Understanding Your Rights After an Uber or Lyft Accident in Houston

Over the last two decades, rideshare services like Uber and Lyft have become a common component of our daily commutes. Data from the Pew Research Center shows 36% of Americans reported that they’ve used either app in 2019, and researchers on Statista predict that by 2026, these services will increase their U.S. market share by 115%.

Since arriving in 2014, both Lyft and Uber have given millions of rides to Texans in the Houston metropolitan area. Though UTHealth Houston finds their presence has decreased DUI and DWI accidents, these Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) create an added complication to U.S. roadways: what is a person to do when they’re involved in an accident with an Uber or Lyft driver?

Whether you’re a passenger, pedestrian, or fellow driver, it’s important to know your rights as they relate to TNC drivers. The expert Houston attorneys at Carabin Shaw can help you better understand the law after an Uber or Lyft accident and help determine if you’re owed compensation for your injuries. To help ease the financial burden that comes with making a case for their injuries, we offer all our clients free case reviews and initial consultations, with the promise that we don’t get paid until we win.

In 2017, Texas passed a TNC law that usurped the local regulations of major cities like Houston and Austin. These regulations caused Uber and Lyft to leave for a time, and the new law encouraged them to return. Though TNCs are fighting for more power to protect themselves from litigation, they are still bound by certain rules, specifically relating to the insurance carried by their drivers:

• When a Houston TNC driver is between rides, they must be covered for up to $100,000 for bodily injury or death per incident, with $50,000 in coverage for bodily injury or death for each person in an incident and $25,000 for property damage.
• When transporting passengers, these drivers should be covered up to $1,000,000 for bodily injury, death, and property damage per incident.

This coverage doesn’t mean that TNCs won’t try to avoid paying plaintiffs fair compensation for their injuries, emotional distress, and lost wages, which is why Carabin Shaw’s Lyft and Uber accident attorneys are the best team to fight for you. We bring decades of experience to each case along with a passion for bringing justice to Houstonians.

If you decide to work with us, we’ll explore all possible sources of negligence and fault in your case to help you get the maximum damages available. Urban car accidents often result in more severe injuries, and medical bills become difficult to pay if you can’t physically return to work. This is why our Houston Uber accident lawyers know to consider liability of not only the TNC driver, but their company and any third-party drivers who may be involved in the incident.

We’ll be ready to fight for your rights in court if it appears the negligent parties are trying to avoid responsibility. We encourage you to read more about other cases we’ve won in Carabin Shaw’s client reviews. Our clients consistently mention that they appreciate the passionate focus and personal attention we bring to each case we take on.

If you’ve been injured in an Uber or Lyft accident, then Carabin Shaw can help. You can call us toll-free, 24/7 at 800-862-1260. We have both English and Spanish-speaking representatives available to answer your questions.