Austin Texas Uber/Lyft Accidents - Legal Options for Injured Pedestrians

Rideshare companies have become a dominant force in American daily life and an ever-increasing presence on U.S. roadways. They’re especially prominent in cities where over 45% of urban dwellers nationwide have reported using rideshare services. Predictably, the high volume of rideshare trips can result in traffic accidents, which sometimes involve pedestrians. On average, a U.S. pedestrian is injured by a vehicle every 9 minutes.

Unfortunately, Texas is not immune to this trend. The State Dept. of Transportation logged 5,665 incidents of pedestrians struck by vehicles in 2021, with 468 of those collisions occurring in Austin. If you’re an Austinite who’s been injured while on foot by a rideshare driver, you may be entitled to Uber/Lyft pedestrian accident compensation. Since the possibility of winning a claim depends on the specific circumstances of your accident, you should first consult a knowledgeable lawyer such as the Austin personal injury lawyers at Carabin Shaw.

In just one quarter of 2021, Uber alone nabbed almost $2 billion in revenue in the U.S. and Canada, demonstrating the immense impact of ridesharing on the economy and Americans’ travel habits. Meanwhile, that same year, over 60,000 pedestrians were injured in traffic collisions. Studies suggest that an increase in rideshare use can lead to increased injury accidents.

Austin is subject to these same trends. Along with Uber and Lyft, numerous other rideshare companies operate in Austin, including:

• Wridz, a newer Austin-based service.
• Cruise, which employs driverless “robotaxis.”
• Wingz, which specializes in airport rides.
• HopSkipDrive and Kidcaboo, which are designed for transporting children.
• SendaRide, which healthcare providers book for their patients as needed.

“Driverless” rideshare vehicles, or “robotaxis,” are a particular point of concern for many Austinites. The city recorded dozens of complaints about driverless cars over just a few months in 2023, some of which describe near-miss incidents involving pedestrians.

With the abundance of rideshare drivers operating in Austin, accidents involving rideshare vehicles and pedestrians are sadly inevitable. Our team is highly experienced at pursuing pedestrian injury claims in rideshare accidents and is ready to fight for you if you’ve been injured as a pedestrian in a collision with a rideshare driver.

As part of its Vision Zero campaign to eliminate injuries from vehicle-related accidents, Austin created a helpful guide outlining the local safety laws governing both pedestrians and drivers, including:

• Drivers must yield to pedestrians crossing at an intersection, whether or not a crosswalk is marked.
• Drivers must also yield to pedestrians when entering or exiting an alley or driveway.
• Pedestrians must yield to drivers if crossing in mid-block without a crosswalk, and obey traffic signage and signals.
• Pedestrians may not cross mid-block between traffic signals unless at a marked crosswalk.

Despite these local safety laws, accidents do happen. And while Texas does require rideshare drivers and companies to meet specific insurance coverage minimums, it’s still very possible that a pedestrian’s damages from a serious injury will exceed the available coverage.

After a vehicle-related accident, an Austin Uber/Lyft accident attorney with knowledge and experience concerning traffic law, rideshare companies, and insurance coverage is your most important asset. Browse through Carabin Shaw reviews to see how we’ve helped others in your situation.

At Carabin Shaw, we understand that accidents can create or worsen financial strain on your family, as medical bills and missed workdays pile up. Through our initial consultation, we will determine which path (settlement or litigation) makes the most sense for your particular case. Either way, we offer our services on a contingency-fee basis, meaning there is no fee unless we win compensation for you.

We have English and Spanish-speaking staff available, and we’re ready to take your phone call 24/7 at our toll-free number, 800-862-1260.

For more information:

• TX DOT
• PEW Research
• Crash Stats
• TX DOT