Our Houston rideshare accident and injury attorneys at the Hollingsworth Law Firm know injuries sustained as a passenger in Texas Uber or Lyft vehicles involve navigating a complex web of insurance coverages and liability issues.
Determining liability, understanding the varying insurance periods, and coordinating claims across multiple insurers are vital challenges. Our Harris County rideshare accident lawyers can be invaluable in managing these complexities, ensuring all available coverages are accessed, and securing fair compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
How Can I Determine Whose Insurance Coverage is Liable for My Texas Rideshare Crash with Injuries?
Ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft have revolutionized transportation and introduced complex insurance and liability issues, particularly when a passenger is injured in an accident.
Here are the key concerns and how they impact personal injury claims throughout Texas:
Determining Liability
If the ridesharing driver is at fault, the passenger can file a claim against the driver’s insurance. However, due to commercial use exclusions, the driver’s auto insurance may not cover accidents while driving for a ridesharing service.
Ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft provide liability insurance for drivers who are logged into the app and transport passengers. This coverage includes up to $1 million for third-party liability, which can be utilized if the driver is at fault.
If another driver is at fault, the passenger can file a claim against that driver’s insurance. Complications arise if the at-fault driver is underinsured or uninsured.
Insurance Coverage Periods
Ridesharing companies have specific insurance coverage that varies depending on the driver’s status:
- Period 0: The driver or the app is offline. The driver’s auto insurance applies. Ridesharing companies typically provide uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, which is crucial if the at-fault driver lacks adequate insurance. Passengers can file a claim under this coverage if the at-fault driver’s insurance is insufficient.
- Period 1: The driver is logged into the app but has not accepted a ride. During this period, the ridesharing company typically provides contingent liability coverage, which comes into play if the driver’s insurance does not apply. Coverage limits, such as $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident, are usually lower.
- Period 2: The driver has accepted a ride and is en route to pick up the passenger. The ridesharing company’s full liability coverage, including up to $1 million, applies.
- Period 3: The passenger is in the vehicle. The ridesharing company’s full liability coverage, including up to $1 million, applies, along with uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage and contingent comprehensive and collision coverage if the driver has such coverage on their policy.
Injured passengers may need to coordinate multiple insurance policies, including the ridesharing company’s insurance, the driver’s personal insurance, and potentially the at-fault third-party insurance. Coordinating between these insurers can be complicated.
Given the complexity, injured passengers often benefit from speaking with a skilled rideshare accident and injury attorney in Houston. We can help you navigate the claims process, ensure all available insurance coverages are utilized, and negotiate with insurance companies to secure fair compensation.
Contact Our Dedicated Houston Personal Injury Attorneys
If you have been injured as a passenger in a Texas rideshare accident, contact our dedicated Houston personal injury attorneys at the Hollingsworth Law Firm today for a free case evaluation. Call 713-637-4560 or contact us online.
Our skilled bilingual personal injury lawyers and support staff represent clients throughout Texas on a contingency basis, so you never pay any legal fees unless we win your case.
If you are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve, so are we. Let us take the lead.
