Dallas Rideshare Crash Left You Seriously Injured? Explore Your Legal Options

Wrecks in rideshare vehicles are uncommon, but they do happen. Uber and Lyft drivers are only human, and the roads present similar hazards to them as to the rest of the driving world. If you are in a rideshare crash in Dallas, TX, you should call a lawyer to help determine fault and liability.

Your legal team understands the stress associated with your accident, as you try to heal from your injuries and recover from your financial losses. At Carabin Shaw, our client reviews speak for themselves. Our lawyers have the knowledge, experience, and compassion to help you move past your accident successfully with a free case review.

An Uber safety report published in 2022 lists 101 deaths from automobile accidents between 2019 and 2020 in their rideshare program. While that seems like a low number nationally, Texas has many rideshare programs such as Lyft and traditional taxis. If you expanded the category to include all rideshare options, the number would likely increase.

Rideshare accidents typically occur for the same reasons as any other accident, but long-term driving and passengers can present unique challenges. Drivers may become distracted by belligerent riders, and they may also drive on limited sleep in order to maintain an income. Driving as a business presents unique circumstances, but the act of driving doesn’t change.

The injured parties in a rideshare accident differ from those in private passenger vehicles because of business’s inherent liability. This could involve commercial or private insurance companies, and the injured parties may include:

• Independent contractor drivers
• Employee drivers
• Patron passengers
• Pedestrians or people in other vehicles
• Family members or a spouse of the deceased victim

There is controversy surrounding whether rideshare drivers are employees or independent contractors. In an employer-employee relationship, victims may sue the company for the negligence of its employee driver under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior. However, rideshare drivers are usually classified as independent contractors, which means the victim would have to sue the individual driver. The court may classify a driver as either an independent contractor or an employee depending on circumstances, which is why hiring an attorney is essential.

Other injured parties in a rideshare accident might include rideshare patrons, pedestrians, and the occupants of other vehicles involved in the accident. In the event of death, the spouse and family members of the deceased are harmed.

Personal automobile insurance may not cover rideshare vehicles, but some rideshare companies offer commercial auto insurance for their drivers. The law requires rideshare companies to provide insurance coverage in Texas.

If another party is at-fault, it may be up to their insurance company to pay for injuries and expenses related to vehicle repair. Except in the case of vicarious liability that may be assigned to the rideshare business, insurance companies handle rideshare accidents similar to other types of motor vehicle accidents.

An experienced Dallas Lyft accident lawyer can help you to figure out who is responsible for your losses and help you get financial compensation.

When you are in an accident, safety is first. However, you should call a Dallas TX Uber accident lawyer as soon as possible to go over your legal options. There is a 2-year statute of limitations during which you can file a lawsuit, but timeliness aids in accurate recollections of the event.

Passengers, pedestrians, and drivers benefit from a consultation with an experienced lawyer who can guide them through the legal process to receive compensation. Lyft accident in Dallas compensation may be different from Uber or other rideshare companies depending on how the courts determine the employment relationship, and a lawyer can help to make sure the courts hold the correct parties liable for your losses.

The Dallas TX personal injury attorneys at Carabin Shaw empathize with the victims of auto accidents and are ready to help. Our team is English- AND Spanish-speaking, and we are available 24/7 when you call our toll-free number at 800-862-1260. We offer our services on a contingency-fee basis, so you don’t have to worry about legal costs.

For more information:

• TDI Texas
• American Bar