Who would have thought they were going to experience a Texas rideshare accident? One second you were just having a perfectly average Texas day. The next you realize you might be handling yourself with injuries, medical bills, time away from work, and even a call from the insurance company for a statement from you. Here is where a Texas rideshare accident lawyer can be of legal service to you.
Texas rideshare accidents are unique in how they differ from ordinary automobile accidents. Insurance coverage and liability may vary depending on whether or not the app was on at the time of the accident, whether or not a ride had been accepted, and whether or not there was a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the accident.
Ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft fall into the category of TNC (Transportation Network Companies) in Texas and are governed by certain Texas transportation network company law statutes regarding the amount of insurance that covers your injuries.
This is where OHellNo! comes into play. We do not use any fancy slogans. We listen, we identify dangers in your case, we gather evidence, and we ensure you understand your rights.
Talk with our team at 903-287-2787 about your Texas truck accident case today.
It is the imbalance of the available information that makes the involvement of an experienced Texas rideshare accident lawyer, whether working as an Uber accident lawyer Texas or a Lyft accident attorney Texas, so important at the very initial stage of the process.
“OHellNo” does not mean you will be turning each discussion into a conflict. It just means you realize that the insurance adjuster has started asking for a decision without having all the information yet.
The reason behind most rideshare accidents in Texas does not just involve one source of distraction; it involves overall distractions caused by the rideshare app, the urgency of time, and the use of a personal car which has not been designed for commercial purposes.
To ensure that the task of transporting a passenger is completed, the driver is required to check out various information on his or her cell phone while driving, like ride requests, navigational messages, messages sent by the client, and even fare calculations.
According to Section 545.4251 of the Texas Transportation Code, it is an offense to send, receive, or write any text using your electronic device while operating a vehicle in Texas.
If a rideshare driver wants to pick up his client from a non-designated location, there is a possibility that he stops in the traffic lane without first looking around for any other vehicles or pedestrians.
The only cause for which drivers are considered to be independent contractors is that it is impossible to set limits on how many hours could be worked across various platforms in one day.
Driver fatigue impacts the reactions and judgment similarly to that of any other driver.
Use of turn-by-turn navigation systems makes it possible to do improper lane changes and fail to yield and stop on a yellow light when trying to reach the destination in time.
A rideshare car is a private vehicle operating commercially at all times. Issues such as brake problems, tire issues, and other maintenance problems are often neglected compared to fleet vehicles.
Depending on age, position, and medical history, it is possible that the same accident would affect two people differently. Some injuries become evident at once while others take hours or even days to show up after the accident due to the loss of adrenaline influence.
Brain injury from an accident with Uber, Lyft, or any other ridesharing service can range from a simple concussion to severe diffuse axonal brain injury, causing cognitive impairments for the person. The initial symptoms of such brain injuries are frequently mistaken for stress or fatigue.
Diseases such as herniated disc, whiplash, and spine injuries are frequent in those who were seated both in the front seats and in the back seats. A serious spinal injury can result in lifelong paralysis of a person.
Fractures of bones of the arms, legs, ribs, and pelvis are common in side collision and rollover accidents involving the cars of ridesharing companies.
Internal organs such as the spleen, liver, kidneys, or lungs can be injured during the blunt force trauma to the chest or abdominal areas.
Passengers and drivers may face the issue of anxiety and PTSD in case an accident was caused by the car being driven by someone else.
It is important to move fast in case of accidents because of the records and video evidence of a rideshare app that can be deleted soon after an accident. Knowing what to do after a rideshare accident in Texas can protect both your health and your claim.
Even though you may have only had a slight injury, it is still important for you to be checked as soon as possible. Adrenaline makes you unaware of the injury, and the medical record will protect you from any arguments from the insurance company about having been injured because of something else.
Make sure to take photos of your trip receipt and driver details because this information will give you a cover of the accident period.
It will be required by the insurance company of the rideshare company soon after an accident. You do not have to do that until you consult a lawyer.
Pictures of the accident should include both vehicles and any damages on the road. Contact details of the witnesses should also be taken into consideration since witness testimony will not be recalled at a later date.
