Sugar Land Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer

Uber and Lyft have become extremely popular in Texas. Unfortunately, ridesharing drivers are not impervious to accidents. In fact, thousands of rideshare drivers and passengers are involved in car crashes every year. The tough question, though, is this: when injured in a crash involving Uber or Lyft, how can you recover compensation?

Winning compensation for injuries sustained in accidents that involve Uber or Lyft can be very difficult. A number of different policies come into play, not just Uber’s or Lyft’s policies but those of the rideshare driver and the policies held by other motorists involved in the accident.

Determining which policy out of these applies will depend on a number of factors, including whether or not the Uber/Lyft driver was on duty, whether there were passengers in the rideshare vehicle, and who is responsible for the accident. These are complications that necessitate having an experienced rideshare accident attorney on your side to help you file and work through a claim.

How Do Uber and Lyft Insurance Policies Work?

The Texas Legislature recently passed a law requiring Uber and Lyft drivers to have more liability insurance. Based on the terms of this statute, transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft are required to ensure that their drivers possess additional coverage when their ridesharing app is engaged, regardless of whether or not there are passengers in the vehicle.

Texas drivers should have a minimum of $30,000 in liability insurance for personal injuries per person in an accident, and $60,000 for each accident. Additionally, they are required to hold $25,000 in liability insurance for property damage coverage. When transporting a passenger, this coverage increases to $1 million.

Even before the law was passed, Uber already provided its drivers with commercial liability insurance of $1,000,000.

Reporting an Uber/Lyft accident

Uber requires passengers injured in an accident to follow the steps below:

Have all parties involved in the crash receive medical attention if needed
Inform law enforcement officials of the accident
Contact the relevant ridesharing company (Uber or Lyft)

Victims of Uber accidents are also advised to note that they were involved in an accident on the “Trip and Fare Review” tab of the Uber app and to explain what happened. An Uber rep will then be sent to gather accident-related details for moving the claim process forward. An injured person may also contact Uber’s emergency hotline for aid and direction on what they need to do.

Can a Rideshare Driver Sue the Company?

Uber and Lyft drivers are covered by a $1,000,000 liability insurance policy cover anytime they are transporting the rideshare company’s passengers. However, if a rideshare driver gets into an accident that he/she did not cause, it’s important to file a claim with the at-fault motorist’s personal insurance policy coverage. After their policy is exceeded, the ridesharing company’s policy may kick in to cater for any outstanding damages.

On the other hand, if the rideshare driver was at fault, the Uber/Lyft policy will apply automatically, but on the condition that the driver was carrying passengers at the time the crash happened. In case the driver’s Uber or Lyft app was on but no passengers were involved in the accident, the driver’s own insurer will be liable for covering damages. Once the driver’s insurance cover is exceeded, Uber/Lyft’s policy will kick in for the remaining amount.

Can a Passenger Sue Uber or Lyft?

Texas law requires both Uber and Lyft drivers to carry some amount of liability insurance. If the policy coverage of the driver does not cover the damages caused during the accident and the rideshare company fails to pay the difference, an injured passenger can file a claim against the ridesharing company in court where he or she may be awarded settlement.

How Much is an Uber/Lyft Accident Claim Worth?

The compensation amount awarded to a victim by a ridesharing company depends on a number of factors, including:

Extent or severity of personal injuries sustained
The dollar figure for medical bills incurred
Dollar estimates of future medical costs
The extent of property damage caused during the accident
The extent of lost income and ability to earn in the future
Pain and suffering incurred
Loss of enjoyment of life
Loss of consortium
Amounts spent on burial and funeral costs in the event of the loss of a loved one

Talk to an Uber and Lyft Lawyer

Winning compensation for injuries from Uber and Lyft accidents is complex since a number of parties and policies are involved. Having an attorney on your side is critical since this will facilitate your ability to collect compensation for property damages, medical bills, or the death of a loved one. Get the help you need from us by calling 713-677-2159. Starting with a free case evaluation and consultation, the lawyer we assign to work on your case will offer you personalized services that work best for you, and you will not have anything until we win your claim. Call now.