Ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft have transformed the transportation business, but they have also produced many controversies regarding driver-related incidents. When a rideshare driver causes a crash, it is difficult for victims to know where to turn for compensation. Their medical bills continue to come in while they try to understand which insurance companies might provide coverage.
A Houston Uber and Lyft rideshare accident lawyer from Loncar Lyon Jenkins can assist you with filing a claim if you were hurt in an Uber or Lyft accident or were hit by a rideshare vehicle. Our auto accident lawyers work to help clients take on insurance companies, file personal injury lawsuits, and recover compensation. Our team provides free case consultations. Call us today to learn more.
Available Compensation in Accidents Involving Rideshare Services
If you or a loved one sustained any harm while riding in a ridesharing car or driving near a rideshare vehicle, you might be eligible for compensation for the following losses:
- Income lost, including wages lost due to not being able to return to work while healing and when your injuries prohibit you from earning the same amount of money as before the accident
- Medical costs, such as hospital stays, surgery, medication, therapies, medical visits, assistive devices
- Future medical expenses related to your auto accident injuries
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of quality of life
- Disability or disfigurement
- Loss of consortium or companionship should the accident lead to wrongful death.
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
Liability and insurance coverage are both complex topics in rideshare accident cases. While rideshare companies generally provide some coverage for some accidents, drivers are independent contractors. This means the company might not be liable for their carelessness when they cause a crash. Accident victims have options, though.
Uber and Lyft provide insurance for all drivers, passengers, and third parties as part of their ridesharing services. Both rideshare 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 applicable laws, specific policies may provide more coverage.
- Condition 3: The ridesharing app is activated, and the driver is on their way to a pick up or carrying a passenger. Both firms provide a $1 million liability insurance coverage that any accident victims involved in a crash can file a claim against.
While these details apply to both Uber and Lyft, other companies could have their own policies.
Just because these policies exist does not make it easy to recover the compensation you need and deserve based on them. Victims have options, including filing claims against the rideshare company and at-fault driver’s insurance policy. Consult a Houston Uber and Lyft ridesharing accident attorney from our team to learn more about your options.
Houston Uber and Lyft Rideshare Accident Lawyer Near Me 877-239-4878
Rideshare Drivers Are Not Driving Commercial Vehicles
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. Many areas now mandate this insurance, too.
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 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). Depending on the collision, the rideshare driver, another motorist, or other third parties may be responsible.
The following are possible causes of Lyft and Uber accidents:
- Violating traffic laws, such as running red lights or stop signs
- 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.
Our team understands what causes auto accidents, how to identify the applicable insurance policy, develop the case, and negotiate with the insurance adjuster as necessary. We also sue liable parties and take cases to trial when that is what it takes to secure justice for accident victims.
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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 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.
Our investigations often entail many actions that would be difficult or impossible for an individual to manage on their own, especially if they are still undergoing treatment and recovering from their injuries. This includes obtaining documents such as the police report and relevant medical records, surveying the accident scene, seeking photos and videos of the crash, working with medical experts, and managing accident reconstruction.
Our team can often build a much stronger case than a crash victim could on their own. We have the experience, time, resources, and knowledge to gather the most compelling evidence to support your claim or lawsuit.
It would be best to act fast before the statute of limitations, generally 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.
Discuss Your Claim With an Uber and Lyft Rideshare Accident Lawyer in Houston Today
For a free consultation, contact Loncar Lyon Jenkins. Putting together a winning vehicle accident claim may be challenging; getting every detail right from the start is critical. Our Houston Uber and Lyft rideshare accident lawyers will handle every part of your claim; we also work on a contingency basis allowing you to pay us only if we win or settle your case.
Call or text 877-239-4878 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
