San Antonio Taxi Accident Lawyer
Until very recently, taxi companies basically monopolized the ride-on-demand segment of the economy. Over the last few years, to better compete with ridesharing services, many taxi companies have cut corners. In many cases, these cuts directly affect passenger safety. Driver skills are now an issue. Frequently, driver temperament is an even bigger issue. Some people might be good drivers, but they do not deal well with intoxicated or unruly passengers.
The taxi industry has changed recently, but the diligent San Antonio taxi accident lawyers at the Law Office of Israel Garcia use the same, proven methods they’ve used for years to obtain maximum compensation for your serious injuries. These methods concentrate on the basics, like hard work, open communication, and dedication to client. In the past, these methods have produced results that exceed our clients’ expectations. We’re confident the same thing will happen in your case.
First Party Liability
When passengers get into taxis, they are literally placing their lives in the hands of strangers. So, these drivers have enhanced responsibilities under Texas law. Simply driving from Point A to Point B isn’t enough.
The enhanced duty of care in commercial cases begins at pick-up. A busy corner might be a convenient place for a person to hail a taxi. Additionally, because of the aforementioned competition factor, most taxi drivers want to pick up passengers as quickly as possible. However, a busy corner isn’t the safest place to pick up a passenger. The commercial operator duty of care places safety above convenience.
During transit, cab drivers must not only operate their vehicles safely. They must keep an eye on passenger safety as well. If the passenger is ill, the cab driver has a duty to respond appropriately. If two passengers get in a fight, the driver has a duty to break up the fight before it becomes violent.
This dual responsibility point is important. Taxi drivers have a duty as commercial operators to safely and efficiently get passengers to their destinations. Under Texas law, taxi drivers also have a duty to prevent accidental falls and other pick-up and drop-off injuries.
Third Party Liability
Vehicle collision injuries usually involve the respondeat superior rule. Taxi companies are financially responsible for the injuries resulting from such incidents if:
● Employee: Taxi drivers are non-employee independent contractors for tax and most other purposes. However, they’re employees for negligence purposes. Employer control in areas like driving location makes a world of difference.
● Scope of Employment: Any act which benefits an employer in any way is within the scope of employment. When taxi drivers don’t have passengers, they’re operating within the scope of employment. Their employers benefit from the free advertising.
Vicarious liability theories are especially important in catastrophic injury wrecks. Large taxi companies have the financial resources to provide fair compensation in these situations.
This compensation usually includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.
In-transit injuries could involve driver negligence or another legal theory. As mentioned, drivers have a legal duty to ensure that their cabs are reasonably safe. They must immediately address fall hazards and other such safety hazards. If a driver assaults a passenger, the company could be responsible for these injuries as well, under a theory like negligent hiring or negligent supervision.
Rely on a Diligent San Antonio Taxi Accident Lawyer
Accident victims are entitled to substantial compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced taxi accident lawyer in San Antonio, contact the Law Office of Israel Garcia. We do not charge upfront legal fees in these matters.
