Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft provide a beneficial service to residents and visitors of Fort Worth, providing rides to and from downtown, the West 7th entertainment district, Texas Christian University, and DFW airport.
But when you get into the backseat of an Uber or Lyft driver’s car, you place yourself at the mercy of an unknown driver—one who you trust to navigate the highways, interstates, and roads of Fort Worth and deliver you safely to your destination. But with nearly 15,000 accidents in the Fort Worth area resulting in 130 traffic fatalities—some involving rideshare vehicles—you’re taking a gamble.
If you suffered injuries in an Uber or Lyft accident, you may need extensive medical treatment and face mounting medical bills. Maybe you cannot work and earn income for a while, further exacerbating the financial strain on you and your family. You may have just started to realize your accident injuries' impacts on your life.
An offer for compensation from the insurance company may look like a godsend in this time of great need. But before you accept a settlement from the insurance company, talk with our Fort Worth rideshare accident lawyers. Insurance companies are notorious for undervaluing or even ignoring your damages. You likely deserve a lot more compensation than you realize.
The Fort Worth rideshare accident lawyers at the Francis Firm have helped thousands of accident victims recover the maximum compensation in their case. Contact us today for a free consultation and learn just how much your case is worth.
Why Should You Choose Our Fort Worth Rideshare Accident Attorneys?
The personal injury lawyers at Francis Firm understand how car accidents can overwhelm the victim and their family. It could take weeks or months—or even longer—for your lives to return to normal.
Our lawyers have served injured accident victims in Fort Worth and surrounding cities for over 25 years. In that time, we have recovered more than $30 million for our clients. But we also understand that an accident case is about more than just recovering compensation for your injuries. It's about protecting your rights and holding parties responsible when their careless, intentional, or neglectful actions cause injuries that damage your life.
You can trust our personal injury lawyers to handle your rideshare accident case professionally and fight for justice and maximum compensation for you.
How Can a Rideshare Accident Attorney From Francis Law Help Me?
The personal injury lawyers at Francis Firm take all accidents seriously. When you meet with us during a free consultation, we will evaluate your case and advise you on your legal options. If you hire us, we will begin working on your case right away by taking actions such as:
Investigate Your Accident
Following your free consultation, we will thoroughly investigate your accident. We will review the accident report, medical records, eyewitness statements, photos from the accident scene, and any other evidence available. The investigation lays the groundwork for your case and provides the evidence we need to prove your damages.
Identify All Liable Parties
Rideshare accidents may involve multiple parties, and we will seek compensation from all who played a role. For example, if a truck driver's inexperience caused the rideshare driver's wreck that injured you, we can hold the negligent driver liable as well as the trucking company that hired them.
Value Your Claim
Insurance companies prefer to settle claims quickly, hoping that the injured victim hasn't hired legal representation and doesn’t know the full damages they deserve.
Our lawyers have seen the tricks insurance companies play, and we strongly advise accident victims and their families not to accept a settlement offer without first discussing their case with us. We can evaluate your accident claim during a free consultation and determine whether the insurance company is short-changing you.
If you accept the insurance company's offer and later discover that your injuries require more medical care than expected, you cannot ask the insurance company for more compensation. You and your family deserve full compensation for all your damages. Our lawyers will fight for full and fair compensation for you.
Negotiate with the Insurance Company for Full Compensation
Our lawyers know the strategies insurance companies use to undervalue accident victims’ claims. We are skilled negotiators and will counter the insurance company’s lowball offer with a demand for compensation that more accurately reflects your damages. We will continue our negotiations to obtain a fair settlement if possible.
Represent You in Court
Unfortunately, some insurance companies refuse to offer a fair settlement, and we must take them to court to get the money you and your family deserve. If your rideshare accident claim becomes a lawsuit, we will file your case in civil court ahead of Texas's two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. Trials are expensive and time-consuming, and sometimes all insurance companies need is the threat of a lawsuit to make a fair offer.
Most accident cases settle before they reach the courtroom. As your personal injury lawyers, we will continue to negotiate with the insurance company for a satisfactory settlement.
If the insurance company refuses to accept a fair settlement, and your case goes to trial, our rideshare lawyers will represent you in court and advocate for you.
Do I Have a Rideshare Accident Case?
If you suffered injuries in an accident involving any of these scenarios, you may seek compensation for your damages through an Uber or Lyft 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?
