Company Vehicle Accidents in Seguin, Texas: Can the Employer Be Held Responsible?

Victims of accidents involving a company vehicle may be confused about who is responsible for damages. They wonder whether the driver or the company is liable. In Seguin, one of the expert lawyers at Carabin Shaw can help you navigate your insurance claim and file a lawsuit if necessary to ensure you get full compensation for your losses.

Read our law firm’s client reviews to find out how the legal team at Carabin Shaw helps people seek justice after a car crash. Schedule a free case review by calling toll-free 1-800-862-1260 or contacting us online. We have English- and Spanish-speaking staff available 24/7 to answer your call.

In a personal injury case, a company vehicle can be any vehicle an employee drives within the scope of their employment. This can be a commercial vehicle owned by the company or a personal vehicle owned by the employee. The primary factor in determining how the law will classify a vehicle in Seguin, Texas is its use rather than its ownership.

Insurance companies offer some definition of company vehicles in their coverage of commercial vehicles. The Texas Department of Insurance classifies commercial vehicles into six types:

• Semi-trucks, pickups, and vans used for hauling
• Private passenger vehicles owned by the company
• Public transportation vehicles such as buses
• Special vehicles such as fire trucks or ambulances
• Non-owned vehicles used for work purposes
• Garage risks for industries that repair or store vehicles

Your Texas commercial vehicle accident lawyer will help you determine whether a vehicle is a company vehicle. For example, an independent contractor driving a car for work purposes may be responsible for damages despite using the car within the scope of their work. A personal vehicle is also not a company vehicle when coming and going to work. Your lawyer will help you navigate Texas law to determine whether the driver or the employer is liable.

In car accidents involving only private passenger vehicles, an attorney typically establishes liability by proving negligence. There are four components to negligence:

• Duty
• Breach of duty
• Damages
• Causation

Each Texas driver has a duty to exercise reasonable caution. When their failure to do this causes harm to others, they are liable for damages. A negligent act can be as simple as making an unsafe lane change or failing to yield to another vehicle. Hiring a lawyer to collect evidence that proves negligence will help you win your injury claim whether it involves private or company vehicles.

Employers are liable for the actions of their employees under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior. This doctrine establishes an employer’s vicarious liability for their employees’ actions. Therefore, if a person is driving during the course of work and causes an accident, the victim can file a company car accident lawsuit against the business for damages.

In many cases, an employer’s commercial liability covers non-owned vehicles, and your attorney can help you file a claim for damages without going to court. If neither the employer nor the driver has insurance coverage, you may have to file a lawsuit. Both the driver and the company are potential defendants.

In cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct, the court may award punitive (exemplary) damages. A Seguin commercial vehicle accident attorney can help you avoid any legal mistakes, so you can get maximized compensation for your injuries.

The damages available in company vehicle accident claims include economic damages, such as medical bills and lost income. They also include noneconomic damages such as pain and suffering. Having a legal team that knows how to apply the law to liability for company vehicles will help you get the compensation you deserve.

Call the Seguin personal injury lawyers at Carabin Shaw or contact us online to set up your free case review. There’s no financial risk in getting legal help because you pay nothing unless we win your case. You don’t have to endure the cost of an accident that was someone else’s fault.

For more information:

• Texas Statutes 72
• Texas Department of Insurance
• Texas Judicial Branch