With rideshare apps exploding in popularity, accidents involving Uber and Lyft drivers are becoming increasingly common. Sustaining injuries in a crash involving a rideshare driver in Bellaire, TX can create multiple liable parties. You may want to consult a Bellaire car accident lawyer about your options.
When you are involved in a car accident, you can suffer serious and permanent injuries. You may also suffer minor injuries—such as cuts and scrapes—and even disabling conditions, such as cognitive impairments.
Some injuries you may have sustained in your car accident could include:
- Whiplash
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Torn muscles
- Dislocated joints
- Scarring
Economic losses from an accident can be reimbursed by auto insurance providers. Since the Texas Department of Insurance affirms that Texas is an at-fault insurance state, the policy of the responsible driver will be the primary payor of benefits. However, accidents involving Uber and Lyft drivers can cause multiple insurance companies to be responsible for benefits.
You may be entitled to recover damages for:
- Medical bills
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Rehabilitation costs
- Transportation costs to medical appointments to treat your injuries
- Property damage, such as vehicle repair and replacement costs
Texas’ Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003 imposes a two-year statute of limitations upon personal injury claims involving injuries sustained in car accidents. If you fail to file a claim before the statute of limitations expires, you are usually barred from pursuing damages.
Contact our Bellaire personal injury lawyers at Blass Law today for a consultation if you were hurt in a car accident involving a rideshare driver.
We Can Help You Regardless of the Cause of Your Car Accident
Your accident may have been caused by a negligent driver’s action or inaction, including:
- Distracted and inattentive drivers
- Failure to drive at a safe speed
- Improper merging, passing, and yielding
- Failure to stop
- Aggressive driving
- Intoxication
Some accidents are caused by mistakes and errors made by motorists. Accidents involving rideshare drivers are no exception. Since rideshare drivers use a smartphone app to connect with riders, they can become distracted by their phones while driving, which can cause accidents. Taxi and rideshare drivers may speed, as it can increase profits if ride fare is based on mileage.
Following an accident, the police will respond and document the accident scene. Although uncommon, police officers can pull video footage of the accident from nearby security cameras and interview witnesses, which can help determine the cause of the accident. If one of the drivers involved in the crash was violating traffic laws, police officers can issue citations.
The driver responsible for the accident is liable for damages other motorists and passengers sustain in the accident. That makes it important to exchange insurance information with the other party involved in your crash.
Call Blass Law today at (713) 664-4000 to learn more.
We Can Prove Liability in Your Uber and Lyft Accident
Liability is based on which motorist is responsible for the accident. Drivers have an obligation to adhere to traffic laws, as compliance improves safety. Accidents involving rideshare drivers can involve multiple parties—including passengers, third-party motorists, and rideshare drivers.
What a Rideshare Driver Can Do After an Accident
If you experience an accident while driving for Uber or Lyft in Bellaire, TX, it is important to get medical attention for anyone that is injured, contact a Uber and Lyft accident lawyer, report the accident to your rideshare platform, and your auto insurance company. Uber and Lyft provide additional insurance to drivers that cover third-party liability, property damage, and bodily injury expenses. If your accident occurs while driving or picking up a passenger, the rideshare platform’s insurance policy can cover economic losses.
However, insurance benefits are based on what the responsible driver’s insurance policy limits are. If the other driver is responsible for the accident and your economic losses exceed their policy limits, you can submit a claim under your underinsured motorist coverage.
When your injuries are severe, your expenses may exceed all insurance benefits limits, making it more important to have a Bellaire Uber and Lyft accident lawyer pursue damages against the liable party.
What Rideshare Passengers Can Expect After An Accident
If you experience injuries following an accident while utilizing rideshare services, your economic losses—such as medical bills—are covered by the responsible party’s auto insurance policy. Insurance benefits only reimburse you for the actual expenses you paid because of the accident. You should immediately report your injuries to the rideshare company you used, as your losses may be covered by their insurance policy.
Third-Party Drivers Involved in a Rideshare Accident
When you are struck by a rideshare driver (or experience an accident while driving that involves an Uber or Lyft driver), you should promptly seek medical attention for anyone that is injured, contact a lawyer, report the accident to law enforcement and your insurance company. If you know the platform the driver was working for, you should report the accident and your losses to that platform.
Insurance companies determine which motorist was responsible for the accident. If the Uber or Lyft driver caused your accident, you can receive reimbursement for losses (such as damage to your vehicle) from the rideshare platform company’s insurance policy. When you absorb extraordinary losses – such as a permanent and disabling injury – a car accident lawyer in Bellaire, TX can file a personal injury claim against the liable driver.
If the Uber or Lyft driver had a lengthy history of reckless driving or accidents, it can make the rideshare platform liable for negligence. It is important to document your losses and keep bills and receipts related to your accident. When your injuries are catastrophic, you may be unable to continue working or living your accustomed lifestyle, which can allow a lawyer to recover damages for pain and suffering.
Call Blass Law Today So We Can Get to Work
Getting hurt in a car accident can lead to devastating injuries and significant medical bills. When you are injured in an accident involving a rideshare driver, you can retain a Bellaire Uber and Lyft accident lawyer to help you pursue compensation. Call Blass Law today at (713) 664-4000 for a consultation.