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Find the right lawyer for your case type

This page lists every catastrophic injury and commercial vehicle accident case type our network covers, from truck, bus, and rideshare crashes to brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation, and wrongful death claims. Pick your case type below to reach a guide written for it, or start a free case review now. It is private, and you are under no obligation to hire anyone.

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By Michael Mangione, Legal Research Editor Last reviewed July 20, 2026 9 min read
Case types listed
9
Nine commercial vehicle and catastrophic injury guides, each covering one case type.
Who it is for
Injured people
Anyone hurt in a crash, or a family who lost someone, looking for the right lawyer.
Cost to browse
$0
Every guide is free to read, and a case review is free and private.
Insurance floor
$750,000
The federal minimum for most commercial trucks, often with more layers stacked on top.

Key takeaways

  • Your case type sets the playbook. A rideshare crash, a truck wreck, and a spinal cord injury each turn on different rules, deadlines, and defendants.
  • The label matters less than the severity. What actually drives value is how permanent the injury is and how much insurance applies, not the name of the case type.
  • Evidence can disappear fast. Commercial carriers only have to keep some safety records for six months, whatever the vehicle involved.
  • Every case type below is free to review. You pay nothing to find out where you stand, and the lawyer is paid only if you recover.
Editorial content, not legal advice

This page is written and reviewed by our editorial team to be accurate and current. It is general information, not legal advice, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice about your specific situation, talk to a licensed attorney.

Why the case type you pick matters

Commercial vehicles and catastrophic injuries show up in the crash data at very different rates, which is exactly why each case type below gets its own guide instead of one generic page.

5,472
people were killed in U.S. crashes involving large trucks in 2023.
153,452
people were injured in large-truck crashes that same year.
~18,000
new traumatic spinal cord injuries are diagnosed in the U.S. every year.
~69,000
traumatic brain injury related deaths were recorded in the U.S. in 2021.

Sources: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2023 large-truck data. National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, traumatic brain injury data.

01 What we mean by "case type"

Quick answer

A case type is simply the category a crash or injury falls into, such as a bus accident or a spinal cord injury, and it determines which rules, deadlines, and defendants apply. Below are the catastrophic injury case types and commercial vehicle case types our network handles most often, each linked to its own detailed guide.

Not every crash is the same crash. A fender bender in a parking lot and a fully loaded semi rolling over on the interstate both get filed as "accidents," but the law treats them very differently, and so should the lawyer you choose. We sort every intake by two things: the vehicle involved and the injury suffered, because each combination changes the evidence that matters, the deadlines that apply, and who can be held responsible.

That is what the case types below represent. Each one links to a full guide written specifically for it, covering the rules unique to that vehicle or injury, real case law where it applies, and what a fair outcome tends to include. If your situation spans more than one case type, for example a bus crash that leaves someone with a spinal cord injury, start with whichever guide matches the injury, since severity usually drives more of the case than the vehicle does.

Bottom line: the case type is a starting point for research, not a box that limits your options. A free case review will tell you exactly where your situation fits.

Assorted law books piled on wooden library shelves
Different rules, different playbook
The vehicle and the injury decide which law actually applies.

02 Commercial vehicle accident case types

Quick answer

Commercial vehicle crashes involve trucks, buses, and rideshare vehicles operated for business rather than personal use, and each carries its own federal or state rules on licensing, insurance, and driver conduct. We cover four commercial vehicle case types in depth: truck, 18-wheeler, bus, and rideshare.

Commercial operators answer to rules an ordinary driver never sees, from hours-of-service limits to minimum insurance requirements, and a violation of those rules is often the clearest evidence of fault in the whole case. Pick the case type below that matches what hit you.

Big rigs and buses

Rideshare and app-based rides

  • Rideshare accident lawyer: Uber and Lyft crashes, with their own layered insurance rules.
  • Not sure which one fits? A free case review will sort it out at no cost.

The higher standard is usually where the case is won. Whatever vehicle was involved, the same principle holds: a company that is paid to move people or freight is held to a higher standard than a private driver.

03 Catastrophic injury case types

Quick answer

A catastrophic injury permanently changes your life or your ability to earn a living, and it can result from any of the vehicle types above. We cover three catastrophic injury guides on their own, plus a general guide for anyone whose injury does not fit neatly into one category.

These carry the highest lifetime cost of any case type on this page. Finding every layer of available insurance matters most here, and life care planners and economists are usually part of building the claim, not just a treating doctor.

Head and spine

Loss and general claims

Not sure your injury qualifies as catastrophic? A private review will tell you, at no cost.

