Rideshare Accident Attorney in Mesquite Helping Victims Injured in an Accident With an Uber or Lyft Vehicle

It is estimated that between 1.5 and 2 million rideshare drivers operate in the United States, with many of them working for more than one rideshare company. The number of rideshare drivers continues to grow as demand also increases, but unfortunately, that also means more accidents involving rideshare vehicles occur every year. Learn how rideshare accident claims work and what you need to do to receive compensation for damages resulting from a rideshare accident.

What Are the Laws Regulating Rideshare Drivers in Texas?

In 2017, Texas passed a law regulating transportation network companies (TNCs), also known as rideshare companies. A rideshare company relies on a mobile app to connect passengers needing rides with drivers available nearby. Each driver operates a private vehicle that can only be hired through the app, and the drivers are not employees but independent contractors. The most popular rideshare companies in the United States are Uber and Lyft.

The new law sets forth specific rules for rideshare drivers to operate in Texas. First, the law requires these drivers to obtain a state permit. To qualify for a permit, the driver needs to be 18 or older and have a valid driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance for the rideshare vehicle. In addition, the driver must have a clean background check and not have committed any offenses that would disqualify them from obtaining a permit, such as having been convicted of a crime in the past three years or having more than three moving violations. There are also mandatory insurance coverage limits for drivers operating in-between drives.

Who Is Financially Responsible for a Rideshare Accident?

The financial responsibility for a victim’s damages in a rideshare accident can shift depending on the current status of the rideshare driver. This can be a bit more complicated than an accident involving a private vehicle, so it is always best to reach out to a rideshare accident lawyer to discuss your case.

Generally speaking, companies like Uber and Lyft offer insurance coverage for accidents that take place when the driver has logged on to the app and is currently active — i.e., the driver has accepted a ride request and is en route to pick up a passenger or is already transporting a passenger to their destination. If the driver is inactive, such as waiting for a ride request or logged off the rideshare app, that driver’s auto insurance would likely need to provide financial coverage for any accidents.

How Much Is a Rideshare Accident Claim Worth?

Like any other motor vehicle accident claim, a rideshare accident claim can include compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are tangible financial losses resulting from the crash, such as medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. Non-economic damages account for the more subjective effects of the crash, such as pain, suffering, and emotional distress.

The value of a rideshare accident claim depends on the severity of the victim’s injuries and the extent of financial and emotional damages the accident may have caused. Generally speaking, the more serious the injuries and the more significant the damages, the higher the value of your claim may be. However, the only way to get an accurate estimate of your case value is to speak to a rideshare accident attorney.

How Can a Rideshare Accident Lawyer Help?

Determining liability in a rideshare accident case is not always a straightforward task, as the financial responsibility shifts from the rideshare company to the driver, depending on what the driver was doing when the accident took place. A skilled rideshare accident lawyer can conduct their own investigation to get a clear picture of what happened in the moments leading to the crash and properly assign liability to the at-fault party.

At the Oberg Law Office in Mesquite, Texas, Attorney Gregg Oberg and his legal team have successfully represented many rideshare accident victims and helped them secure fair compensation for their injuries. If you have been hurt in an accident while riding with an Uber or Lyft driver or had your vehicle damaged in a collision with a rideshare driver, contact our office by calling 972-640-9147  to see how we can help.