear some responsibility for what happened.
Important legal factors in non-tractor-trailer commercial vehicle claims include:
- Employer Liability: If the driver was acting within the scope of employment, the company can be held financially responsible under Alabama law.
- Higher Insurance Limits: Commercial policies often carry more coverage than private auto policies, which means more compensation could be available, but insurers will fight harder to avoid paying.
- Maintenance Failures: These vehicles must meet maintenance and inspection standards. Mechanical failures linked to poor upkeep can strengthen a negligence claim.
- Negligent Hiring or Supervision: If the company failed to properly train, screen, or oversee the driver, that failure could be a central part of the case.
These cases also tend to involve more aggressive insurance defense tactics. Companies may deny that the driver was on duty or try to shift the blame to the victim. That’s why early legal intervention matters. Evidence can disappear quickly, and delays benefit the defense.
Protecting Yourself After a Commercial Vehicle Crash
Victims injured in crashes with work trucks, delivery vans, or other commercial vehicles need to take steps quickly to preserve their rights. The following actions can protect against a potential injury claim:
- Document the Vehicle: Get photos of logos, license plates, and vehicle markings. This helps determine commercial status.
- Ask for Employer Information: If possible, find out who the driver works for or who owns the vehicle.
- Avoid Giving Recorded Statements: Insurance companies may try to twist your words. Speak to a lawyer first.
- Get Immediate Medical Care: Even if injuries seem minor, early documentation strengthens your claim.
- Contact an Attorney: A lawyer can quickly investigate, preserve evidence, and identify the real parties responsible.
Getting a lawyer involved early allows a thorough investigation before evidence is lost and ensures that the case is positioned properly from the beginning.
When You've Been Injured, Don’t Hesitate...Call Dean Waite!
Alabama law imposes strict deadlines on personal injury claims. Generally, you have two years from the date of the crash. But in commercial vehicle cases, it’s not just about the deadline. It’s about protecting evidence, tracking down corporate defendants, and stopping insurance companies from twisting the facts.
Dean Waite & Associates, LLC handles serious injury cases involving all types of commercial vehicles, not just big rigs. When lives are disrupted by corporate negligence, our law firm steps in with the experience and firepower to hold businesses accountable. Our case results include truck accident settlements of $6 million and more.
Injured in a crash with a work truck, delivery vehicle, or commercial fleet? Don’t hesitate. Call Dean Waite for a free case review. The clock is ticking, and the sooner the right attorney is involved, the stronger the case can be.
"The most caring and professional group of people I have come across in a long time. Every step of my journey through this process, Dean and Ms. Whitney were amazing. I would definitely encourage you to contact them! The best firm I’ve ever worked with!" - Meghan H., ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