What Damages Can You Recover After a Rideshare Accident?

After a rideshare accident, you may be able to recover damages for a wide array of impacts from a rideshare accident beyond medical bills, including amounts for lost opportunities. But you must manage your case properly. Once you are able to demonstrate that an Uber or Lyft driver is legally liable for causing a collision, then an experienced attorney can work to recover amounts to make up for all the ways the injuries have affected your life.

The damages you can recover after a rideshare accident in Texas will depend on the extent of your injuries, the cause of the accident, and the quality of the legal case presented. Here, we explain the possibilities for recovery when you are working with a skilled attorney.

What are the Economic Damages Available for a Rideshare Accident?

Economic damages after an Uber or Lyft accident generally include amounts to cover medical needs and reductions in earnings resulting from the injuries. Losses are generally classified as either economic or noneconomic. Economic losses have a direct monetary value.

Medical Costs

Damages provided for medical costs should include amounts for treatment you’ve already received as well as treatment you’re expected to need in the future. These damages should cover doctor and hospital expenses as well as medications, therapy, and related expenses.

Lost Wages

When injuries prevent you from working, you should be able to receive damages to make up for the income you’ve lost in the past as well as income you are expected to miss out on in the future. Your injuries may prevent you from being able to work at the same job or the same number of hours, either on a short-term or long-term basis. The reductions in earnings should be included in your damage award.

Other Economic Losses

If a rideshare driver damaged your car or motorcycle, or you suffered losses to other personal property, amounts to cover those losses should also be included in your award of economic damages.

What are Noneconomic Losses and How Much Can You Receive for Them?

Noneconomic losses are the impacts from an accident that don’t have a monetary value but still have a huge personal value. These are factors such as:

• Physical pain
• Emotional anguish
• Disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of favorite activities
• Reduced quality of life

When the injuries have permanent or long-term effects, the amounts recovered for these noneconomic impacts can run into hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.

What Factors Affect How Much You Recover After a Rideshare Accident?

Your attorney will need to prove the extent of your injuries and their effects, and must find resources to cover the cost of your losses. Uber & Lyft provide insurance for their drivers with up to $1 million in coverage, but this insurance does not apply in every accident situation.

To prove your losses, your attorney may use a variety of evidentiary tools, and you can assist in the process. Keeping organized copies of all medical bills and attending all follow-up appointments can help ensure that you receive damages for your past medical expenses. Your attorney may consult with medical teams to project your future medical treatment needs and help determine the cost of meeting those needs.

When it comes to noneconomic losses such as pain and suffering, you can help by keeping a journal documenting your pain and the effect it is having on your life. If you could not get out of bed all day due to pain, keep a record of it. If you missed important events because of pain or limited mobility, note each one. A daily ongoing account of your suffering can provide powerful evidence demonstrating the impact the injuries are having on your life.

FAQs About Damages for Rideshare Accidents

Who pays my damages if an Uber driver caused an accident?

Your attorney will work to get the insurance provided by Uber to cover your losses. If the accident occurred while the driver was logged out and had the Uber app turned off, however, then recovery will need to come from the driver’s personal insurance.

What if I was a passenger in the rideshare vehicle?

If the Uber driver caused an accident that injured you, then it does not matter whether you were a passenger in the rideshare vehicle, riding in a vehicle that was hit by the Uber driver, or a pedestrian or bicyclist hurt in the collision. The applicable insurance should cover your injuries. But the insurance companies will always fight liability and attempt to avoid paying full compensation, so you need to work with an attorney who is prepared to stand up to them.

What compensation can I receive after an Uber or Lyft accident in Texas?

You may be able to receive compensation for:

• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages
• Medical bills
• Future needs and losses
• Emotional and mental distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Work with a Legal Team Ready to Fight for Maximum Damages After a Rideshare Accident

Not every personal injury lawyer is prepared to deal with the complex insurance situations and corporate legal defense tactics involved in a rideshare accident case. But at DeKeyzer Law, we built our reputation around our ability to outmaneuver corporate defense interests in complex accident cases. We know how to ensure victims receive full compensation for all losses they have suffered in a rideshare accident.

For a free consultation to find out what your claim may be worth and how to protect your legal rights, contact us online or call DeKeyzer Law at 713-904-4004.