What You Need to Know About Rideshare Accidents in Texas

One of the best ways to get around Dallas, Texas is to use a rideshare app. Millions of Americans utilize Uber or Lyft every day, and it’s very often a convenient, safe, and positive experience. However, like any other time you get on the road in a moving vehicle, rideshares are at risk of getting into an accident.

If you or a loved one has recently been in a crash and are looking for a rideshare accident lawyer in Texas, the law office of Carabin Shaw can help. In this article, we detail what you need to know about rideshare accidents in Texas, so you are prepared to meet with a Dallas Uber accident lawyer when the time comes.

Since rideshare apps are fairly new, it might seem confusing at first as to how accidents operate. But whether you are another driver, a pedestrian, or a passenger sitting in the backseat of your Uber, what you need to know about rideshare accidents in Texas is that they follow the same rules as any other accident. After a collision, the incident is assessed for liability to determine which driver caused the accident, the injured parties make their case, and the claim is either negotiated and settled by lawyers and insurance agents, or goes to court.

With rideshare accidents, however, there are some more complexities. For example, if the driver that caused the accident was, at the time of the accident, logged into an app such as Lyft or Uber, then those companies can also be held liable and their insurance will kick in. If the driver was not logged in or driving for one of those apps, then their insurance companies will not be involved in the claim and only the driver’s personal insurance will be held liable to pay for damages.

Your rideshare accident lawyer in Texas will be able to help you determine this in your initial consultation.

For your claim, your attorney will need to prove that the rideshare driver was at fault for the accident through negligence, as opposed to, say, rain, or other bad road conditions.

For example, your Dallas Uber accident lawyer will look to see if the other driver was speeding, looking at their phone, or otherwise driving recklessly, and this specific action caused the accident. Running stop signs or red lights, not signalling when changing lanes, tailgating other drivers, and any other flouting the rules of the road are all forms of negligence, and will allow you to make a claim.

As with any car accident, the next part of the process is to assess damages. This is where you seek monetary compensation for your injuries, including property damage, pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, and more. Your lawyer will be able to help you set a value to each of these.

Since rideshare drivers are considered “independent contractors,” however, your Dallas Lyft accident attorney may need to negotiate with several different commercial insurance companies to get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries. And as mentioned earlier, the details of the accident matter a lot here. If the rideshare driver was currently providing a ride and hits you, then you can potentially receive a large payout from the rideshare company’s insurance policy. They typically have upwards of $1 million in insurance for their drivers, though this coverage changes depending on when, exactly, the accident takes place.

If you’ve been injured in a rideshare accident recently in Dallas, Texas, you will need a lawyer on your side to help you with your claim. Carabin Shaw has been helping Texans get justice for decades, and has won over $1 billion for our clients. We offer a free, no obligation case review to everyone, so call 1-800-862-1260 to speak with an experienced and qualified attorney today.