Rideshare Accidents

Practice Areas Rideshare Accidents

Injured by an Uber or Lyft Driver? An Experienced Alvin Rideshare Accident Attorney Works to Secure Maximum Compensation

The roads of Brazoria County and the greater Houston area are filled with drivers operating for Uber and Lyft. While many other professional drivers undergo extensive training and must demonstrate advanced knowledge before getting behind the wheel, rideshare drivers do not. Uber and Lyft set very minimal standards and put intense pressure on their drivers. Some drivers handle these situations well, but many others do not.

Rideshare drivers often let distractions pull their attention off the road, which can lead to collisions with disastrous consequences. Increasingly, the car accidents that bring traffic to a standstill on Highway 35, FM 517, and Highway 6 involve Uber and Lyft drivers. If you get hurt in a collision caused by a rideshare driver, you must act quickly to protect your rights, because the money provided through the rideshare insurance program gives their corporate attorneys an incentive to try to shut down your claim right from the start.

To ensure you receive full compensation for your losses, work with an experienced Alvin rideshare accident attorney prepared to counter their tactics. At DeKeyzer Law, we have extensive experience helping Brazoria County residents recover maximum compensation for rideshare accident losses. We know how to anticipate and counter corporate insurance lawyers’ strategies so our clients receive what they deserve.

Who is Liable in an Alvin Rideshare Accident?

No matter how badly you’ve been hurt in a collision, you cannot receive full compensation for your injuries unless you can prove someone else is liable for causing the crash. To establish liability, you need evidence that indicates what caused the accident and who should be held responsible. Start collecting evidence right away; that’s one reason it helps to work with an Alvin rideshare accident attorney soon after the accident.

Understanding Texas Rideshare Liability and Coverage Tiers

In an accident caused by a rideshare driver, you must prove the driver caused the crash and establish the driver’s operating status at the time. Uber & Lyft both provide up to $1 million in insurance coverage when their drivers cause accidents, but the amount of coverage available depends on the driver’s status in the rideshare app at the time of the collision.

App off = no rideshare insurance

App on but no ride in progress = partial rideshare insurance

App on with ride in progress = full rideshare insurance

This means that if the app is off, the driver is presumed to be on personal time. The rideshare company’s insurance does not apply, and the driver’s personal insurance should cover the accident. However, in these situations, insurance companies will often try to deny coverage on the grounds that the vehicle is being used for commercial purposes.

If the app is on but the driver has not accepted a ride request, rideshare insurance applies on a limited basis. Coverage is only provided at the minimum required by state law. In Texas, that means that instead of a maximum of $1 million in coverage, those injured can receive no more than $50,000 per person, and if more than one person is hurt in the crash, the policy will pay out only $100,000, which must be shared among claimants. (For details, see the insurance certificates for Uber and Lyft in Texas.)

Full coverage applies only when a rideshare driver is transporting a passenger or driving to pick up an accepted ride request. When accidents occur while a driver is on the way to pick up a passenger, insurance attorneys will likely argue that only partial coverage applies, so it is important to gather evidence showing the ride status at the exact time of the collision.

Third Party Drivers: How to Recover Damages if Another Negligent Driver Hit Your Rideshare Vehicle

Uber and Lyft drivers are not always at fault when their vehicles are involved in a collision. Sometimes, another driver or property owner causes the accident through negligence. For instance, a driver might have been operating while impaired by drugs or alcohol. Or a truck or business owner may have dropped debris in the road that caused the rideshare driver to lose control and crash.

An Alvin rideshare accident attorney at DeKeyzer Law can investigate to determine all the factors that led to the collision and ascertain the parties who can be held responsible. The vehicle or property insurance of those responsible can then be required to pay compensation. But they will fight liability, so you must gather and preserve evidence as soon as possible after the collision.

What to Do After a Rideshare Accident in Alvin

The steps you take after a rideshare accident will be crucial to your physical, emotional, and financial recovery. After an accident involving an Uber or Lyft driver, it is a good idea to:

• Call 911
• Screenshot the Uber or Lyft app
• Take photos at the scene
• Preserve other details
• Get a thorough medical exam
• Avoid talking about the accident until you get legal advice

Texas law requires you to report the accident to authorities if there are any injuries or property damage worth $1,000 or more. You may not know whether anyone is hurt or how much damage occurred, but it is better to be safe and report the accident and get first responders to the scene. The Alvin Police Department or Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office can then prepare a report that you can use as evidence to establish liability.

