Oct 14, 2016 - Car Accident by Justin Roberts
Most people are not aware that they may have liability for damages in a car accident, even if they were not driving or even present at the time of the accident. If you need help figuring out the specifics of your situation, please consult with our top-rated Texas accident lawyers.
Here are the instances when that might be the case:
When the driver has your permission to drive your vehicle – a car owner in Texas can be held responsible for any damages in an accident where the driver was negligent, as long as the driver had the car owner’s permission to use the car.
When your minor child has an accident in your vehicle — when a child under the age of 18 is driving the family car and is negligent in a way that causes an accident with injuries, his or her parents are typically liable for the injuries because of “vicarious liability.” Vicarious liability is a legal concept that holds some third parties liable for injuries caused by another person.
When you let an unfit driver use your vehicle – under what is known as “negligent entrustment,” a car owner can be held liable for any damages or injuries if that owner lends a vehicle to someone who is unfit to drive it – i.e., a drunk driver, an unlicensed driver, etc.
When an employee is negligent – the owner of a company can be held liable if an employee is negligent and injures someone while performing in his or her job.
In addition, a third party may be held liable to you for any injuries if the above circumstances apply. To determine if you have a potential claim against a third party, consult with an experienced personal injury attorney for guidance.
If you or someone you love has been injured as a result of an accident, our Texas personal injury attorneys have the experience and resources to help you through this difficult time and obtain just compensation for your injuries. Please call 800-248-6000 or contact us for a free consultation.
Justin is an attorney at Roberts & Roberts and focuses his practice on mass tort litigation, where he specializes in helping individuals who are harmed by recalled or unsafe pharmaceutical drugs and medical devices. He has earned recognition as a “Top 40 Under 40” Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers. Prior to joining Roberts & Roberts, Justin served as an attorney in all three branches of Texas’s state government, including as a Briefing Attorney on the Texas Supreme Court. He also represented electric and natural gas utilities in complex regulatory proceedings before the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Railroad Commission of Texas. Justin is a published author in the St. Mary’s Law Journal.
