Who is Responsible for Damages After a Car Accident Involving a Rideshare Driver?

Any motor vehicle in Texas can be involved in a collision, including rideshare vehicles in which the motorist is driving for Uber or Lyft, for example. If you were involved in a crash involving a rideshare vehicle, who is liable for your injuries? It will depend on a couple of key factors, including who was at fault for the crash, and whether the rideshare driver was online or on a trip at the time of the accident. The latter can help to determine whether the rideshare company’s significant insurance coverage will apply, or whether you will need to obtain compensation by filing a third-party claim through another at-fault driver’s insurance and, potentially, by filing a subsequent lawsuit.

Consider the following information, and do not hesitate to get in touch with our Texas car accident lawyers to find out more about moving forward with a claim for financial compensation.

Who or What Caused the Collision?

The first issue that you will want to discuss with a Texas auto injury lawyer is causation. Who (or sometimes what) caused the car accident? The answer to that question is typically how you will determine liability, and who is responsible for covering your damages.

Typically, when another driver is responsible for causing a motor vehicle collision, they behaved negligently. For instance, another driver may have been distracted, impaired, or drowsy at the time of the accident. Or, the driver might have been speeding or may have run a stop sign or red light. In some instances, the crash might have resulted from another issue such as a defective vehicle part.

Does Coverage Provided by the Rideshare Company Apply?

Whether you were a passenger in a rideshare vehicle, or you were involved in a collision with a rideshare vehicle, it is important to determine whether the rideshare company’s coverage will apply to your case. If it does, you may be able to obtain full compensation for your losses given the significant insurance coverage provided by Uber and Lyft. If not, you may need to move forward with a civil lawsuit against the at-fault party.

How do you know if the rideshare company’s insurance will apply? If the driver is offline, the rideshare coverage does not apply — their own insurance applies. If the driver is online and available for a trip but does not have a passenger, Uber provides up to $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for injuries, and up to $25,000 for property damage. This injury insurance is still greater than the minimum required in Texas. However, a $1 million policy may apply if the driver was en route to pick up a ride or on a trip.

Contact a Car Accident Lawyer in Texas to Find Out More About Filing a Personal Injury Claim After a Rideshare Collision

Were you injured in a motor vehicle collision involving a rideshare driver? It is important to seek legal advice about liability and whether the rideshare company’s insurance may apply to you. One of the experienced Texas auto injury attorneys at John Reed, Attorney at Law can discuss the details of your case with you today. We are here to assist you with your insurance claim and, if necessary, a civil lawsuit to seek the compensation you are owed.

Sources:

uber.com/us/en/drive/insurance/

tdi.texas.gov/pubs/consumer/cb020.html