Accidents involving rideshare drivers can be complicated for many reasons. Determining liability, negotiating a settlement, and proving fault can all be difficult without legal representation. However, an Uber and Lyft rideshare accident lawyer in Houston from Loncar Lyon Jenkins can walk you through the entire process of pursuing a settlement or judgment.
According to a Forbes article published in 2018, the advent of ridesharing businesses may have increased automobile accidents across the United States. This research seems to counter some people’s beliefs that using a ridesharing service is safer than driving one’s car. If you took an Uber or Lyft believing you’d be safe and ended up in an accident, you are far from alone.
If you or a loved one was injured in an accident involving a rideshare driver or you are an injured driver, you do not have to be alone during this stressful and painful time. You have endured enough and deserve legal support to help make the claims and/or lawsuit process smoother.
Possible Insurance Coverage Options
All Texas drivers are supposed to have insurance coverage, as the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) states. You must have $30,000 in bodily injury liability, $25,000 in property damage, and $60,000 in bodily injury liability (for accidents involving more than one person).
The other driver in your accident might not have insurance. If you have uninsured/underinsured coverage, however, this might not be a problem. Additionally, if the liable driver was operating their vehicle under Uber or Lyft’s purview at the moment of the crash, Uber and Lyft could cover your losses.
Uber and Lyft’s Insurance
These companies both have a one-million-dollar insurance policy for third-party liability. They also have plans that provide $50,000 in bodily injury liability, $25,000 in property damage, and $100,000 in bodily injury liability. Yet, coverage of this kind may only be available under certain circumstances.
A representative from Loncar Lyon Jenkins can explain more when you call us. We will be able to answer your questions; you don’t have to do research when you should be focusing on recovering.
For a free legal consultation with a Uber and Lyft Rideshare Accidents lawyer serving Houston, call 877-239-4878
Uber and Lyft Insure Both Drivers and Passengers
Uber and Lyft provide insurance for all drivers, passengers, and third parties as part of their ridesharing services. Both ridesharing firms offer varying degrees of coverage depending on whether a driver is awaiting a fare, on the way to pick up a ride, or carrying a paying customer. Here is the breakdown:
- Condition 1:The driver turned off the ridesharing app. Because the driver is personally accountable, they must have their own vehicle insurance.
- Condition 2: The driver has turned on the ridesharing app and is awaiting passengers. Uber and Lyft both have a 50/100/25 liability policy. It implies that each person’s bodily injury responsibility is limited to $50,000, with each accident’s bodily injury liability limited to $100,000. There is also a $25,000 limit on property damage. If mandated by state law, specific policies may be more expensive.
- Condition 3:The ridesharing app is activated, and the driver is on their way to pick up or carry a passenger. Both firms provide a $1 million liability insurance coverage that anyone involved in an accident may use.
Keep in mind that the numbers above apply to Uber and Lyft since both ridesharing apps use the same system. For further information, consult the insurance policies of Uber and Lyft.
What happens if your damages surpass the insurance limits? In such an event, you and other victims (whether drivers or passengers) may have to seek compensation from sources other than the ridesharing and at-fault driver’s insurance policy. Consult a Houston Uber and Lyft ridesharing accident attorney to learn more about your options.
Houston Uber and Lyft Rideshare Accident Lawyer Near Me 877-239-4878
Our Team Can Help You Recover Compensation
Right now, you may be struggling with serious injuries and emotional trauma. You could recover compensation to cover your accident-related expenses, and you likely want your financial award as soon as possible. Now is not the time to worry about your finances, though. We want you to focus on getting better and following your doctor’s orders. We will be fighting on your behalf for the compensation you are entitled to receive. We’ve got you covered.
Our team can represent you in a contingency-fee agreement. You will not have to pay us anything up front for our services. We work under this arrangement to not only protect our clients financially but also to show them we are committed to achieving the best possible outcome for them. We only get paid if we win; if we do not, you owe us nothing.
Recoverable Damages in a Rideshare Accident
You may be able to receive coverage for various economic and non-economic damages. Some compensable damages in your case may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Damage to your vehicle
- Physical therapy
- Mental anguish
- Counseling
- Emergency treatment
- Follow-up treatment
- Transportation costs while you cannot use your car
- Childcare and in-home help while you are recovering
- Disability
- Disfigurement
We will find out what damages you are owed compensation for, calculate the damage, and determine the award you deserve.
If a Houston Uber and Lyft accident resulted in the loss of a family member, you could recover damages for:
- Funeral and burial payments
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of income
- Loss of guidance
- Your loved one’s medical bills prior to their death
Your Houston Uber and Lyft rideshare accident lawyer from our firm will search for and compile any evidence that supports your claim for compensation.
Contact our Houston Uber and Lyft Rideshare Accident Attorneys today
Identifying Liability in Uber and Lyft Accidents
When a rideshare driver collides with another motorist, the process for assessing responsibility is the same as it is for any other automobile accident. Suppose you are a passenger in a ridesharing car. In that case, you can rest easy knowing that you do not hold liability for the accident (you are not the driver). The rideshare driver, another motorist, or other third parties may be responsible, depending on the collision.
