Getting into an Uber or Lyft should not end with a trip to a hospital in San Antonio. Unfortunately, Uber and Lyft drivers can be guilty of distracted, drunk, drowsy or reckless driving just as easily as other drivers. Neither Uber nor Lyft monitor their drivers closely or conduct background checks further than seven years. If you get into a rideshare accident in Texas, you may have the right to file a claim against the individual driver or company.
If you are seriously injured in an Uber or Lyft accident in San Antonio, contact Hill Law Firm for a free consultation about your legal rights. You could be eligible for compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages. Our rideshare accident lawyers can help you determine the defendant, file your claim before Texas’ two year deadline, and take all the right steps to build a strong claim to damages. Find out what your rideshare accident could be worth today. Call (210) 960-3939.
Why Clients Choose Justin Hill
- Our lead lawyer, Justin Hill, has recovered millions of dollars on behalf of injured accident victims. He has a track record of wins even on difficult and complex cases.
- Our attorneys believe in the power of excellent client care. We always go the extra mile to make clients feel seen, heard, and understood.
- Our law firm accepts Uber and Lyft accident claims on a contingency fee basis, meaning $0 upfront to retain our lawyers and $0 at the end of your case if we do not win.
How Can an Uber/Lyft Accident Lawyer Help?
Uber and Lyft accidents involve different laws than standard car accident cases. Rather than the at-fault driver’s insurance company taking care of the claim, the rideshare company may have insurance to cover your damages. Getting Uber or Lyft to pay a fair amount for your losses, however, can be difficult. Both companies may try to undervalue your injuries or pay less than you require to move forward. Hiring an attorney to combat these issues can help you fight for fair compensation. Your lawyer can take over insurance claim negotiations with Uber or Lyft while you focus on recovering.
How Do Rideshare Accidents in San Antonio Happen?
Rideshare accidents can happen when the driver breaks a roadway rule or behaves negligently behind the wheel. Uber and Lyft drivers do not receive any training from rideshare companies. Unlike taxis and other regulated transportation services, Uber and Lyft do not meet their drivers in person, interview them, or train them before hiring. Furthermore, Uber and Lyft only look seven years into an applicant’s driving record and criminal history. A driver with a drunk driving or vehicular manslaughter conviction more than seven years ago, therefore, could be driving you.
Uber and Lyft driver errors can lead to preventable accidents such as rear-end collisions, intersection accidents, or collisions with bicyclists and pedestrians. In these situations, the rideshare company may be liable. If the Uber or Lyft driver did not have any passengers on board and you were in a different vehicle, however, you may only have a claim against the individual driver. Rideshare companies classify their drivers as independent contractors, not employees.
Another potential cause of an Uber or Lyft accident is a defective vehicle. Rideshare companies do not inspect their drivers’ vehicles before permitting them to pick up passengers. One study assessed almost 94,000 registered Uber and Lyft vehicles in Seattle and New York City and found that 16.2% (15,175 vehicles) had active and unfixed recalls. More than 1,200 had unfixed recalls for defective Takata airbags. Twenty-five vehicles in the study had five or more unfixed defects. Unfixed recalls could lead to dangerous equipment breakdowns and malfunctions during a ride.
Some rideshare lawsuits do not involve auto accidents, but rather sexual assaults by criminal drivers. Some Uber and Lyft riders have experienced horrific crimes against them such as sexual assault, sexual harassment, rape and kidnapping during rides. If you or a loved one survived Uber or Lyft driver sexual assault, contact Hill Law Firm for a confidential consultation. We may be able to help you bring a claim against the driver and/or rideshare company in pursuit of justice and fair compensation. We can keep your identity private if desired.
Who Is Liable for Your Uber/Lyft Accident?
Determining liability for a rideshare accident in San Antonio can be tricky. Texas is a tort-based car accident state, making the party at-fault for the crash financially responsible for damages. You will need to identify the driver, company or another party that caused or greatly contributed to the collision. This will be the party accountable for your medical bills and property damages. If your Uber/Lyft driver was speeding, for example, and this caused your crash, the driver could be responsible.
In the state of Texas, proving someone else’s negligence caused your damages requires evidence of three main elements: duty, breach of duty, and causation. You or your San Antonio car accident lawyer must show through a preponderance of evidence that the defendant owed you a duty of care (such as a driver’s duty not to cause an accident), negligently or intentionally breached this duty, and caused your injuries or damages. Your Uber or Lyft driver could be fully or partially responsible for your crash. If so, the rideshare company’s insurance policy may offer coverage for your damages.
Understanding Rideshare Insurance Coverage
Next, learn about Uber and Lyft’s insurance policies to find out whether you have grounds to file a claim with the rideshare company. Uber and Lyft will offer benefits to injured victims only in specific circumstances. Both companies have $1 million insurance policies they will extend to riders in case of accidents involving on-duty drivers. These policies work in three periods to determine how much a victim can receive in coverage.
- Period 1. The driver has logged into the Uber/Lyft app and is waiting for a ride request. Accidents in Period 1 come with 50/100/30 liability coverage from the rideshare company. This means $50,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $100,000 per accident and $30,000 for property damage repairs. This insurance will cover the other party’s damages in an at-fault accident, not the rideshare driver’s. The Uber/Lyft driver will seek coverage from his or her insurance policy instead.
- Period 2. The driver has logged into the app, accepted a ride request, and is on his or her way to pick up the rider. Both Uber and Lyft offer $1 million in bodily injury/property damage liability coverage, as well as uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance, during Period 2. This coverage will typically only apply after the driver’s personal car insurance has maxed out its benefits under the policy’s limits.
- Period 3. A rideshare driver has picked up a rider and is transporting him or her to the final destination. Uber and Lyft’s $1 million policies apply during Period 3 as well, offering coverage for personal injuries and property damages to both the driver and riders.
Uber and Lyft accidents can have many factors that complicate the insurance claim process. Hit-and-run drivers, uninsured drivers, negligent rideshare drivers, multiple at-fault parties and insurance bad faith could make for a difficult claim. If you are struggling to navigate a rideshare accident insurance claim, contact our attorneys to discuss how we can help.
Contact Us If You Were Hurt in an Uber/Lyft Accident
At Hill Law Firm, our injury attorneys in San Antonio understand what an Uber or Lyft accident claim entails. From negotiating with Uber or Lyft’s insurance provider to going to court, we are prepared for anything. Call (210) 960-3939 or submit our online contact form to request a free consultation with one of our San Antonio Uber/Lyft accident lawyers today.
“Hill Law Firm is the absolute “go to attorneys” if you are in need. Just through initial consultations alone I was extremely impressed with not only the keen knowledge yet the self-driven, can do, attitude that will put anybody’s mind at ease. When going through a rough time it’s great to know there are people like this out there to make you feel like you matter, opposed to just another client. With all the attorney’s in the San Antonio area there is only one choice, and that’s nice to know!” – Jim