Rideshare Accident Injury Claims With Uber and Lyft Drivers

Ridesharing companies, like Uber and Lyft, have changed America’s transportation options and commuting habits. While they have brought greater freedom of movement, these modern transportation services do come with more complexity when processing personal injury claims.

Reaching settlements for personal injuries are complicated because the accident victim is most likely negotiating with three different parties. This means more rules and more paperwork.  This is why it is crucial to call an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible after your wreck.

Don’t let the complexity of Lyft or Uber accident settlements stop you from receiving the compensation you deserve. Hospital bills, lost wages, and damages for pain and suffering can be obtained if you have the proper legal representation to fight for your rights and help you navigate through the insurance companies and paperwork.

Why Uber and Lyft Accidents are Different

A traditional car accident claim will have a plaintiff and a defendant. If both parties have proper car insurance, you most likely will be negotiating your settlement with only one insurance company (the company of the driver responsible for the accident).

Uber and Lyft accidents are different because there are more parties involved. This creates more complexity.

Rideshare accidents are more challenging to negotiate because you have more parties involved. You now have the victim (plaintiff), the driver (working for Uber or Lyft as an independent contractor), and the rideshare company (Uber or Lyft). Each party can have its own auto liability insurance company, which increases your paperwork and communication requirements.

Due to the multiple insurance companies and policies, an accident victim will struggle with complicated paperwork coming from multiple different directions.

To complicate matters further, you (or your loved one) may receive multiple settlement offers, which sounds great, but they might not be enough to cover your medical bills and lost wages. You need an experienced rideshare accident lawyer who can help manage the claim process and negotiations for you.

Although rideshare accidents have many similarities with regular car accidents, a Lyft or Uber accident is different, and it does require special handling by an experienced rideshare accident attorney.

You don’t have to feel pressured into taking a quick and low settlement. Take a moment to pause and educate yourself on your options.

If you or a loved one is involved in an accident while riding with a rideshare company, contact me for a free, no-obligation review of the case.

I am here to answer your questions and guide you through the complicated process required to win your personal injury claim or lawsuit. I’ll serve as your advocate and help make sure you receive the compensation you deserve.

Learn More About Uber and Lyft Accident Claims and Lawsuits

What should I do if I am injured in a rideshare accident with Uber or Lyft?

If you are injured in an Uber of Lyft accident, you should take the following steps to protect your physical health and future claim:

  1. If your injuries allow, take photos of the accident scene so you can document your case. This includes pictures of the vehicles, any collision debris, the weather, and road conditions.
  2. Gather the names and contact information for any witnesses of the crash.
  3. Make sure a police report is filed to documentation your accident.
  4. Seek medical attention and inform your doctor about your accident. Describe all your injuries, aches, and pains.
  5. Retain copies of your medical records and bills.
  6. Gather any information that will support your claim. This could include additional photos of the accident, statements from witnesses, photos of your injuries, and copies of your medical records.
  7. Contact an experienced car accident lawyer that specializes in roadside collisions and injuries.
  8. Avoid signing any documentation or giving any recorded statement until you have spoken with an attorney.

Should I go to an urgent care or the emergency room after an Uber or Lyft accident?

It is very important that you seek immediate medical help after a rideshare accident!

For any serious or life-threatening injuries, you should immediately go to the emergency room for treatment. Serious injuries would include things like whiplash, severe burns, broken bones, severe trauma, uncontrollable bleeding, and breathing difficulties. If you have to get transported by ambulance from the scene, that ambulance bill will be added to your list of damages. 

For lesser injuries or symptoms, you should go to urgent care or seek a consult by your family doctor. But keep in mind, adrenaline can mask injuries, so you should visit urgent care even if you don’t feel like you absolutely need to.

Who is liable for my rideshare accident with Uber or Lyft?

In Texas, anyone who represents a contributing factor to the accident could be held liable for damages. This includes the rideshare driver, the driver of the other vehicle, the rideshare company, a pedestrian or bicyclist if involved, or even the manufacture of a defective product (like a brake manufacturer) if this contributed to the accident.

While that is a list of potential defendants, most rideshare accidents can involve three parties. This means you might process claims with three different insurance companies:

  1. Your auto insurance company
  2. The drivers auto insurance company
  3. The rideshare company’s insurance company

This can better be explained in your free initial consultation.

If you get in an accident while riding in an Uber or Lyft, the rideshare company is likely responsible for your damages if the rideshare driver was at fault. The good news is the rideshare company’s third-party liability coverage will apply if the driver was online during the accident.

What can I be compensated for if I’m hurt during a Lyft or Uber accident?

Similar to a regular car accident, you can process a personal injury claim for, but may not be limited to:

  • Medical expenses
  • Loss of earnings
  • Emotional distress or grief
  • Short-term physical pain or discomfort
  • Long-term chronic pain or discomfort
  • Disability such as a scar or disfigurement
  • Loss of a body part due to amputation
  • Loss of an important bodily function
  • Psychological trauma such as PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Diminished quality of life

Do Uber and Lyft have special insurance coverage to compensate accident victims?

Yes. Both companies should offer insurance in the event that there is an accident while waiting for a ride, while entering a vehicle, or while riding inside a vehicle.

