At Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers, we have more than 20 years of experience representing injured clients. Our firm has served thousands of clients since it was established in 2008, recovering hundreds of millions of dollars on their behalf.
If you were injured in a crash, our rideshare accident lawyers in Jersey Village can review how the collision occurred and determine which insurance coverage may apply. We represent rideshare passengers as well as motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, and others injured by negligent drivers.
Contact our firm today for a free consultation with one of our Jersey Village car accident lawyers.
Common Causes of Rideshare Accidents in Jersey Village
Rideshare drivers frequently use phones for trip requests, directions, passenger communication, and pickup information. When that activity interferes with safe driving, serious collisions can follow.
Other causes may include:
- Distracted driving.
- Speeding.
- Driver fatigue.
- Following too closely.
- Unsafe pickups or drop-offs.
- Failing to yield.
- Running traffic lights or stop signs.
- Unsafe turns or lane changes.
- Driving while impaired.
Our personal injury lawyers in Jersey Village can review the evidence to establish how the collision happened rather than relying on conflicting accounts from the drivers or insurers.
For a legal consultation call (713) 500-5000
Rideshare Insurance Coverage Depends on the Driver’s Status
Texas law requires insurance coverage for transportation network company drivers when they are logged into the company’s digital network. The coverage requirements differ depending on whether the driver is waiting for a request or is engaged in a prearranged ride.
This makes the driver’s app status an important part of an Uber or Lyft accident claim.
Driver Is Offline
When the driver is not logged into the rideshare app, the driver’s personal automobile policy generally becomes the first policy to examine. Whether that policy provides coverage depends on its terms and the circumstances of the crash.
Driver Is Logged In and Waiting for a Request
Texas law requires liability coverage while a rideshare driver is logged in and available to accept a ride but has not yet accepted one.
Driver Has Accepted a Ride
Different insurance requirements apply once the driver accepts a ride request and while the passenger is being transported. Texas law requires coverage during this prearranged ride period.
As your Jersey Village rideshare accident attorney, we can obtain records showing the driver’s status when the collision happened and determine which policies should be examined.
Jersey Village Rideshare Accident Lawyer Near Me (713) 500-5000
Who Can Bring a Rideshare Accident Claim?
You do not have to be an Uber or Lyft passenger to have a claim. What matters is whether another person’s negligence caused your injuries.
A claim may be available if you were:
- A passenger in an Uber or Lyft.
- A rideshare driver injured by another motorist.
- The driver or passenger of another vehicle.
- A pedestrian struck by a rideshare vehicle.
- A cyclist injured by a rideshare driver.
Passengers are often in a different position from the drivers involved because they usually have no responsibility for causing the collision. Even then, there may be a dispute between insurers over which driver was at fault or which policy must respond.
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Liability for an Uber or Lyft Collision
Identifying the correct insurance policy is only one part of a rideshare claim. We must also determine who caused the collision.
The rideshare driver may be liable for unsafe driving, such as speeding, distracted driving, failing to yield, or making an unsafe lane change. Another motorist can also be responsible. In some crashes, fault may be shared.
Other potential sources of compensation may include:
- Insurance covering the rideshare driver.
- An applicable Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare insurance policy.
- Another negligent driver and that driver’s insurer.
- A business legally responsible for another driver’s conduct.
- A vehicle or parts manufacturer if a defect contributed to the crash.
- Another person or company whose negligence contributed to your injuries.
Uber or Lyft is not automatically legally responsible simply because one of its drivers was involved. The facts of the collision and applicable Texas law determine whether a direct claim against a rideshare company is available.
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Digital Evidence Can Play a Major Role in Your Claim
An Uber or Lyft crash can leave an electronic record of what happened before the collision. Trip information may establish whether the driver had accepted a ride and whether rideshare insurance was in effect.
Relevant evidence may include:
- App login records.
- Trip and pickup information.
- GPS data.
- Driver communications.
- Police reports.
- Photos or video of the collision.
- Witness statements.
- Vehicle data.
- Medical records.
- Wage records.
Some electronic information may not remain available indefinitely. Early action can help preserve records before they are deleted or become more difficult to obtain.
Compensation for a Jersey Village Rideshare Accident
Texas personal injury law permits an injured person to seek compensation for losses caused by another party’s negligence. The damages available depend on the injuries and their effect on your life.
Your claim may include compensation for medical expenses, future treatment, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, physical pain, mental anguish, physical impairment, and property damage.
If you need treatment but are concerned about the cost, our team at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers can help connect you with appropriate medical providers or specialists who may provide care without requiring payment out of pocket while your claim is pending.
Fatal Rideshare Accidents
When a rideshare collision causes a death, certain surviving family members may have the right to bring a wrongful death claim under Texas law. Compensation may be available for losses recognized by the Texas Wrongful Death Act.
Texas Deadline for Filing a Rideshare Accident Lawsuit
Texas generally requires a personal injury lawsuit to be filed within two years of the accrual of the cause of action. A wrongful death action also generally has a two-year statute of limitations. Exceptions can change the applicable deadline.
You should not rely on the general two-year period without having your specific situation reviewed. Waiting can also create problems separate from the filing deadline. Video may be erased, physical evidence can change, and witnesses can become harder to locate.
Why Clients Choose Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers
Our founding attorney is board-certified in personal injury trial law. That courtroom experience influences how we approach an injury claim from the beginning.
We prepare cases for the possibility of trial instead of assuming an insurance company will make a fair offer. If an insurer refuses to pay fair value, we are prepared to litigate the claim rather than send the case to another firm.
Clients also have access to real people when they contact our legal team. We believe clear communication should continue throughout the case, not end after you hire us.
Talk to a Jersey Village Rideshare Accident Lawyer
Insurance disputes can make an Uber or Lyft claim difficult to handle while you are receiving medical treatment and missing work. Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers can take over communications with the insurers and protect your claim while you focus on your recovery.
Contact us today for a free consultation with a Jersey Village rideshare accident lawyer. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t have to pay attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Call or Text (713) 500-5000 or Complete a Case Evaluation Form