Dallas Ridesharing Accident Attorney

The rideshare industry has boomed in the past five years. An estimated 2.5 million motorists now drive for a ridesharing platform in the United States. The most popular, of course, are Uber and Lyft and have a strong footprint in the Dallas area.

The boom in the rideshare economy has not come without consequences. According to the most recent University of Chicago study, the rise of rideshare drivers speeding to deliver more rides has resulted in a 3% increase in overall car accident fatalities across the country over the last decade.

Being injured in a ridesharing accident can have serious consequences for a person’s life. If you have been seriously injured in a rideshare accident, you will need strong legal representation to help you navigate through this new area of complex laws. Contact Mathias Raphael PLLC Accident & Injury Lawyers today to schedule a consultation with our Dallas rideshare accident lawyers who will evaluate your claim for free today.

Why Ridesharing Drivers Are More Susceptible to Accidents

People can be injured or even killed when a negligent driver operates a vehicle. This is also true for ridesharing drivers.

The main difference between a rideshare driver’s habits and those of someone who is simply driving to work, dinner, or running errands is that the speed at which they pick up, drop off, and secure the next rider increases their revenue, potentially making them more likely to cut corners when it comes to vehicle safety. There is a natural incentive to drive faster than usual for ridesharing drivers.

The leading causes of rideshare accidents are largely the same as the leading causes of regular crashes in America. Among these are:

• Speeding: According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding kills over 9,000 people each year and injures thousands more. Speeding is responsible for more than a quarter of all car accidents.
• Inadequate Driving Experience: Rideshare drivers have far less driving experience than the average taxi driver. Requirements for becoming a rideshare driver are far less stringent than those for becoming taxi drivers, despite recent legislation to try to change these standards.
• Driving While Distracted: Distracted driving has become a major issue as a result of smartphones. However, this is especially true for rideshare drivers, who must use rideshare apps to locate passengers and check routes. Rushing to maximize the number of rides can also cause distraction—and may result in a crash.

If you were injured while riding in a rideshare vehicle, or if you were hit by a negligent rideshare driver, our Dallas personal injury lawyers can help you determine who was at fault and which legal strategy is the best to pursue financial recovery for your specific needs

How to File Insurance Claims for Rideshare Accidents

Regardless of the cause of your rideshare accident, the first thing you should do is consult an attorney. Rideshare accidents are handled differently than regular car accidents, and consulting with a Dallas car accident lawyer who has handled these types of accidents before will increase your chances of receiving fair compensation.

In particular, filing an insurance claim for a rideshare accident is different from filing for a regular motorist. Technically, rideshare accidents are typically occurring during the course of work as rideshare is “on-the-clock”. While Uber/Lyft has made their insurance coverage policies more stringent in recent years, the reality is that they still will fight to prevent paying out the claims of a passenger, unless the accident is a clear-cut at-fault case that might result in public backlash. But even then, as with any claim, Uber/Lyft presents an employer step to litigation and claim recovery that can be convoluted with evolving laws as to whether drivers are employees or contractors.

Specific Issues for Rideshare Claims

Uber and Lyft drivers are considered independent contractors, which is great for people who want to be their own boss but not so great for those who are injured in these types of accidents. Both Uber and Lyft provide their drivers with $1 million in liability insurance. This sounds impressive, but the amount of coverage provided is determined by the driver’s “period.”

• Period 0: No coverage is provided if the driver is not logged into the Uber/Lyft app (the driver’s personal auto insurance may apply).
• Period 1: If the driver is logged into the app but has not accepted a ride request, Uber/Lyft provides liability coverage for any accident that is the driver’s fault, up to $50,000 per person and $100,000 total liability per accident.
• Period 2: Once the driver accepts a trip and is on his or her way to the pick-up location, liability coverage is increased to $1 million.
• Period 3: When the customer is in the car, liability coverage of up to $1 million is in effect, as well as limited coverage for damage to the driver’s vehicle and uninsured motorist coverage.

Whether you’re a rideshare passenger or the driver of a vehicle that collides with a rideshare vehicle, liability will generally be determined by who is at fault for the accident. Contact a Dallas Uber & Lyft attorney to learn more about your options.

Determination of Fault in a Care Accident

To establish that someone was at fault (i.e. negligent) in a car accident, three elements must be established:

• The individual owed a duty of reasonable care – All drivers have a duty to drive carefully and obey all traffic laws.
• The individual violated that duty – The driver did not drive cautiously or obey a traffic law.
• The individual’s action caused damages – As a result of the driver’s breach in the observation of the standard of care, the plaintiff was injured with measurable damages.

Determining fault in a rideshare accident case is similar to determining fault in a car accident. What distinguishes rideshare accidents is the role insurance plays when the injured party seeks compensation from the at-fault party.

Contact Our Dallas Rideshare Accident Lawyer to Get Justice

Ridesharing is a common form of transportation in the modern era, but the drivers and the ridesharing companies should still be held accountable for negligent actions. While these cases may be complex, our Dallas rideshare accident attorneys will make sure you get the best representation you deserve.

Contact us today at Mathias Raphael PLLC Accident & Injury Lawyers for your free evaluation and start to feel confident that you will get the compensation and justice you deserve.