How Uber and Lyft's Insurance Policies Affect Compensation for Auto Accident Victims in Austin

In large cities like Austin and all throughout the United States, Uber and Lyft drastically altered the transportation industry. Many people consider rideshare transportation, like Uber and Lyft, to be safe replacements for driving. This is especially true when the rider has been drinking. Still, Uber and Lyft drivers are as likely as anyone else to drive dangerously. Speeding, driving while fatigued, and drunk driving are only a few of the dangerous actions such a driver can take that would result in a victim seeking a Lyft or Uber injury lawyer in Austin.

If you have suffered damages after an Uber or Lyft accident or crash in Austin, Carabin Shaw will help you fight for the appropriate compensation for your injuries. Our attorneys support rideshare accident victims from the moment of the accident to the moment their compensation is won. We will help you to file your claim, gather evidence after your personal injury, correspond with insurance agencies, and make sure that you receive your maximum settlement.

The expert service provided by the Austin attorneys at Carabin Shaw begins with our free case review / initial consultation. This provides Austin victims of Lyft and Uber accidents the opportunity to learn about all of the options available to them. It also places victims in conversation with an expert lawyer who has the experience and resources to provide valuable advice. The lawyers at Carabin Shaw understand the financial challenges that come after a devastating personal injury, and we believe that those challenges should not keep a victim from accessing legal support.

Uber and Lyft changed the landscape of transportation, and the methods of employment that they offer can make it difficult to identify full liability after an accident. Additionally, the insurance plans implemented by Uber and Lyft differ depending on if the rideshare driver had someone else in the car versus if they caused an accident without someone in the vehicle.

Since the creation of vehicle-hailing applications, drivers for rideshare companies have been considered independent contractors. This means that, if an Uber or Lyft driver causes a car accident, the company is not liable by association for the damages because the driver is not directly employed by the company. Still, this does not entirely protect the company from liability.

Both Uber and Lyft have $1 million insurance policies in order to cover the injuries of riders, only if a ride was underway when the collision occurred.

If another driver is at-fault for the accident, then that driver’s insurance is meant to cover the victim’s damages. If the rideshare driver is at-fault, then their personal insurance is meant to cover the injuries. Uber and Lyft require that their drivers have certain insurance minimums.

For Uber and Lyft, there are different coverage maximums depending on what state of the ride the collision took place during. These variable coverages are meant to confuse victims, but working alongside Uber attorneys and Austin Tx Lyft accident attorneys will provide the answers and expert guidance that you deserve after an accident.

Uber recorded more than 6 billion rides in 2021 alone, and stated that 90 percent of the accidents involving Uber vehicles took place in densely populated cities, like Austin. Lyft, though smaller, has over 20 million riders annually. Uber notes around 100 fatal accidents annually, while Lyft reports around 50, but neither of these account for the nonfatal accidents that these drivers cause.

Your best opportunity to win your maximum compensation is to work alongside established attorneys, such as those at Carabin Shaw. See our past successes at Carabin Shaw’s client reviews.

Our English AND Spanish-speaking staff are available 24/7 to help you schedule your free case review. Call toll-free at 800-862-1260.