The legal doctrine of vicarious liability is used to hold a third party liable for injuries caused by someone else.
Vicarious liability cases can occur when an individual causes an accident or injury during the course of their employment.
In a typical personal injury claim, the injured victim files a claim against the at-fault party who acted negligently and caused their injuries.
In a claim involving vicarious liability, the injured victim can also recover from a third-party defendant after showing they also bear responsibility for their injuries.
If you have questions about filing a Texas vicarious liability claim, contact the personal injury lawyers at The Zimmerman Law Firm right away. You can also call (254) 848-0274.
We can answer any questions you might have about vicarious liability law and potential third-party defendants.
Example of Vicarious Liability Claims
The vicarious liability rule often arises when an employee causes someone’s injury during the course of their employment or as a result of their employer’s negligence.
For example, consider a scenario where a taxi service hires an individual without a driver’s license to drive for their company.
The unlicensed taxi driver later causes a car accident that results in your injuries. You may be able to sue both the taxi driver whose negligence caused your accident and the taxi company for hiring a driver without adequate qualifications.
Or consider a semi-truck driver who crashes their truck while transporting goods. In many cases, the drivers are employed by a shipping company that owns the truck.
If the truck driver caused an accident while working for their employer, the shipping company might be liable for your damages under the vicarious liability law.
The key thing to remember is that the at-fault party’s action must have occurred while they were performing duties that were within the scope of their employment.
Texas also imposes a vicarious liability law on vendors and suppliers of alcohol. Known as the “dram shop” law, this statute allows alcohol providers to be held vicariously liable for injuries caused by a person over served at their establishment.
If you suffered injuries in an accident with an on-duty employee, you should contact a Waco truck accident lawyer as soon as possible.
We can review your claim and determine if the at-fault individual’s employer is vicariously liable for your damages.
Do You Have Questions About Vicarious Liability in Texas?
Many lawsuits take place between one plaintiff and one defendant. However, the doctrine of vicarious liability gives plaintiffs the ability to recover damages from a third party as well.
Oftentimes, the employer vicariously liable for your injuries can afford to pay a significantly larger settlement than the individual employee could pay on their own.
That’s why you should consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer who can review your case and determine if vicarious liability applies.
The Waco personal injury lawyers at The Zimmerman Law Firm have nearly a century of combined experience helping injured people recover compensation for their losses.
Our team will put our wealth of knowledge and resources to work for you and help you fight for maximum compensation. Contact our office online today or call (254) 848-0274 to schedule your free initial consultation.
Michael Zimmerman
Michael was born in Houston, Texas. His education at Baylor and Texas State Universities earned him a Bachelor of Science degree in 1987. His major was in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry. He finished his legal education at Texas Southern University in 1990, earning a Juris Doctorate from Thurgood Marshall School of Law. He was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1990.
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