Houston Uber or Lyft Accident Lawyer
If you have been injured by a ride share driver such as Uber or Lyft, you have special rights that are different than if you were injured by a traditional car accident driver. To understand the benefits, you will need to know what and who caused the accident. What was your role in the accident? Were you a pedestrian, a passenger, or did a ride share driver hit you while driving your car? All of these factors will impact the amount of compensation you can seek. The Fitts Law Firm can provide the answers once we know what happened to you. Call today for a free, confidential consultation concerning your Uber, Lyft or other ride share accident.
What are Uber, Lyft and Ride share services? Are they the same as a taxi service?
Although they provide the same service (getting you from point A to point B), if you are involved in an accident involving a taxi, they might not carry enough insurance to pay for your damages and medical bills. Conversely, some ride-share drivers are covered by large policies ($1,000,000.00) that could cover your injuries if the ride-share driver caused your accident. If you are involved, in an accident involving a ride-share driver, you need to contact our experienced ride-share law firm today so we can investigate which insurance policies might be available to compensate you for your damages.
The ride-share companies have carefully outlined their hiring practices and their corporate structure to minimize the amount of financial responsibility. First, they claim their drivers are independent contractors in an effort to shield the large companies from liability and responsibility. You typically need a lawyer to navigate these claims because the experienced ride-share insurance adjusters will try to take advantage of you if you do not have a lawyer. The will capitalize on your lack of knowledge when trying to resolve a claim involving a ride-share company.
What Damages are available for passengers injured by a ride-share driver for Uber and Lyft?
If you are injured by a ride share driver, the following is very important in determining what you might be able to recover.
- Who caused the accident?
- What types of damages or loss did you sustain as a result of the accident?
- The total amount of the damages or loss? For example, was your car a total loss? How much are your medical bills? Do you have any medical bills that you will incur in the future because of the injuries caused by the ride-share driver?
If you are injured by an Uber driver, you are eligible for past and future pain and suffering, past and future medical bills, past and future lost wages. Depending on the severity of your injuries, these could could add up quickly.
How do the ride-share companies pay for this? Uber, for example, carries $1,000,000.00 policy to compensate individuals who are injured by its drivers. Other ride share services carry similar insurance. The driver of the ride-share might have their own insurance that could compensate you for your injuries as well.
How can ride-share companies be held responsible for accidents caused by their drivers?
There are a number of legal theories where the ride-share company could be held responsible for ride-share accidents. We have listed a few, we have found after handling these claims for years:
- Failure to property screen drivers
- Permitted or approving vehicles that are not mechanically sound
- Failure to train drivers or make sure the drivers were able to handle driving as a ride-share driver
If you have have been injured by a ride-share driver, knowing what compensation is available can be tricky, especially since the industry is still in its infancy, so you need an experienced attorney on your side. We want to fight to make it right. Contact the Fitts Law Firm today for your free, confidential wrongful death consultation today. We will review your claim and explain all the options available to you under Texas law.
Call Today 1-800-99-FITTS.