The following are common causes of Lyft and Uber accidents:
- Speeding or reckless driving
- Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Bad weather
- Failure to stop at a stop sign or red light
- Faulty automobile designs or equipment
- Distracted driving
As a passenger, you have the right to obtain compensation from Uber or Lyft’s liability coverage. That said, dealing with insurance providers is rarely straightforward. Insurance firms like to find every excuse to deny or minimize a claim settlement in most circumstances. When you hire an Uber or Lyft accident lawyer to defend you, your odds of winning an insurance claim improve considerably.
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How We Will Prove Negligence in Your Accident
As noted above, we will need to use evidence to support your case and secure compensation. Before we can do this, however, we need to determine who is at fault. We can do this by reviewing the evidence in your case. Some pieces of information can include traffic camera footage, eyewitness statements, your written or verbal statements regarding the crash, the weather report from the day of the accident, and the crash report.
If you visited a doctor or received treatment from paramedics at the scene, we could connect your injuries to the accident. Doctor testimonials, your pain journal that tracks your recovery period, and the names of your prescribed medications could ultimately help your case.
Once we establish that the other party is primarily liable for your injuries, we can prove that you should collect a settlement or judgment.
Ridesharing Vehicles Are Not Commercial Based
Over the past several years, governments have enacted laws to control the operation and insurance of app-based ridesharing firms such as Uber and Lyft. Commercial vehicles, such as taxis, must be insured by state-mandated policies. However, Uber and Lyft are exempt from the same regulations and monitoring since they do not qualify as commercial taxi businesses.
When people first developed the rideshare app concept, it essentially skirted taxi rules by acting as nothing more than a smartphone app connecting individuals eager to give them a ride. With pressure building due to several incidents around the United States, Uber and Lyft introduced driver insurance that kicks in when drivers accept and pick up passengers.
How the Accident Could Have Happened
There are many factors that could have influenced you, your rideshare driver, or another driver involved in the crash.
Your accident may have been caused by someone who:
- Was driving while intoxicated
- Was distracted while behind the wheel
- Violated a traffic law
- Had a part of their vehicle malfunction
- Had a reaction to medication or suffered a health emergency
- Did not operate their vehicle appropriately for traffic conditions
- Was driving while fatigued
No matter how your accident happened, we will figure it out. You might even be partially responsible for the crash. This does not preclude you from collecting compensation, however. As long as we can prove that you were not primarily at fault, you could recover the cost of your damages.
Keep Texas’s Statute of Limitations in Mind
There are laws that limit how long an accident victim has to take legal action after getting hurt. Your insurance company will have certain time limits for filing your claim as well. If we cannot secure a settlement from the insurance company via negotiations, you have the option to file a lawsuit.
Even after filing your lawsuit, our team will keep negotiating. If your case makes it to court, we can present evidence at trial to support your case. Because you have a limited amount of time to pursue compensation, it is best that you reach out for help soon after your Uber or Lyft accident.
Your lawyer needs as much time as they can get to construct a solid case. There is plenty of evidence to gather which can take time to collect, and there are witnesses we need to get in touch with and arrange interviews with.
Why You Might Want to Get Legal Help After Your Accident
We can take on the responsibility of negotiating with insurance adjusters. You do not need to worry about this aspect of your case. Insurance companies can sometimes push accident victims to accept low settlements after a crash. This way, once a victim accepts the money, their case is over, and they can no longer go after compensation.
You could choose to hire a Houston Uber and Lyft rideshare accident lawyer from our firm to fight for a fair settlement on your behalf. Insurance companies’ tactics to get victims to accept lowball settlements do not work on us.
Our team can also explain all legal processes and answer your questions. You will not be left in the dark. We will stand by your side and will tell you whatever you want to know regarding your case.
How a Rideshare Accident Attorney Can Help You
When you hire the help of a lawyer from our law firm, you can relax while we do all of the meticulous work on your behalf. Some of the steps include:
- Build a compelling case and negotiate on your behalf with insurance and ridesharing companies to get compensation for your injuries and other damages
- If required, assist you in filing a lawsuit and presenting your case to a judge and jury to get a favorable judgment
- Help you know your rights and the amount of compensation you deserve based on the status of the rideshare driver at the time of the accident.
It would be best to act fast before the statute of limitations, which is two years from the accident’s date, runs out. Furthermore, the longer you wait to file a claim, the more difficult locating credible evidence and witnesses will be.
Loncar Lyon Jenkins Is Ready to Help You and Your Family
We have helped many people secure financial recovery for their damages. Unfortunately, too many people get injured in all kinds of car accidents every day. Call in the Strong Arm today. A Houston Uber and Lyft rideshare accident lawyer from our firm is prepared to serve you.
Call Loncar Lyon Jenkins to hear about what we will do for you. Reach us by phone today at (877) 239-4878 for a free consultation. A team member is standing by to hear about your case and discuss your rights and options with you.
Call or text 877-239-4878 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
