Beaumont Car Accident Attorney for Rideshare Accident Victims
Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft have changed the landscape of commuting around the country. In many cities, it’s much easier (and often cheaper) to request an Uber or Lyft from your phone than to flag down a classic yellow taxi. However, many concerned citizens have correctly pointed out that the standards for working as a rideshare driver are lower than those for working as a taxi driver. Rideshare drivers might not have the same level of vetting, training and experience. Additionally, their personal vehicles driven by rideshare drivers have not been maintained by a central, responsible or qualified operator as is done by many taxicab companies. As a result, rideshare accidents are becoming very common.
If you’ve been injured by a negligent Uber or Lyft driver, you could be eligible for significant compensation. At the Gilbert Adams Law Offices, our rideshare accident attorneys help Texas injury victims and their families recover compensation for their losses from rideshare vehicle drivers and their employers. We’ll help you understand your legal rights and fight to maximize your recovery after a Texas rideshare crash.
Recovering Compensation After a Rideshare Accident
Compensation made after a car collision often comes from the insurance policy covering the at-fault driver. Additionally, when a driver causes a collision while on the job, their employer may share secondary liability–meaning you can collect from the driver’s employer (and/or the employer’s insurance providers). While Uber and Lyft maintain that their drivers are independent contractors rather than employees, they do carry insurance coverage meant to compensate victims injured by accidents with at-fault rideshare drivers. The extent of the insurance coverage and the limits of that coverage depend upon when the collision occurred.
If the driver has the app on and was either on the way to pick up a fare or en route to the fare’s destination, the insurance company for the rideshare company should provide coverage. They maintain policies of at least $1 million in total liability coverage to cover collision costs to the extent their driver is found responsible for causing the collision.
If the driver has the app on and is searching for a fare, but no fare has been accepted, the driver’s own insurance will likely cover the costs of anyone injured. Uber/Lyft maintain secondary liability insurance of $50,000 in bodily injury per person, $100,000 in bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage to cover their drivers if the driver’s insurance does not apply. Texas law requires rideshare drivers to carry a minimum of 50/100/25 in auto insurance coverage, either personally or as provided by the rideshare company.
If the driver was driving on personal time with the app off, Uber/Lyft will deny any liability or responsibility. In that event, it will be claimed that the driver was operating solely for personal use, and any accident victim will need to collect from the driver directly and/or their personal auto insurance.
To maximize your potential compensation, talk to a savvy Texas rideshare accident lawyer for advice. The larger the insurance policy available, the more likely you are to secure full compensation for the harm you have suffered.
Who Can Recover After a Rideshare Accident?
If you were injured in an accident involving an Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare vehicle, you may be entitled to compensation. As with any other accident, the question of liability turns on negligence or fault in causing the collision. To the extent the rideshare driver caused the accident, anyone injured in the accident can seek compensation from the driver and/or the rideshare company. That includes other motorists, their passengers, bike riders, pedestrians, and passengers in the rideshare vehicles.
If someone else contributed to causing the collision, such as another driver, then that at-fault driver would be legally responsible. Rideshare companies do carry uninsured motorist coverage to compensate rideshare passengers who are injured on a ride, provided that the at-fault driver does not have insurance sufficient to cover the passenger’s injuries. An experienced Texas rideshare accident attorney can walk you through your options for recovery after a Texas Uber or Lyft accident.
Helping Victims of Texas Rideshare Accidents
If you’ve been hit by an Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare vehicle in Texas, call us at the Gilbert Adams Law Offices. Since 1930, we’ve helped auto accident victims in Texas assert their rights against insurance companies, employers, drivers, and other responsible parties, and we look forward to helping you and your family too.