A city bus driving down a street between tall buildings
Public carriers, public duty
A bus or transit operator owes riders and the public a higher duty of care.

04 Wrongful death claims

Quick answer

A wrongful death case type applies whenever any of the crashes above take a loved one's life. It is filed by the family or the estate under state law, and it is a separate case type from the injury claim the person could have brought had they survived.

A wrongful death claim runs on its own timeline. Losing someone in a truck, bus, rideshare, or other commercial vehicle crash starts a claim whose recoverable losses commonly include funeral and burial costs, lost financial support, lost household services, and the loss of the relationship. The exact categories are set by each state.

If your loved one died in any of the case types above, the right starting point is our wrongful death lawyer guide, which walks through who can file, how long you have, and what the claim can include.

05 Why your case type changes who is liable

Quick answer

Liability depends on who controlled the vehicle and who was required to follow safety rules, which is why a commercial vehicle crash often reaches further than the driver, while a catastrophic injury from a personal-vehicle crash may involve only one policy.

A commercial operator rarely stands alone as the only defendant. A private driver who runs a red light usually is the only one. Depending on the case type, the carrier, the driver, a freight broker, a rideshare company, a transit authority, or a maintenance contractor can each share fault, and each may carry separate insurance.

Financial responsibility
The federal insurance floor is often too low
49 CFR § 387.9

Most general freight carriers must carry at least $750,000 in liability insurance, a figure set in 1980 and never adjusted for inflation. A single catastrophic injury can exceed that minimum quickly, which is why finding every layer of coverage across every responsible party matters more than the case type label itself. Cornell LII

The rules keep evolving too. In Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC, No. 24-1238, 608 U.S. ___ (2026), the U.S. Supreme Court held unanimously that a freight broker can be sued for negligently hiring an unsafe carrier, a decision that widened who can be brought into a commercial vehicle crash case regardless of which specific vehicle was involved.

A wooden judge's gavel resting on a table
Leverage, not luck
A well-documented case is what turns a low offer into a fair one.

06 What a case is actually worth

Quick answer

No case type has a fixed value. What drives a claim is the permanence of the injury, the amount of insurance available across every responsible party, and how well the evidence was preserved, not the name of the case type on this page.

Real example

A rideshare passenger walks away from a crash feeling sore but functional and signs the insurer's quick release for a few thousand dollars. Weeks later, imaging finds a herniated disc that needs surgery. The release usually closes the claim for good, no matter which case type it started as. A free review before signing would have flagged the risk.

Verified verdict
Broken safety rules can carry severe consequences
Dzion v. AJD Business Services & Kahkashan Carrier, No. 2018-CA-000148 (Fla. Cir. Ct., Nassau County, 2021)

A Florida jury returned a verdict of about one billion dollars after an 18-year-old was killed in an interstate chain-reaction crash involving an unlicensed, fatigued, distracted driver and negligent hiring. Large verdicts like this are often reduced or appealed, but the case shows how juries treat broken safety rules. Coverage

You pay nothing upfront, on any case type here. Contingency fees are commonly 33 to 40 percent of what the attorney recovers, and there is no fee if there is no recovery.

07 How we match you to a lawyer

Quick answer

You tell us what happened in a short, free case review, and we match you with an independent attorney who already has real experience with your specific case type, not a general practice that will have to learn it as they go.

Every lawyer in our network is checked against the same standard, regardless of which of the case types above brought you here.

  • Active, discipline-free license

    Verified good standing with the state bar, with no unresolved discipline.

  • Real experience with your case type

    A track record with the specific vehicle type or injury you are dealing with, not just general practice.

  • Resources to fight

    The ability to fund experts, reconstruction, and litigation against a well-funded defense.

  • Clear contingency terms

    Fees and case costs put in writing up front, so you know exactly how it works.

Tell us your case type and we will match you only when it fits.

Sources and authorities

Federal commercial vehicle rules

Case law

  • Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC, No. 24-1238, 608 U.S. ___ (2026). Cornell LII.
  • Dzion v. AJD Business Services & Kahkashan Carrier, No. 2018-CA-000148 (Fla. Cir. Ct., Nassau County, 2021). Coverage.

Injury and crash data

  • Large-truck crash fatalities and injuries, 2023. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA data.
  • Traumatic spinal cord injury incidence. National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center. NSCISC.
  • Traumatic brain injury facts and statistics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC.

Our editorial standards

How we keep this page accurate and worth trusting.

01

Primary sources only

Claims cite the regulation, the decided case, or the government data, not another firm's summary.