Damages refer to the money that the law permits accident victims to recover when they suffer injuries in an accident caused by another person's careless, neglectful, or intentional actions. The greater your damages, the more compensation you may recover.
It takes time for a lawyer to determine the full extent of an injured person’s damages—time an insurance adjuster probably won’t invest because it is not in their best interest to do so. Insurance companies care more about their profits than injured victims. Their settlement offer may include compensation for your medical bills and lost income for missing work due to your injuries. They may even offer a pittance for your pain and suffering, an arbitrary value they deem sufficient for the physical and emotional angst you endured. But are they considering the full impact your injuries have had on your life and your family’s life?
When you hire our rideshare accident lawyers, we will review your medical records and talk with you and your family to fully understand how your accident has affected your life—today and in the future.
The law divides most rideshare accident damages into two categories—economic and non-economic.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the actual financial losses that result from accident-related injuries.
Examples include:
- Medical expenses, including any treatments, hospitalization, medication, and rehabilitation
- Future medical needs, including home healthcare or supportive services
- Modifications to your home or vehicle due to a permanent disability
- Mobility equipment or prosthetics
- Loss of income and benefits
- Loss of future income earnings
- Property damage
- Funeral and burial expenses, if the accident resulted in a loved one’s death
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are losses with no actual dollar value and, thus, are more difficult to value.
Examples of non-economic damages include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Disfigurement or scarring
- Humiliation
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
Other Factors that Affect the Value of a Rideshare Accident Case
The value of your rideshare accident claim will also depend on:
- The severity of your injuries
- Current and future expenses associated with treating your injuries
- Whether your accident caused permanent, disabling, or disfiguring injuries
- Whether you require special equipment or home/vehicle modifications
- When, or whether, you can return to work in the same capacity
- Whether you sought medical treatment after the accident and followed the recommended treatment plan
- The strength of witness testimony and other evidence
- The extent of your pain and suffering and how it has affected your life
What Are the Rideshare Laws in Fort Worth?
Drivers in Texas must meet certain standards to drive for Uber or Lyft.
Drivers 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
Like all drivers in Texas, Uber and Lyft drivers must carry a minimum amount of personal auto insurance to cover injuries and property damage in the event of an accident.
The minimum auto insurance required in Texas is:
- 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 provide 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 app provides the following third-party liability coverage 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 in Route to Pick up Riders and During Trips
Rideshare companies maintain the following car insurance for their drivers in the event of 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
What Are Some Common Causes of Rideshare Accidents in Fort Worth?
Uber and Lyft do not require their drivers to obtain special driver training or qualifications. They’re usually just typical drivers and are prone to the same road mishaps as other drivers.
Some common causes of car accidents include:
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is one of the most common causes of car accidents. When someone takes their attention away from the road for just a moment to eat, drink, set the navigation in their car, or glimpse a text message on their phone, they put themselves, their passengers, and other motorists at risk. Phone apps that provide directions to riders’ destinations and notify them about upcoming rides may distract Uber and Lyft drivers.
Speeding
Speeding is an obvious yet common hazard. Speeding reduces a driver's reaction time. When speeding vehicles collide with another car or object, the force of the impact increases, resulting in more serious injuries.
Inexperienced Drivers
A driver with little experience behind the wheel may follow other vehicles too closely, make reckless lane changes, or speed. They may not know the traffic laws or how to safely navigate a vehicle in inclement weather.
Fatigue
Many Uber or Lyft drivers work second jobs for rideshare companies to earn additional income. They may take rides in the evenings after a long day at work. Fatigue can impair a driver's judgment and reaction times, posing a risk to their passengers and other motorists.
Contact a Rideshare Accident Lawyer at Francis Law Firm Today
Injuries sustained as a passenger in an Uber or Lyft crash, an occupant in another vehicle hit by a rideshare driver, or a cyclist or pedestrian struck by a rideshare vehicle, can cause devastating injuries, medical bills, and other losses. You deserve compensation for all of these damages. Reach out to Fort Worth personal injury lawyer.
The Fort Worth rideshare accident attorneys at the Francis Firm have helped thousands of victims just like you recover the compensation they need and deserve. Contact us today online or at (817) 270-6418 for your free consultation. We will evaluate your case and explain your legal options.