There’s no doubt rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft have made catching rides to and from DFW airport, Stone Street Gardens, or a concert on Pegasus Plaza easier. There’s always plenty to do in the Big D.
But catching a rideshare also puts you at the mercy of a stranger—an Uber or Lyft driver who may not know the roads or have the experience to navigate them safely.
More than 35,000 car accidents occur on Dallas roadways each year, and sometimes they involve rideshare vehicles.
If you suffered injuries in an Uber or Lyft accident, you may face costly medical bills, missed days from work, and even emotional anguish from the trauma of the accident. The insurance company may offer compensation to settle your claim, and, while it may tempt you at this time of great need, never accept an offer without first consulting a personal injury lawyer. Chances are, the insurance company’s offer will not pay the full extent of your damages, and by accepting their offer, you could leave money on the table.
You deserve compensation for all your damages. The Dallas rideshare accident lawyers at the Francis Firm have helped thousands of car accident victims recover the maximum compensation they need and deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation and learn just how much your case is worth.
Why Should You Choose Our Dallas Rideshare Accident Attorneys?
The experienced personal injury attorneys at Francis Firm understand how overwhelmed your motor vehicle accidents can make you feel. It may take weeks or months before you realize just how much your injuries have affected your life. You deserve compensation for every damage you suffered.
We have served injured accident victims in Dallas and surrounding cities for more than 25 years. In that time, we have recovered more than $30 million for our clients.
Our lawyers also understand that a rideshare accident case should do more than just recover compensation for your injuries. It should protect your rights and hold parties responsible when their careless, intentional, or neglectful actions cause injuries that adversely affect your life.
If you suffered injuries in a Dallas rideshare accident, you can trust our personal injury lawyers to fight for you every step of the way.
Do I Have a Rideshare Accident Case?
If an accident involving any of the following scenarios injured you or a loved one, you seek compensation through a Lyft or Uber accident claim:
- As a passenger in a rideshare vehicle
- An occupant of another vehicle struck by an Uber or Lyft driver
- Struck by a rideshare driver while crossing the street
- Hit by a rideshare vehicle while riding your bike
What Is My Rideshare Accident Worth?
Your damages determine the value of your accident. Damages describe a person's injuries for which they may receive compensation. Determining the full extent of damages in a motor vehicle accident takes extra research the insurance company probably won't take the time to conduct.
Their offer may include compensation to cover your medical bills and lost income if your injuries kept you from working at your job. Depending on the severity of your injuries, the offer may also include some money for pain and suffering.
As you can imagine, everyone experiences pain differently, which makes it difficult to place a dollar value on these injuries.
When you hire a rideshare accident attorney, your lawyer will review your medical bills and medical records, and talk with you and your family to better understand how the accident has affected your life.
You may generally recover two categories of damages in rideshare accidents—economic and non-economic.
Economic Damages
These actual financial losses a person suffers from their accident-related injuries include:
- Medical expenses, including any treatments, hospitalization, medication, and rehabilitation
- Future medical needs, including home healthcare or supportive services
- Home or vehicle modifications due to a permanent disability
- Mobility equipment or prosthetics
- Lost income
- Loss of future income
- Property damage
- Funeral and burial expenses, if the accident resulted in a loved one’s death
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are more subjective and difficult to value.
Non-economic damages include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Disfigurement or scarring
- Humiliation
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship
Other Factors That Affect the Value of a Rideshare Accident Case
The value of your rideshare accident claim will also depend on:
- The severity and significance of your injuries
- Present and future expenses associated with treating your injuries
- The types of treatments you require now and in the future
- Whether you suffered permanent, disabling, or disfiguring injuries
- Whether you can return to work in the same capacity, or at all
- Whether you sought medical treatment after the accident and followed the recommended treatment plan
- The strength of your evidence, including witness testimony
- The level of your pain and suffering
What Are the Rideshare Laws in Dallas?
Rideshare drivers in Texas must meet certain standards before driving for Uber or Lyft.
They must:
- Be at least 21 years old
- Pass a background check
- Pass a DMV check
- Have a valid driver’s license
- Have a vehicle registered in Texas
Texas law also requires all drivers to carry a minimum amount of car insurance to cover injuries and property damage in the event of an accident, and that includes all Uber and Lyft drivers.
The minimum auto insurance required in Texas includes:
- Bodily injury liability: $30,000 per person
- Body injury liability: $60,000 per accident
- Property damages liability: $25,000 per accident
Uber and Lyft also kick in additional coverage if one of their drivers is in an accident. Here is an overview of how these rideshare companies break down their coverage:
When the Driver App Is Offline or Turned Off
The driver’s chosen personal auto insurance coverages apply.