Generally, Texas law says that a personal injury claim should be filed within two years after an accident, which answers how long do I have to file a rideshare accident claim in Texas, per Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003. Failure to do so will make your claim impossible to file in the future.
Evidence acquired through an objective process of using electronic evidence might be more valuable than the evidence obtained through the subjective process of people’s memory, and there are five different types of electronic evidence that can be acquired in a very short span of time.
These logs indicate whether the driver was offline, searching for matches, approaching to pick up the passenger, or was transporting the passenger, which can provide the information required for determining what insurance coverage would be applicable under these circumstances.
This will include information regarding speed, path, and braking pattern of the trip that either will be recorded from the driver’s mobile phone or from the car and help prove or disprove the driver’s account of the event.
Background check results, complaints, and driver deactivations help in proving if the rideshare company was aware of any risks associated with this driver.
Videos recorded by the dash cam or other forms of surveillance help in documenting the last few minutes before the accident occurs, and therefore, these videos need to be acquired before the deletion cycle begins.
Insurance company records showing type of insurance coverage at the time of the accident.
Rideshare service providers such as Uber and Lyft drivers in Texas are categorized as independent contractors, thereby restricting yet not excluding the responsibility of the entity behind the application.
Understanding who is liable in an Uber or Lyft accident in Texas often requires looking at more than one party.
The driver is liable for distracted, drowsy, or reckless driving in the same way that any ordinary Texas motorist is liable under the negligence laws of the state.
Texas Occupations Code Chapter 2402 regulates Uber and Lyft as transportation network companies in Texas. Even though the independent-contractor relationship restricts liability claims against negligence in the screening or deactivation of a dangerous driver could lead to the liability of the company, a matter a TNC accident lawyer Texas would investigate closely.
The rideshare car could also have been involved in a collision with another at-fault motorist, and hence the liability insurance of the other motorist would be considered the source of recovery.
If the accident was caused by a mechanical issue or negligent repair, then the shop or entity responsible for the maintenance of the car would be liable as well.
In the state of Texas, the time during which insurance covers rideshare services is governed by Chapter 1954 of the Texas Insurance Code, and most of the insurance companies are uncertain about what time of the coverage period is applicable to your case.
Coverage Period |
When It Applies |
Minimum Coverage Required |
| App Off | Driver not signed in to the app | Personal auto coverage only, Texas minimum limits |
| App On, No Ride Matched | The driver signed in to the app, but no match made | $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident / $25,000 property damage |
| Ride Matched or Passenger in Car | Driver driving toward meeting passenger or carrying passenger | $1,000,000 combined coverage limit |
Above are the Uber Lyft insurance coverage periods, or Texas rideshare insurance coverage periods explained, since this determines what insurance covers an Uber accident in Texas.
There could be attempts to state that the app had been switched off or that the individual was not working at all in order to classify the claim in the category of minimum coverage.
This documentation could either prove or refute the claim depending on the situation, which also relates to is my Uber driver covered if the app was off.
The process of being transferred from one type of insurance policy to another is very common since both parties would try to avoid responsibility.
The claims adjuster can concentrate solely on the technical aspects of the app status and ignore the injuries completely.
Some time will be required to confirm the trip, during which your cost for treatment will keep increasing without having any insurance cover.
In almost all cases, the early offer comes before evaluating the severity of the injury by your doctor.
While no compensation can make up for an injury, Texas state law permits rideshare accident compensation Texas not only for monetary losses but also for the human costs of the accident.
Type of Damage |
What It Covers |
Proof of Value |
| Medical Expenses | Emergency services, surgery, physical therapy, prescriptions, future medical expenses | Medical bills, doctor’s notes, expert witnesses |
| Loss of Wages | Wage loss, diminished ability to earn money, lost opportunity for promotion | Pay slips, tax returns, vocational assessment |
| Pain and Suffering | Pain, emotional trauma, and lost activities | Doctor’s notes, diary entries, witness testimonies |
| Property and Other Expenses | Automobile damage, rental expenses | Repair quotes, invoices, appraisals |
Texas state law has a modified comparative negligence law, meaning that a plaintiff found to be more than 50 percent at fault does not have any claims for damages.