02

Reviewed and dated

The page shows when it was last reviewed and is updated when the law or the case list changes.

03

Editorial, not legal advice

General information to help you make decisions, not advice about your specific case.

04

Honest about how we operate

We are a referral service, not a law firm, and may be paid if you hire a lawyer through us.

Michael Mangione, Legal Research Editor
Michael Mangione Verified editor
Legal Research Editor · Founder, The Mangione Group, Inc.

MVA Lawyer Network is edited by Michael Mangione, who has spent more than a decade in personal injury lead generation, client intake, and contingency based law firm marketing. He built this site to turn dense federal safety rules and real case law into guidance a hurt person can actually use, then connect that person with a lawyer worth their time. Michael is not a practicing attorney and does not give legal advice. Every legal statement on this site is sourced to primary authority, and independent attorneys handle the legal work.

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Common questions, answered

General information, not legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, talk to a licensed attorney.

What exactly is a "case type"?

It is simply the category your crash or injury falls into, such as a bus accident or a spinal cord injury. We sort every intake by the vehicle involved and the injury suffered, since each combination changes the rules, the deadlines, and who can be held responsible.

Which case types does MVA Lawyer Network cover?

Nine, split across two groups. Commercial vehicle case types include truck, 18-wheeler, bus, and rideshare accidents. Catastrophic injury guides include brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation, and general catastrophic injury. Wrongful death sits on its own, since it can follow any of the others.

My situation does not fit neatly into one case type. What do I do?

That is common, and it is fine. Start with whichever guide matches the injury rather than the vehicle, since severity usually drives more of the case, then request a free case review so we can sort the details for you.

Does the case type change how much a case is worth?

Not directly. What drives value is the permanence of the injury, the total insurance available across every responsible party, and how well the evidence was preserved. Two cases with the same case type label can be worth very different amounts.

Is a commercial vehicle crash handled differently than a regular car accident?

Usually, yes. Commercial operators answer to rules a private driver never sees, including hours-of-service limits and minimum insurance requirements, and more parties can often be held responsible, from the driver to a broker or a maintenance contractor.

What counts as a catastrophic injury?

An injury that permanently changes your life or your ability to earn a living. Common examples are a spinal cord injury, a moderate to severe brain injury, an amputation, or severe burns. These cases carry high lifetime costs and usually involve life care planners and economists.

How is a wrongful death case type different from an injury claim?

A wrongful death claim is brought by the surviving family or the estate under state law when a crash is fatal, rather than by the injured person. It has its own timeline and its own recoverable losses, which commonly include funeral costs and lost financial support.

Who can be held responsible in a truck or bus crash?

Depending on the case type, the driver, the carrier, a freight broker, a transit authority, or a maintenance contractor can each share fault. In Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC (2026), the U.S. Supreme Court held that a freight broker can be sued for negligently hiring an unsafe carrier.

Is the federal minimum insurance enough to cover a serious injury?

Often not. The federal minimum for most general freight carriers is $750,000 under 49 CFR 387.9, a figure set in 1980 and never adjusted for inflation. A single catastrophic injury can exceed that minimum quickly, which is why finding every layer of coverage matters.

How long do I have to file, no matter which case type applies?

The deadline is set by state law and is commonly two to four years from the crash, though claims against a government entity, such as a public transit authority, can require notice within months. A trucking company also only has to keep some safety records for six months under 49 CFR 395.8(k)(1).

How much does a lawyer cost across these case types?

Almost every lawyer in our network works on a contingency fee, commonly 33 to 40 percent of what is recovered, written into your agreement. You pay nothing upfront, and if there is no recovery, you generally owe no attorney fee. That structure is the same across every case type.

What does it cost to use MVA Lawyer Network?

Nothing. We are a free, independent referral service, not a law firm, and we do not give legal advice. Requesting a case review costs you nothing and puts you under no obligation. We may be compensated by the attorney if you hire through us, never by you. Read more about how we operate.

How do you vet the lawyers listed for each case type?

Every lawyer must hold an active, discipline-free license, show a real track record with the specific case type involved, have the resources to fund experts and litigation, and put contingency terms in writing before you hire anyone. See how we match you to a lawyer for the full checklist.

Can I still get help if my case type is not one of the nine listed?

Yes. These nine are simply the case types we see most often. Start a free case review and describe what happened, and we will tell you honestly whether it is a fit for our network or point you elsewhere.

Find your case type, then find your lawyer.

One short, private form. No cost, no obligation, and no fee unless you recover. Find out where you stand today.

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