If the Lyft or Uber driver is at fault for the accident, there is usually about $1,000,000 in insurance coverage to cover the personal injuries associated with the driver’s negligence. There is also about $1,000,00 of coverage for uninsured motorists and underinsured motorists. 

Keep in mind that your coverage from Lyft and Uber starts as soon as you open the app and request a ride.

How does Texas rideshare accidents differ from other states?

Texas law, under House Bill 1733, requires Uber and Lyft to maintain specific amounts of insurance coverage for rideshare drivers. These rideshare companies must offer $50,000 for driver’s liability, $100,000 for accident coverage, and $25,000 for property damage coverage when a driver is online but actively engaged in a ride. This extends up to $1,000,000 in coverage when there is a passenger in the moving vehicle.

What is Uber’s insurance policy for rideshare accidents?

An Uber insurance claim involves multiple parties to negotiate with, but Uber is already prepared for personal injury claims and the company has insurance policies in place to cover such incidents.

Uber offers insurance that starts before you even get into the vehicle. From the time you're online with Uber until you accept a trip, Uber (should) maintains automobile liability coverage on your behalf in amounts of at least:

  • $50,000 for the driver's liability for bodily injury per person case of a covered accident
  • $100,000 per covered accident
  • $25,000 for property damage for which you are responsible for in a covered accident

If you are in a wreck within a rideshare auto, their policy would be liable first and then your own personal auto insurance policy would kick-in if your damages allow for an Underinsured Bodily Injury Claim.  Depending on the auto policy, this policy may also include personal injury protection and/or uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage if it is required by law in the state in which you drive.

During an Uber passenger trip, you should be insured for the following in the event of a wreck:

  • Third-party liability coverage: Insures your bodily injuries or damages caused by a 3rd party (someone who comes along and damages the rideshare car);
  • Third-party liability coverage: Insures your bodily injuries or damages if those damages are caused  by  the actual rideshare driver, if the rideshare driver is at fault for the wreck;
  • Uninsured or underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage: This can be the policy of the actual owner of the car you are a passenger in or your own auto policy that will follow you in the event you are in a crash. This insures you and your riders if an accident occurs on a passenger trip and another driver is at fault and doesn't have sufficient insurance, as well as hit and runs. Coverage limits vary by state and by owner and driver.

What is Lyft’s insurance policy for rideshare accidents?

Just like Uber, a Lyft insurance claim involves multiple parties to negotiate with, but Lyft is already prepared for personal injury claims and the company has insurance policies in place to cover such incidents.

Similar to Uber, Lyft coverage starts the moment you open the app and request a ride.

If you have opened the Lyft app and you are waiting for your ride, Lyft provides third-party liability insurance for covered accidents if your personal insurance does not apply. This (should) include:

  • $50,000 person for bodily injury
  • $100,000 accident for bodily injury
  • $25,000 accident for property damage

If you are in the middle of a pickup or a passenger in a ride and there is an accident, Lyft (should) provide the following insurance coverage:

  • $1,000,000 for 3rd-party auto liability
  • Uninsured and/or underinsured motorist bodily injury and/or first-party coverage
  • Contingent comprehensive and collision up to the actual cash value of the car ($2,500 deductible)

How long do I have to file an accident claim with Uber or Lyft?

This varies by state, but in Texas, this is set at two years from the date of the rideshare accident. The statute of limitations for car accident claims is the same timeframe Texas uses for most personal injury claims.

How long does a rideshare accident claim or lawsuit take?

Some rideshare accident claims last only a few months and others could last years. The timeframe really varies from case to case, as well as, the court’s calendar and how many other cases are ahead of you. It is important to remember that about 80% of car accident claims settle outside of court and this would help decrease the time for resolution.  It is important to note that each and every claim is different and a lawyer cannot guarantee a time frame for any resolution of a case/claim.

Who pays the lawyer fees associated with an Uber or Lyft accident claim?

Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, which means you pay nothing out of pocket.

You’ll only have attorney fees if your claim is successful and any payments to your lawyer will come from the damages collected. 

Our law firm works on a standard contingency fee contract and no client has to pay a fee unless there is a recovery. 

When should I reach out to an attorney to help with by claim against Uber or Lyft?

As soon as possible!

The faster you reach out to an experienced rideshare accident attorney, the better your chances of receiving the maximum compensation for your claim.

I offer a no cost, no obligation consultation so there is no reason to delay. Let me help protect your rights, answer your questions, and make sure you receive the compensation you deserve.

Free Initial Consultation and No Out-of-Pocket Costs*

If you are injured and believe you have been a victim of someone else’s negligence, call me at 281-929-0110 for a free initial consultation. Or if it is an emergency, please feel free to text me at 832-797-7600.

*As your personal injury lawyer, I will only receive a fee if we recover a settlement or jury verdict for you. In other words, you don’t pay any legal fees unless I make a financial recovery for you!

Have a question about an injury or legal issue?

  • green diamond with white border

    If you have been injured in a wreck, please seek professional medical attention ASAP.

  • green diamond with white border

    Enter your information with a brief description of your legal issue.

  • green diamond with white border

    Once your inquiry is submitted, Gregg will respond to you the same day to discuss your legal case.

  • green diamond with white border

    During the consultation, we will determine if your case or claim will be accepted by our law firm.

  • green diamond with white border

    If you believe your inquiry is an emergency, you may text your information to 832-797-7600 for a quicker response.

Request a
Free Consultation

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.