Rideshare companies present their services as contributing to the fight against impaired driving. While they may help in this effort, rideshare vehicles add to traffic volume, and rideshare drivers face particular challenges behind the wheel. These factors can actually increase accident rates.
A Bastrop car accident lawyer from The Texas Law Dog is here to help if you’ve been in a rideshare-involved accident. We have a perfect A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). When you partner with a rideshare accident lawyer in Bastrop from our firm, you can expect top-quality service and representation.
A Bastrop Rideshare Accident Attorney Fights for the Damages You Deserve
The injuries and losses sustained in a rideshare accident can set you back physically and financially. You could end up with broken bones that heal over time and with recovery. Still, they cause pain, keep you out of work for a while, and disrupt your life overall.
Brain or spinal cord injuries or internal organ damage set you back further. You may never fully recover and require ongoing care. These injuries can prevent you from living independently and inflict serious damage on your finances and quality of life. We will fight for all recoverable damages after a car accident.
These typically include your medical costs, future care expenses, and lost income. If you can’t go back to work, our personal injury lawyer in Austin can fight for lost future earnings and job benefits. You may incur additional economic losses from the crash, and we will factor them into the compensation demand. Damages also acknowledge your pain and suffering, and reduced enjoyment of life.
How Rideshare Accidents Can Occur
The common causes of car accidents apply to rideshare accidents. Speeding, driving while impaired or fatigued, driving aggressively, and failing to obey traffic signals can all result in crashes. The nature of a rideshare driver’s job elevates accident risks. In fact, an article from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) states that one-third of ride-share drivers have had a crash on the job.
Rideshare drivers face constant distractions. They are on their phones to confirm rides and follow route navigation systems. They also have strangers in their car and often keep watch on them to protect themselves and their vehicle. Trips often take drivers onto unfamiliar roads, making them even more reliant on GPS and more likely to make driving errors.
Rideshare drivers may spend long hours behind the wheel. The more they drive, the more they earn, and to boost income, drivers may not take breaks. Fatigue can slow their reaction times and reduce their ability to stay attentive. Drop-off and pickup sites present other specific dangers. Nearby pedestrians and motorists face risks as rideshare drivers look for clients or to find available spots for clients to exit the vehicle.
Bastrop Rideshare Accident Lawyer Near Me (817) 775-5364
Why Rideshare Accident Claims are Complicated
Rideshare accident claims can be complicated because there are options regarding liable parties. An experienced rideshare accident attorney in Bastrop can implement a thorough crash analysis and collect evidence after a car accident. This evidence can reveal the negligent party.
Our analysis may determine that a third-party driver is to blame, and your claim may be against their insurance. Sometimes, a vehicle malfunction makes the vehicle manufacturer culpable. A faulty traffic signal or poorly maintained roads could leave the related government offices responsible.
Rideshare companies protect themselves from liability by hiring drivers as independent contractors rather than full-time employees. There are limited circumstances allowing for claims against the company, but if your situation applies, The Texas Law Dog can take the company on. If the rideshare driver is to blame, the timing of the accident affects which insurance company is on the hook for damages.
How Insurance Works for Rideshare Drivers
All rideshare drivers must have their own auto insurance. This coverage applies when they are involved in crashes “off the job.” They may also have to use their own coverage for injuries and property damage they sustain in on-the-job accidents. For passengers or other victims, the driver’s company coverage may apply. For example, auto insurance maintained by Uber provides:
- $50,000/$100,000 for third-party bodily injuries per person/per accident, and $25,000 for third-party property damage if the accident occurs while the rideshare driver is live on the app but waiting for a client.
- $1,000,000 for third-party damages sustained while the rideshare driver is traveling to a confirmed pickup or with passengers.
In the second scenario, rideshare drivers may receive company coverage for property damage if their own policies include collision coverage. Sorting through insurance matters can be difficult. A rideshare accident lawyer in Bastrop can fight to make sure the appropriate companies pay you what you deserve.
A Fast Legal Partnership Supports Your Claim Outcome
Per Chapter 16 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, you usually have two years to file a car accident claim. It’s best not to wait long after your crash to contact an attorney. Evidence collection is more successful the less time passes.
Texas follows a comparative negligence system for injury claims, per Chapter 33 of the Texas Code. You can only seek damages if you are 50% or less to blame for the crash. If you hold a lower amount of fault, your compensation is reduced proportionally. Our team can help protect you against unfair accusations by gathering compelling evidence to support your claim.
We can also offer you important guidance from the start. There are mistakes to avoid after a car accident. By securing a partnership quickly, you protect yourself from these claim-damaging missteps. You also give us the opportunity to build a strong case and still file within the legal timeline.
The Texas Law Dog Can Lead Your Legal Battle
The aftermath of a rideshare accident is stressful. While you may feel like another appointment will add to your stress, reaching out to a Bastrop rideshare accident lawyer from The Texas Law Dog for a free case consultation can actually do the opposite.
Our rideshare accident lawyers in Bastrop handle the accident investigation, insurance negotiations, and all legal matters, so you can get the justice you deserve.
