Over the past several years, rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft have revolutionized the transportation industry, surpassing traditional taxi services in popularity in many areas. However, one of the main drivers behind the success of rideshare companies is that the people driving for them are independent contractors, rather than employees —a seemingly small distinction that can have a significant impact on the financial recovery process after a traffic crash.
If you were hurt recently in an Uber/Lyft/rideshare accident in Houston, you may have a deceptively difficult time getting paid what you deserve if you try to pursue an insurance claim—let alone a lawsuit in civil court—by yourself. By working with an experienced car accident attorney from Mostyn Law, you will have support from knowledgeable legal professionals from the beginning to the end of your case who will fight tirelessly to ensure that your case has the best possible resolution for you.
What Makes a Rideshare Driver Legally Liable for an Auto Accident?
When Uber and Lyft drivers are out on public roads, they have the same legal obligation—known as a “duty of care”—to obey traffic laws and pay attention behind the wheel that any other driver does. Accordingly, holding a rideshare driver legally at fault for a traffic collision in Houston works the same way as holding anyone else liable for a wreck, and more specifically entails proving that all the following components of legal “negligence” apply to your situation:
- The rideshare driver in question did something reckless, careless, and/or illegal while driving
- Directly through that specific irresponsible act, the rideshare driver caused a collision that likely would not have otherwise occurred
- As a direct result of that collision, you suffered at least one physical injury requiring professional medical treatment
- You have suffered financial and personal losses directly due to your injury and/or the collision itself, for which you are now seeking financial reimbursement
Our team can provide irreplaceable assistance with collecting evidence of fault, establishing the existence and value of damages you need to recover for, and complying with all procedural requirements for your claim set by private insurance companies and/or state law.
How Much Time Do You Have to File a Rideshare Crash Lawsuit?
Time is a critical factor in each rideshare accident lawsuit because you need to keep in mind that Texas has a strict two-year statute of limitations, or deadline for filing a legal claim, for all lawsuits involving personal injuries. If you try to bring a lawsuit after the two-year statute of limitations has expired, a court would likely automatically bar your suit, regardless of how strong the evidence you have on your side. To ensure you stay in compliance with the statute of limitations and all other legal rules and regulations, you should consult with our seasoned team at Mostyn Law as soon as possible after your accident. We could begin our investigation and help you get started on building a robust claim for fair compensation.
In addition to statutory time deadlines, waiting can also lead to problems with evidence. You might find it harder to build a strong case if you wait too long. People’s memories become much less reliable. As time passes, they could forget important details about the crash. Other evidence could be misplaced, lost, or even tampered with.
To give yourself the best opportunity to have a successful resolution of your lawsuit, you should consult with our knowledgeable Houston Uber accident attorneys from Mostyn Law as promptly as possible after your rideshare crash.
Seeking Compensation from Uber or Lyft After a Wreck
Unfortunately, because Uber and Lyft drivers are not employees of those companies, you generally cannot sue Uber or Lyft directly over a car accident caused by or involving a rideshare driver in Houston. What we may be able to help you do, though, is recover compensation through a rideshare company’s liability insurance policy, which covers both their own drivers and other people involved in wrecks with those drivers.
For example, Uber provides up to $1 million of liability insurance coverage per accident, which applies when one of their drivers is actively carrying a paying passenger or driving to pick up a ride request. If an Uber driver is logged into the app but has not yet accepted a ride request, Uber’s liability insurance provides $50,000 of coverage for one person’s injuries, $100,000 for all injuries, and $25,000 for all property damage caused by a single accident.
How Long Does an Uber Accident Settlement Take?
Although you are likely anxious to quickly find a way to pay your bills, every legal case is individual. Unfortunately, there is no set time for a settlement. The settlement process can vary considerably from case to case, depending on the unique facts of each rideshare accident. Often, the length of time for a case to settle can depend on the severity of the injuries and the demands for compensation. People who have experienced relatively minor injuries are often able to receive settlements from insurance companies quickly because these injuries tend to involve smaller amounts of money. On the other hand, people who suffer more severe injuries with extensive medical costs often take longer to receive full and fair settlements because insurance companies are more hesitant to pay larger claims. When facing potentially large payouts, insurers often try to deny or shift the blame for the accident onto someone else or minimize payments.
One way to potentially speed up the settlement process is to work with an experienced team of legal professionals. Our staff at Mostyn Law is not afraid to stand up and fight against unfair insurance tactics. We also know how to build solid claims that we can present to insurance companies and courts. We could help you gather evidence, such as medical records detailing your injuries, treatment plans, and anticipated prognosis. We could also help you track down other evidence, such as police accident reports, eyewitness testimony, and video and surveillance camera footage, to help you prove liability. Having strong documentation about the accident, your injuries, your lost wages, and the impact the accident has had on your overall quality of life can strengthen your claim for damages and also speed up settlement talks.
Our dedicated Houston Lyft accident attorneys are committed to helping survivors of rideshare accidents recover fair compensation for everything they have lost as efficiently and effectively as possible. While we cannot guarantee an exact time that you will receive a settlement, we can promise that we will go above and beyond to do our best. We will tirelessly fight for you and stick with you until the end.
Speak with Our Houston Attorneys About an Uber/Lyft/Rideshare Accident Claim
The unique business model that rideshare companies operate under creates challenges when it comes to recovering financially from a crash caused by or involving a rideshare driver. Fortunately, you have help available after your Uber/Lyft/rideshare accident in Houston from our dedicated legal professionals at Mostyn Law, who know how to handle situations like yours and will stick with you to the very end of your claim.
A car accident lawyer from our team can discuss possible recovery options with you in more specific detail during a confidential consultation. Schedule yours by calling today.
(832) 844-5116 