Can You File a Claim After a Crash With a Landscaping Company Vehicle?
Tempe’s warm weather and suburban layout mean landscaping crews are a regular part of the scenery. From residential neighborhoods in Escalante to commercial zones around Downtown Tempe, these trucks and trailers are constantly hauling heavy equipment, making tight turns, and stopping frequently. But what happens when one of them causes a crash?
Accidents involving landscaping company vehicles may not seem different at first glance—but from an insurance and liability perspective, they can get complicated fast. A car accident lawyer would likely begin by asking key questions: Was the driver on the job? Who owns the vehicle? Is there commercial insurance involved?
If you were hit by a landscaping truck, trailer, or even a mower being transported, here's what you should know about filing a claim.
Why Landscaping Vehicle Accidents Are Unique
Most landscaping trucks are either large pickups towing trailers or box trucks loaded with tools and riding mowers. They tend to stop frequently, block driveways or bike lanes, and make unpredictable turns. If the driver is distracted, rushing between jobs, or operating in unfamiliar areas like Meyer Park, it’s not hard to see how a collision might happen.
Common causes include:
Sudden braking or illegal stopping
Equipment falling from improperly secured trailers
Unsafe turns or U-turns
Backing into oncoming traffic
Blocking visibility at intersections
Because these vehicles are often part of a business fleet, the legal and financial aftermath of a crash differs from accidents involving personal cars.
Who’s Liable for the Crash?
Determining liability starts with identifying whether the driver was acting within the scope of employment. If the landscaping employee was on the clock and performing work duties, the company may be held responsible under Arizona’s vicarious liability laws.
That means even if the driver made a mistake—like failing to yield or backing into your car—the employer may be financially liable for the damage.
This is especially important if the crash involved serious injuries like a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord damage. In those situations, company-backed insurance is more likely to cover the higher medical costs and long-term care needs.
What If the Driver Was Using a Personal Vehicle?
Some smaller landscaping businesses or independent contractors may use their own personal trucks and trailers. In these cases, the question becomes: did the business provide insurance coverage for that vehicle?
If the driver was acting as an independent contractor and not covered by the company’s commercial policy, then your claim may have to go through their personal auto insurance. But if the driver was using their vehicle as part of their employment—especially if they had company signage or were transporting tools—then the company could still be on the hook.
Proving the vehicle was being used for business purposes often requires gathering:
Invoices or job orders showing the driver was mid-route
Photos of branded tools or uniforms
Witness statements
Business registration records
GPS or delivery data
Can You File a Claim Against the Company?
Yes—if the vehicle and driver were affiliated with a landscaping company and acting within the course of business, the company’s insurance policy will likely apply. These commercial general liability or commercial auto policies usually offer higher limits than personal policies.
Filing a claim against a company policy involves proving fault, showing damages, and documenting all losses. These may include:
Vehicle repairs or replacement
Medical treatment
Lost income
Pain and suffering
Permanent disability (such as paralysis)
It’s not uncommon for the company’s insurer to push back, arguing the driver was off-duty or that the crash was partially your fault. In Arizona, comparative negligence laws allow damages to be reduced based on each party’s share of fault—but they don’t automatically block you from recovering.
What If the Landscaping Equipment Caused the Crash?
Sometimes it’s not the truck itself that causes the accident, but equipment falling off or blocking traffic. For example, a mower may roll off a trailer or a blower left near the curb may obstruct a bike lane. These scenarios can be just as dangerous—especially for cyclists or pedestrians.
If unsecured or negligently placed equipment contributed to the crash, the landscaping company could still be liable. That’s why collecting evidence at the scene is essential. Take photos of equipment, road conditions, and the vehicle’s position. File a police report and note any visible signage that connects the truck to a company.
What Happens If the Company Denies Responsibility?
If the landscaping company disputes liability, you may need to explore alternate paths:
Third-party claims: If another driver or pedestrian also contributed to the crash, multiple claims may be involved.
Uninsured motorist coverage: If no commercial policy applies and the driver was uninsured, your own coverage might step in.
Property damage claims: In less severe crashes, you may be able to resolve just the property damage aspect separately.
In more complex cases, especially when serious injuries are involved, victims often face delays, claim denials, or lowball offers. That’s why it’s important to understand the insurance structure and timelines in place.
How Quickly Should You Act?
Arizona's statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the date of the accident. However, if government property or public contracts are involved—for example, if the landscaping company was contracted by the city—the deadlines may be much shorter, such as 180 days under a Notice of Claim.
Acting quickly also helps preserve evidence and witness accounts, which can be crucial in proving the driver was working at the time.
Final Thoughts
Crashes involving landscaping trucks might look like ordinary accidents at first—but who pays and how you get compensated depends heavily on what the driver was doing at the time. Was it a private individual helping a friend move some plants? Or was it a crew member en route to their next job with a trailer full of equipment?
If you’ve been hit by a landscaping vehicle in Tempe, whether in a neighborhood like South Tempe or a busier zone near the university, don’t assume it’s just a simple insurance claim. These crashes often require a deeper look at employment status, insurance coverage, and fault allocation.
For more tools on how to begin the process, visit our legal resources hub.