If medical technicians at the scene recommend taking you to the hospital, follow their recommendation. If they do not, you still should see a doctor for an exam as soon as possible. Tell the medical professionals you’ve been in a collision so they can search for signs of internal injuries that may not be immediately obvious. Prompt, thorough medical care will protect your health and create valuable evidence linking your injuries to the accident. If you wait to see a doctor, insurance companies will argue that something else caused your injuries.

Why Rideshare Claims are Uniquely Complex

While most personal injury attorneys handle car accident cases, not all of them are prepared to succeed when the case involves national rideshare companies. These cases become very complex for a variety of reasons, including:

• Multiple insurance companies working to shift blame
• Rideshare companies structuring their legal relationships to avoid liability
• Tech evidence such as GPS data and driver logs
• Corporate legal teams determined to avoid high-dollar insurance payouts

To recover full compensation, you need an Alvin rideshare accident attorney who understands how to overcome these challenges and cut through corporate legal tactics. At DeKeyzer Law, we built our reputation on our ability to fight corporate legal teams to secure recovery for victims, and we know how to beat the rideshare companies.

Recoverable Damages and Proven Results

A rideshare accident can wreck your life in numerous ways, and our team works to secure full compensation for all of your losses. You may be eligible to receive compensation for:

• Mental anguish
• Lost opportunities and loss of enjoyment of favorite activities
• Pain
• Past medical expenses
• Future medical needs
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning expectations for the future

The party responsible for causing your injuries should be required to compensate you not only for the suffering you’ve endured so far but also the ways that your injuries will impact your future. Our attorneys have a unique understanding of complex financial issues, enabling us to calculate the value of your future losses with precision. We have also earned accolades for our ability to recover maximum compensation for mental anguish suffered by accident victims.

FAQs About Rideshare Accidents in Alvin

Can I sue Uber or Lyft directly in Texas?

In most cases, you cannot file a claim directly against the rideshare company because their drivers are legally classified as independent contractors under Section 2402 of the Texas Occupations Code. Uber & Lyft thereby avoid the vicarious liability that they would have if drivers were employees. 

However, if the rideshare company did something that made it directly liable for causing the accident, your Alvin rideshare accident attorney could seek damages from the company. For instance, if the company failed to suspend a driver under investigation for driving while intoxicated (as required by Section 2402.106) and that driver caused a collision, the rideshare company could be directly liable for injuries. 

How long do I have to file a rideshare accident claim in Texas?

Texas law gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a claim. However, start working on your legal claim as soon as possible because the evidence you need to establish liability will quickly degrade unless you take steps to preserve it. Your attorney can help secure evidence and handle questions from insurance investigators so you don’t have to worry about being tricked into admitting liability.

What if I was injured as a passenger in a rideshare accident?

Uber and Lyft insurance covers injuries to rideshare passengers and to people hurt while riding in other vehicles. However, you must be prepared to show that the rideshare driver caused the accident. If another driver caused the accident, then your Alvin rideshare accident attorney would seek compensation from that driver’s insurance.

How much does a rideshare accident lawyer cost?

We cannot speak for other attorneys, but at DeKeyzer Law, we work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid at the end of your case as a percentage of what we recover for you. If we don’t win your case, you don’t have to pay. And you never have to pay anything up front.

Put the Experience of DeKeyzer Law to Work for You

It is not a good idea to take on corporate insurance legal teams alone. Even if representatives seem sympathetic and have already offered a settlement, remember their goal is the opposite of yours. They want to avoid paying fair compensation for your losses.  

At DeKeyzer Law, we fight for full compensation so you can focus on healing. Contact us for a free case evaluation so we can explain what your claim is worth and the steps needed to receive full compensation.

Hurt in a Rideshare Crash in Alvin? Call 713-904-4004 or Contact Us for a Free, 100% Confidential Case Review