The attorneys of JLW Law Group represent people who have been involved in rideshare accidents in Athens, Dallas, and Kaufman for no out-of-pocket fees through the contingency fee structure.
While a rideshare car crash can completely disrupt your life, there is no reason to struggle with the insurance maze alone.
With Jeff Weinstein Lawyer and the JLW Law Group, we give you quality legal guidance in Athens, Dallas, and Kaufman without any nonsense tactics, backed by an app-based accident lawyer Texas team that knows these claims well.
To talk to our experienced team at JLW Law Group, call us at 903-287-2787 or fill out our online form for a free initial consultation.
It depends on the driver’s app status at the time of the collision. Records of trips and GPS information are used to decide whether the individual insurance policy will cover the case or whether the contingent or primary insurance policy of the company is valid.
People hurt in a prearranged ride are usually insured by the $1,000,000 minimum policy required by the Texas Insurance Code, Chapter 1954, regardless of whether the other driver caused an accident, a common concern for any rideshare accident injury lawyer.
The statute of limitations is usually two years according to the Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Sec. 16.003. This is specifically related to the law in the state of Texas.
Not necessarily. The app records, GPS information, and dispatch logs may prove or disprove what the company says, and our lawyers investigate it independently before accepting their words.
Our lawyers believe that most rideshare accident claim Texas cases can be settled after the liability and amount of damage are established, but we are ready to go to court if necessary.
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Three boxes have to check. Someone else’s negligence caused the wreck. You have real damages medical bills, lost wages, pain that persists. And there’s enough insurance on the at-fault driver (or stacked policies) to make pursuing the case worthwhile. We do this check in the first phone call, free. If you don’t have a case, we’ll tell you straight.
Three boxes have to check. Someone else’s negligence caused the wreck. You have real damages medical bills, lost wages, pain that persists. And there’s enough insurance on the at-fault driver (or stacked policies) to make pursuing the case worthwhile. We do this check in the first phone call, free. If you don’t have a case, we’ll tell you straight.
Three boxes have to check. Someone else’s negligence caused the wreck. You have real damages medical bills, lost wages, pain that persists. And there’s enough insurance on the at-fault driver (or stacked policies) to make pursuing the case worthwhile. We do this check in the first phone call, free. If you don’t have a case, we’ll tell you straight.
Three boxes have to check. Someone else’s negligence caused the wreck. You have real damages medical bills, lost wages, pain that persists. And there’s enough insurance on the at-fault driver (or stacked policies) to make pursuing the case worthwhile. We do this check in the first phone call, free. If you don’t have a case, we’ll tell you straight.
Three boxes have to check. Someone else’s negligence caused the wreck. You have real damages medical bills, lost wages, pain that persists. And there’s enough insurance on the at-fault driver (or stacked policies) to make pursuing the case worthwhile. We do this check in the first phone call, free. If you don’t have a case, we’ll tell you straight.
Three boxes have to check. Someone else’s negligence caused the wreck. You have real damages medical bills, lost wages, pain that persists. And there’s enough insurance on the at-fault driver (or stacked policies) to make pursuing the case worthwhile. We do this check in the first phone call, free. If you don’t have a case, we’ll tell you straight.
Three boxes have to check. Someone else’s negligence caused the wreck. You have real damages medical bills, lost wages, pain that persists. And there’s enough insurance on the at-fault driver (or stacked policies) to make pursuing the case worthwhile. We do this check in the first phone call, free. If you don’t have a case, we’ll tell you straight.
Three boxes have to check. Someone else’s negligence caused the wreck. You have real damages medical bills, lost wages, pain that persists. And there’s enough insurance on the at-fault driver (or stacked policies) to make pursuing the case worthwhile. We do this check in the first phone call, free. If you don’t have a case, we’ll tell you straight.
Three boxes have to check. Someone else’s negligence caused the wreck. You have real damages medical bills, lost wages, pain that persists. And there’s enough insurance on the at-fault driver (or stacked policies) to make pursuing the case worthwhile. We do this check in the first phone call, free. If you don’t have a case, we’ll tell you straight.
Free consultation. We pick up the phone, even at 3 am. No fees unless we win your case. That’s the deal.