Houston Rideshare Accident Lawyers

If you were injured in an Uber or Lyft accident, contact a Houston rideshare accident lawyer at Johnson Garcia for a free case review. Insurance coverage for ridesharing platforms can be complicated — and these companies will look for any means to limit or deny your claim. At Johnson Garcia, we have 35+ years of experience handling injury claims, and we can ensure you receive the compensation you deserve from Uber, Lyft, or their insurance companies.

Do you have questions about your rideshare accident? There’s no charge if you reach out to us, and we never take any legal fees unless we win your case.

What Caused Your Rideshare Accident?

Even though rideshare drivers in Houston undergo background checks, these drivers are susceptible to the same accident risks that other drivers are exposed to on our roads.

Still, there are some factors that increase the dangers of rideshare accidents on our roads. For example, many rideshare drivers often have multiple jobs, making them susceptible to fatigue. Drowsy driving makes Uber and Lyft drivers less attentive to their surroundings, making it harder for them to react in time. Insufficient sleep also affects decision-making, making it risky for one to drive their vehicle.

Additionally, ridesharing revolves around smartphone apps. It is common to see drivers glance at their phones as they drive you around Houston or any other city in Texas. They rely on these apps for directions, to plan their next rideshare pick-up, or to track their time. This close attachment that drivers have to ridesharing apps is a recipe for distracted driving.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,142 people were killed by distracted driving in 2020. This represented 8.1 percent of all traffic fatalities in that year.

Apart from drowsy driving and distracted driving, other negligent causes of rideshare crashes in Houston include:

• Speeding
• Tailgating
• Running red lights
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Poor road conditions, e.g., poor maintenance or inclement weather
• Defective vehicle parts

What Should I Do if I Am Involved in a Houston Rideshare Accident?

The minutes, hours, and days after a Houston rideshare accident can be scary and confusing. Here are the steps our Houston motor vehicle accident lawyers recommend:

Call 911

This is the most important step since it guarantees injured victims the quickest possible medical treatment. Law enforcement officers from the Houston Police Department will also arrive at the scene of the crash to document the details and come up with a crash report (CR-3). A ridesharing accident lawyer can use this report to prove negligence in your personal injury case.

Seek Medical Attention

Even if you think you are not injured, let a doctor make the correct assessment and diagnosis of your condition. Remember, some injuries, like brain injuries and internal organ damage, can worsen over time if left untreated. Remember to maintain documentation of your injuries, medical expenses, and treatment procedures for your rideshare accident claim.

Get Everyone’s Contact Information

If you are physically able to, get the contact details of everyone involved in the crash, including the rideshare driver, other passengers, and eyewitnesses. If you are hurt, don’t gather any information. You may end up worsening your situation. Let the police gather the details for you.

Take Notes and Photos

Evidence is crucial in any type of personal injury case, including car accidents, slip and fall accidents, construction accidents, and motorcycle accidents. That’s why you should take notes, photos, and videos after a rideshare accident. Write down details of the time of day, how fast you were traveling, how long it took for the police to arrive, and the road and weather conditions.

Since this is a rideshare accident, try to determine the status of the Uber or Lyft driver. Were they carrying a passenger? Were you the passenger? Were they on their way to pick up a passenger? Or were they off the clock? Your car accident lawyer will use these details to determine the liability coverage available for your accident.

5. Inform Your Insurance Company

After an accident, it’s important that you inform your insurance provider about what has happened. But make sure you don’t admit fault or submit written or recorded statements without consulting a personal injury lawyer first.

Are Rideshare Drivers Required To Carry Insurance?

If you are involved in an accident with a rideshare driver, this means you were either a passenger in the vehicle or you were struck by the rideshare vehicle. During such a time, there are certain steps you can take to strengthen your personal injury claim. The main difference, though, is whether the rideshare driver was using the app when driving on Houston roads.

Rideshare drivers are considered independent contractors, meaning it isn’t always guaranteed that the rideshare company’s insurance policy will cover your accident. To better understand liability coverage, Uber provides $1,250,000 in third-party auto liability, while Lyft provides $1 million in third-party auto liability. However, the amount of coverage depends on the “period” the rideshare driver is in:

• Period 0. When the driver is offline or if the app is off, their personal insurance coverage takes effect.
• Period 1. When the driver is available or waiting for a ride request, Uber and Lyft provide liability coverage of $75,000 and $50,000 per person for bodily injury, respectively, and $150,000 (Uber) and $100,000 (Lyft) for total liability per accident.
• Period 2. When the driver accepts a ride and is on their way to pick up the customer, third-party liability for Uber and Lyft increases to $1,250,000 and $1,000,000, respectively.
• Period 3. During trips, liability coverage for both apps increases to $1,250,000 (Uber) and $1,000,000 (Lyft), plus additional coverage for uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury.

Call a Rideshare Accident Attorney at Johnson Garcia

Getting fair compensation for your injuries after a rideshare accident can be complicated. At Johnson Garcia, our rideshare accident lawyers will comprehensively review the details of your crash, address any concerns, answer all your questions, and ensure the responsible parties are held accountable for their actions. We are also ready to move to court if settlement talks with insurance companies don’t work out.

Call us today at 832-402-9332 or reach out online to book your free, no-obligation consultation.