What Is a Common Carrier?

If you’ve been injured in a transportation accident in St. Louis, understanding the term “common carrier” could make a major difference in your case. At Goldblatt + Singer, we know that not all transport providers are treated equally under the law. A common carrier is a business or individual that offers transportation services to the public for a fee, and unlike private carriers, they must serve the general public without discrimination—as long as payment is made and the route is valid.

This classification carries significant legal weight. Common carriers are held to a higher duty of care, which means if you’re injured due to their negligence, you may have a stronger path to financial recovery. In Missouri, this includes entities like public buses, airport shuttles, and in some cases, rideshare companies—depending on how they’re regulated. For injured passengers, these legal distinctions can be the key to securing proper compensation.

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What does a common carrier mean?

A common carrier is any person or company that transports passengers or freight for compensation and offers its services to the public under license or authority. The defining element is accessibility—the service must be available to anyone willing to pay.

Under the legal definition provided by the Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute, common carriers include:

• Public transportation systems (e.g., city buses or commuter trains)
• Taxi and limousine companies
• Rideshare platforms like Uber and Lyft (depending on how they operate and advertise)
• Interstate bus and trucking companies
• Airlines and commercial freight shippers

This designation carries legal implications, especially around duty of care. In Missouri, common carriers owe passengers the “highest degree of care”—stricter than what is typically expected in other vehicle accident cases.

Common carrier laws in Missouri

In Missouri, whether a business qualifies as a common carrier depends on multiple operational and legal factors. The Missouri Department of Revenue outlines several characteristics that contribute to this classification, though no single element is conclusive.

According to Missouri’s tax law guidance on common carriers, relevant factors include:

• Providing transport without refusal if fare is paid
• Publicly advertised rates and routes
• Reasonable and standardized pricing
• Proper licenses, permits, and insurance
• Holding out the service to the general public
• Recognition by the public as a transportation provider
• Revenue from transportation being a major source of operational income

For car accident victims in St. Louis, this legal framework can make a significant difference. If the entity involved in the crash qualifies as a common carrier, they may be subject to stricter liability rules, especially if their negligence led to harm.

Types of common carriers

Common carriers aren’t limited to trains and planes—they’re all around us in everyday life. In St. Louis, several services and companies may fall under this classification. Examples include:

• Metro Transit buses operated by Bi-State Development
• St. Louis Lambert International Airport shuttles
• Charter bus companies like Greyhound or Megabus
• Rideshare platforms, especially when fulfilling public contracts or serving designated public zones
• Taxi services with regulated pricing and public access
• Freight carriers, including FedEx and UPS trucks
• Limousine services licensed for public transport
• Tour bus operators serving large-scale public routes

Each of these carriers has different legal duties and insurance requirements. When involved in an accident, passengers may have access to larger insurance policies and more substantial compensation options, but they also face more complex legal processes.

Common Types of Common Carrier Accidents

Here are some of the most common types of carrier accidents that occur:

• Bus Accidents: Due to driver error, inclement weather, improper maintenance, failure to replace faulty parts, defective parts, etc.
• Train Accidents: When a train derails or collides with a vehicle or object, it can be catastrophic for passengers. These accidents commonly happen due to driver or operator negligence, operator fatigue, or mechanical failure.
• Taxi / Limo / Shuttle Accidents: Many are caused by dangerous driving, such as speeding or failing to obey stop signs or traffic signals. Like any other vehicle accident, passengers can suffer severe injuries.

Not all public transportation accidents are caused by high-impact collisions. For instance, a bus door can close on a passenger’s arm, a passenger may trip over an object in a walkway, or fall because of loose handrails, etc. However, in these cases, passengers can still suffer broken bones, head or brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other severe forms of harm.

What if I’m injured due to a common carrier accident?

If you’re hurt in a crash involving a common carrier in St. Louis, your legal rights may be broader than in a standard car accident. That’s because common carriers are held to a higher legal standard, and failure to meet that standard could be considered negligence.

Here’s how that might affect your personal injury claim:

• Enhanced duty of care: Missouri courts require common carriers to act with the utmost care and vigilance to protect passengers.
• More comprehensive insurance coverage: These companies often carry high-limit liability policies, which could increase potential compensation.
• Stronger liability arguments: If the company violated federal or state regulations (e.g., improper driver training, overworked schedules), your attorney may use that evidence to strengthen your case.

Steps to take after a common carrier accident:

• Seek immediate medical attention—even if injuries seem minor.
• Document everything: ticket receipts, photos, witness contact info.
• Request a copy of any incident or police report.
• Contact a personal injury attorney familiar with Missouri transportation laws.

Goldblatt + Singer has decades of experience advocating for injury victims across St. Louis. Whether your case involves a negligent bus driver, a rideshare service crash, or a commercial carrier accident, we’re ready to help you fight for full compensation.

Common Carrier Liability

Common carrier companies and their employees who provide transportation services to the public are held to a higher standard of care when it comes to accidents. If the company or an employee fails to exercise the level of care expected of them under the law and causes an accident, they can be held liable for resulting injuries and other losses. Part of that duty also involves:

• Exercising reasonable care to protect passengers from potential harm by a third party.
• Inspecting and maintaining the safety of their vehicles and equipment (e.g., regular inspections and maintenance, keeping vehicles’ interiors clean and free of debris, etc.)
• Performing background checks on potential employees, including their driving record, before hiring them (e.g., accident history, traffic violations, or substance abuse).
• Creating realistic schedules that encourage drivers to operate their vehicles safely and drive the posted speed limit rather than engage in reckless driving behaviors to meet strict timelines.
• Providing proper safety and driver training to drivers.
• Warning passengers about potential hazards.

When an accident does occur, victims must be able to prove that the common carrier breached their duty of care (e.g., driving distracted, speeding, etc.) and that the breach of care directly caused their injuries, which resulted in financial and/or personal losses. Since common carriers owe a very high standard of care to passengers, injury claims are often successful. However, there must be evidence that an action or a failure to act on the part of the carrier caused the injury. Contact our St. Louis personal injury attorneys today or at (314) 231‑4100 to discuss your case with a trusted local attorney.

Jeffrey Singer

Jeff Singer, Managing Partner at Goldblatt + Singer for over a decade, is a seasoned personal injury attorney known for his compassionate yet tough advocacy. He has resolved hundreds of cases and recovered millions for clients. Recognized as a Missouri Super Lawyer and Top 100 National Trial Lawyer, Jeff also serves on the Missouri Bar’s Chief Disciplinary Committee and the Board of Governors for the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys.

Free case consultation call us at (314) 936-3434