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With so many Americans utilizing ridesharing apps such as Uber and Lyft, there is potential to increase road safety, but car accidents are still bound to happen. As a result, injuries and stressful legal issues regarding liability affect the rideshare drivers and passengers alike. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in an Uber or Lyft accident, protect your rights and obtain the compensation that you deserve for your suffering by contacting our highly skilled team of Austin rideshare accident attorneys.
After an accident occurs the medical expenses can quickly pile up. The personal injuries suffered in Uber or Lyft accidents can result in lost wages and missed time from work. Our Austin personal injury lawyers are here to help navigate our clients through the legal process. From handling negotiations with insurance companies from Uber or Lyft, to correspondence with rideshare drivers and their personal insurance companies as needed. We help recover damages for our clients and fight to represent victims of personal injury recoup what was lost in an Uber or Lyft accident.
Ridesharing collisions are caused by factors common to any other auto accident, including:
Some of the most common rideshare accidents are caused by distracted driving and drowsy driving.
Distracted driving: Distracted driving is one of the most common causes of car accidents and rideshare accidents. In 2017 distracted driving was the third highest contributing factor in the total auto crashes in Texas. Due to the nature of the application and the user interaction required to accept a ride, along with the alerts and directions that require the driver to take their eyes off the road, the driver of an Uber or Lyft may unfortunately be distracted which can in turn lead to auto accidents.
Drowsy driving: Drowsy driving is a contributing factor in rideshare accidents. Many drivers are encouraged to drive during peak hours, or choose to drive for extensive periods of time (more than ten hours). In 2018, Uber imposed a twelve hour driving limit but the entity still encourages drivers to drive during peak hours (generally late night, or early mornings on the weekends).
The notifications may incentivize individuals that are ready to call it a day, to continue to drive past the point where it is safe to do so. Dependent on certain promotions, rideshare applications may send notifications or “nudge” the driver to continue to drive. Some of these drivers in question may sacrifice sleep for another ride, and if this is the case, can lead to a drowsy driving auto accident.
When you are involved in a Lyft or Uber accident, whether as an Uber driver, Lyft driver or a passenger, it may be difficult to distinguish who is liable for your injuries. Whether the driver’s personal insurance company is liable or the rideshare company’s insurer is liable will depend on the exact circumstances surrounding the accident. For example, Uber has set the following guidelines:
Lyft has set a similar policy in place, that defines when a driver is considered to be working and at what times they are not.
If the Uber or Lyft driver was not at fault for the accident, the at-fault party’s insurance company is liable for both the driver and passenger. If the liable Lyft or Uber driver does not have insurance, both Uber and Lyft carry uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance that can protect the driver, the passenger, or both.
The injuries suffered during rideshare accidents in an Uber or Lyft are nearly identical to the common injuries suffered from car accidents. Some of the most common injuries involved in rideshare accidents include (but are not limited to):
Hiring an Austin Uber accident attorney with experience handling rideshare accident cases and is knowledgeable in these cases, is very beneficial. Our attorneys will immediately begin investigating the facts surrounding your accident in order to determine which insurance company should be held liable. Texas state law requires ridesharing companies to carry million-dollar insurance policies to cover passengers, but their insurance companies will still try to finagle their way out of paying your claim. Companies like Uber and Lyft consider their drivers to be independent contractors, therefore their insurers will often refuse to pay claims based on the fact that they are not responsible for rideshare driver’s negligent actions because they are not employees. A qualified Austin car accident lawyer will have the expertise to handle your claim and will maximize your potential of receiving the compensation you are warranted.
If you or a loved one has suffered from a rideshare accident, causing unexpected medical bills and other expenses due to your injuries, then our Austin Uber accident lawyers at the Bonilla Law Firm PLLC are available to help. Our experienced team at our law offices have successfully advocated for our clients in recovering financial compensation for their losses in personal injury cases. Fill out our online contact form or call our attorneys today to discuss the legal options available to you. Our experienced legal team of personal injury attorneys offers free consultations for these matters and are here to discuss the unique circumstances of your case.