Austin Rideshare Accident Lawyer

Like other car accidents, legal liability for rideshare accidents rests on those whose carelessness caused the collision. However, identifying the appropriate insurance companies who will be responsible for paying for your harms and losses in rideshare cases can be especially complex. Further, your options can be impacted by a variety of other factors, including how many people were in the car, who was injured, and the driver’s status at the time of the accident. Coverage may differ depending on whether you were a passenger or a driver or pedestrian who was hit by an Uber or Lyft driver. However, there are typically three insurance policies that should be identified when evaluating your options:

• Liability coverage from rideshare companies. Uber, Lyft and other rideshare companies provide liability coverage for drivers, but that coverage depends on what the driver is doing at the time of the accident. For instance, drivers are not covered by rideshare company policies until they turn their app on and begin accepting requests. Once they log in, Lyft and Uber are only required to offer limited coverage with policy limits of $50,000 per person, $100,000 per incident and $25,000 for property damage. After the driver accepts a ride request, that coverage increases to a minimum of one million dollars per incident. If you are hit by a rideshare driver in Austin, it will be necessary to determine the status of the driver before you can begin filing your claim.
  However, obtaining adequate compensation from rideshare company insurance can be difficult. Like all insurance companies, rideshare insurance companies have teams of employees working for them to try to lower claim amounts. Additionally, they may attempt to deny the claim if their driver was careless. This is one reason why it’s advisable to contact a rideshare accident lawyer to analyze your case.
• Driver rideshare insurance. Some insurance carriers offer special policies for Uber and Lyft drivers to cover the gaps in rideshare company insurance. These insurance policies can offer more extensive coverage than the minimum coverages the rideshare companies are required to provide to their drivers, whether carrying passengers or simply accepting rides from potential passengers. This additional insurance can be very important in Uber and Lyft accidents that result in serious injuries.
• Rideshare Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage. In addition to insurance coverage that might protect the person who causes a rideshare accident, rideshares like Uber and Lyft are required by law to provide uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) to passengers. Moreover, you might have your own coverage that protects you in the event of a serious injury. Creating the best strategy for your case often requires an understanding of how much insurance is available to collect from, including UIM coverage.
• Individual insurance policies. If you were hit by a driver who is off the clock — one who has not obtained his or her own rideshare insurance — it can significantly complicate your case, and you may have to fight harder to obtain compensation.

This is because personal insurance policies typically won’t cover vehicles when they are being used for commercial purposes. Carriers will often deny claims made by rideshare accident victims in these situations. An Austin rideshare accident lawyer can help you demand fair compensation for your injuries if this occurs, and help you understand what other insurance coverages might protect you.

There are several other things you’ll need to consider as you investigate how best to proceed with your case:

• The rideshare company involved. It’s important to note that the rideshare coverage limits listed above only apply to Lyft and Uber drivers. Other rideshare companies, such as RideAustin, Fasten, etc. may have different insurance policies and limits.
• High potential for denied claims. As discussed above, resolving a rideshare claim can be difficult due to the nature of rideshare driving. Lyft and Uber have teams of lawyers working for them and will often deny accident victim claims as a matter of course, claiming that since the rideshare driver is an independent contractor and not a direct employee, their insurance is not liable for damages.
  If you choose to file a claim against the driver’s personal insurance policy, you may experience problems as well. Many insurance carriers will automatically cancel an individual insurance policy if they discover that the insured was using his or her vehicle in this way. Most insurance providers will fight rideshare accident claims made on individual policies, which can make it more difficult to obtain adequate compensation for your damages and losses. An Uber or Lyft accident lawyer can help you communicate with these parties and work with you to obtain the compensation you deserve.
• The number of parties involved. Rideshare accidents are much more complicated than a typical accident between two individuals. As a vehicle passenger, you may have to communicate and negotiate with more than one insurance provider in order to obtain compensation. In fact, if both drivers share responsibility for the accident, the two insurance providers may disagree on who is liable — and how much of the blame they share. This makes corresponding with the various parties and negotiating your claim that much more difficult.

If there are multiple passengers injured in the car accident, it can also complicate your case and make it harder to get the settlement you need. Compensation will be split among the victims, potentially limiting your settlement. It typically takes the dedication of a skilled rideshare accident attorney to successfully negotiate for adequate compensation in these instances.

Why Contact a Rideshare Accident Lawyer for Your Case

How FVF Law Can Help With Your Austin Rideshare Accident Case