When you’re involved in a crash with an Uber or Lyft car, you might not know who to sue or how to get compensation. Questions of fault are often easily resolved, though payment can be more complex.
Uber and Lyft drivers are often responsible for crashes, but you have to look at the specific case. Some crashes are actually caused by other drivers, and the rideshare driver and passengers are all victims. Regardless, Uber/Lyft drivers and the companies themselves often have insurance to cover crashes.
Call our Dallas, TX Uber/Lyft accident lawyers at The Queenan Law Firm for a free case evaluation at (817) 476-1797.
Who is at Fault in an Uber/Lyft Accident?
The party who caused the crash by breaking the law or violating a legal duty is usually responsible for a crash.
In many cases, this will be the Uber or Lyft driver. Rideshare drivers often speed, roll through stop signs, fail to signal turns, and otherwise drive a bit too comfortably after hours on the road. Those hours might also make them too tired to drive safely, making them liable for their crashes.
However, crashes can be caused by other drivers, too. Some Uber/Lyft drivers are excellent drivers, and you are in safe hands in their cars. Crashes with these drivers might only happen because another driver was drunk, speeding, texting, or otherwise violating the law.
If another driver was responsible, your case might be filed against them and their insurance instead of the Uber/Lyft driver and their insurance.
Do Uber or Lyft Drivers in Texas Carry Insurance?
All drivers in Texas need to carry car insurance. For Uber and Lyft drivers – who qualify as commercial drivers – the requirement is even higher.
Insurance companies in Texas will not cover drivers who are using their cars for Uber or Lyft under their normal auto insurance policy. This means they need commercial or rideshare insurance.
Unfortunately for victims, the minimums are the same for private and commercial insurance: $30,000 per person for injuries, $60,000 per accident for injuries, and $25,000 per accident for property damage.
Each company has a $1 million policy in place to cover accidents while their driver has a rider in their vehicle or while they are on the way to a pick-up. They also have $50,000 supplemental policies if the crash happened while they were on duty without a rider.
In general, these policies will cover the crash if the Uber/Lyft driver is at fault. However, our Texas Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can research whether the driver’s policy had other first-party benefits.
If another driver was at fault, we can go after their insurance instead.
Can Uber or Lyft Be Held Responsible in a Rideshare Accident?
You typically cannot go after the rideshare companies directly for damages. Lawsuits against them are not allowed under the argument that their drivers are “independent contractors.”
With taxis, trucking companies, bus companies, and other transportation companies, you can sue the company for crashes their drivers caused. This usually works with an employer-employee relationship, making the company liable for its driver. You may also sue because they own the vehicle and are liable for maintenance issues.
With Uber and Lyft, they screen drivers but do not hire them as employees. This might allow some lawsuits for “negligent hiring” in cases where drivers were not properly screened, but it often blocks lawsuits against Uber/Lyft for crashes.
What Should I Do after an Uber or Lyft Accident in Texas?
After an Uber or Lyft accident, call 911. Get yourself to a safe location and begin collecting the evidence noted below. If you are injured, accept medical care and go to the hospital if you need to.
Tell the police officer what happened, get any medical care you need, and then call our lawyers for additional help. Avoid talking about your case on social media or with friends until after you’ve spoken with a lawyer.
What Evidence Should I Document in a Texas Uber or Lyft Accident?
In any car accident case, there is evidence you can collect at the scene of the crash if you are able to stay there. If you have to go to the hospital, do so; we can gather evidence later through the police report.
After a crash, get the names and contact info for all drivers and witnesses. Also, write down the make, model, and license plate numbers of all vehicles. Note which rideshare company the driver works for.
Additionally, take pictures of the scene, of your injuries, of the people involved, and of the vehicle damage. If you were driving your own car, photos of your damage will be important, especially when it comes to assigning blame and property damage costs.
When you get medical care, save all records, bills, and communications from doctors. This is good evidence of your injuries and damages.
If you cannot collect evidence yourself, the police officer’s report will contain a lot of the same info. Our lawyers can also seek other evidence, such as nearby security camera footage.
Can a Texas Uber or Lyft Accident Lawyer Help Me?
After a crash, our lawyers can absolutely help you with your claim.
We can take any evidence you have, research and collect additional evidence, and build a strong case. We can also contact the driver and their insurance companies to seek payment.
Let us talk to the insurance companies and negotiate for damages while you focus on recovery. We can show them how strong our evidence is and push for a reasonable negotiated settlement. Then, if that fails, we can take them to court.
In a lawsuit, we can argue before a judge and jury for full damages, demand evidence they might be holding back, and seek depositions and subpoenas through discovery.
Call Our Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyers in Texas
For a free case evaluation, call The Queenan Law Firm’s Houston, TX Uber and Lyft accident attorneys at (817) 476-1797 today.