When the Driver Is Available or Waiting for a Ride Request
The rideshare company provides this coverage for third-party liability if the driver's personal auto insurance doesn't apply:
- $50,000 in bodily injury per person
- $100,000 in bodily injury per accident
- $25,000 in property damage per accident
When the Driver Is En Route to Pick up Riders, and During Trips
Rideshare companies maintain substantial auto insurance coverage for their drivers after an accident:
- $1 million third-party liability
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury and/or first-party injury insurance
- Contingent comprehensive and collision up to the actual cash value of the car with a $2,500 deductible
Common Causes of Rideshare Accidents in Dallas?
Rideshare drivers are often just regular people without special driver training or qualifications. They’re prone to the same errors as other drivers.
Some common causes of car accidents include:
Distracted Driving
Fumbling with phones, eating, drinking, or engaging in any activity that takes the driver's attention off the road can cause them to miss important cues that lead to accidents. Uber or Lyft drivers may drive with more distractions because they rely on their smartphone app to give them driving directions or notify them about a ride.
Speeding
Speeding increases the risk of an accident and the likelihood of a more powerful impact when the car collides with another vehicle or object. It also increases the chances of more serious injuries. An Uber or Lyft driver may speed to increase their trip count and pay.
Inexperienced Drivers
Drivers who don’t know the neighborhood where they drive in or have less experience behind the wheel may make more mistakes such as driving too close to other vehicles, making wrong turns or reckless lane changes, or not knowing how to drive in inclement weather.
Fatigue
Rideshare drivers who get behind the wheel at the end of a long day of work or without adequate sleep may feel too tired to drive despite their desire to do so. Fatigue can impair a driver's judgment and reaction time, putting them at risk of an accident.
How Can a Rideshare Accident Attorney Help Me?
When you hire a rideshare accident lawyer from the Francis Firm, you can rest assured that a professional will handle all legal aspects of your case. We will build a strong case to get the financial recovery you and your family deserve.
We will begin immediately by:
Investigating Your Accident
We will thoroughly investigate your accident by reviewing the evidence in your rideshare accident case, including the police report, your medical records, photos from the accident scene, and statements from witnesses. Our thorough investigation of your accident provides us with the evidence we need to convince the insurance company—and, if needed, the jury—to compensate you for all your damages.
Identifying All Liable Parties
Rideshare accidents may involve multiple parties. We will review all the evidence in your case to identify all liable parties. For example, a government agency that does not repair a road hazard may be held liable if the hazard causes your Uber driver to lose control of their vehicle. Or, a trucking company may be held liable for negligent hiring if an inexperienced truck collides with a Lyft driver. In some cases, multiple parties may be at fault, and we will seek compensation from all who played a role.
Valuing Your Claim
Insurance companies are notorious for making fast offers to settle claims. But their offers rarely reflect the full value of your damages. This is one reason our lawyers urge accident victims to never accept an insurance company's settlement offer before speaking to us. Otherwise, you could leave money on the table—compensation you and your family need and deserve.
If you accept the insurance company’s offer and later learn that your injuries require more treatment than you realized or keep you from working longer than expected, you cannot return to the insurance company and ask for more money.
We know how to determine the full extent of the damages injury victims suffer and fight for maximum compensation for them.
Negotiating With the Insurance Company for a Fair Settlement
Negotiation skills are one of the strongest assets our personal injury attorneys bring to the table. We are comfortable representing clients against insurance adjusters. We will reject any initial lowball offer and present evidence to support a demand for compensation that more accurately reflects the full extent of your damages. We will continue to fight on your behalf until we reach a fair settlement.
Representing You in Court
Sometimes insurance companies refuse to offer a fair settlement, and we may recommend that you file a rideshare accident lawsuit in civil court. We will file your rideshare accident case within Texas’s two-year statute of limitations.
Most accident cases settle before they reach the courtroom. Insurance companies know that lawsuits can take a lot of time and cost a lot of money. Sometimes simply filing a lawsuit prompts the insurance company to make a fair offer. We will continue to negotiate for you in hopes of expediting your claim.
If your rideshare accident case is one of the few to make it to trial, our Dallas rideshare lawyers will aggressively represent you in court and advocate for you there.
Contact a Rideshare Accident Lawyer at Francis Law Firm Today
If you suffered injuries as a passenger in an Uber or Lyft accident, were an occupant in another vehicle struck by a rideshare driver, or were hit by an Uber or Lyft driver while riding your bike or crossing the road, you may recover compensation through a rideshare accident claim. Reach out to a Dallas personal injury lawyer.
The Dallas rideshare accident attorneys at the Francis Firm are here to help. Contact us today online or at (817) 270-6418 for your free consultation. We will evaluate your case and explain your legal options.