Call (800) 863-5312 To Speak With Our Dallas Uber And Lyft Injury Lawyers
Whether you are trying to get to work, visit a friend, or grab dinner at a nice restaurant on McKinney Avenue, ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft are a popular way to get you where you need to go. Yet, despite their convenience, rideshare accidents are a genuine concern and unfortunately happen quite frequently. Zinda Law Group Dallas Uber and Lyft injury lawyers can help you if you were injured while catching an Uber or Lyft ride anywhere in DFW.
Unlike other types of motor vehicle accidents, when an Uber or Lyft crashes, it is not always clear where the liability lies. Complicated rideshare insurance policies can make negotiating for compensation extremely difficult. Don’t try to do it alone. Instead, call Zinda Law Group at (800) 863-5312 and schedule a 100% free case evaluation about your potential case.
Uber & Lyft Rideshare Accidents In Dallas
Uber and Lyft are ridesharing services that link drivers to people looking for rides to particular locations. Drivers for the companies often do this work as a way of earning supplemental income. Prices vary depending on location, time of day, amount of people using the service, and total distance traveled.
Rideshare Accident Injury Statistics
A 2019 University of Chicago study found that Uber and Lyft contributed to a 3% increase in fatalities. The study concluded that various cities saw rises in fatal car accidents once ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft were introduced.
In 2019, Uber published a report documenting its accident statistics from 2017-2018. During that timeframe, 97 fatal crashes resulted in a total of 107 deaths. Further, 90% of fatal Uber accidents took place in rural areas.
In 2021, Lyft published its first safety report. The report documented that between 2017-2019, there were 105 reports of fatal crashes. Furthermore, Lyft’s report highlighted that between 2017 and 2019, there were more than 4,000 reported sexual assaults perpetrated by the company drivers.
John (Jack) Zinda
Founder / CEO
Over 100 years of combined experience representing injured victims across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationHow Do Dallas Rideshare Accidents Happen?
In Dallas, as elsewhere, Uber and Lyft accidents may occur in numerous ways. A non-exhaustive list of things that cause rideshare vehicle accidents includes:
1. Hazardous Road Conditions
Dallas road conditions are not always ideal or safe to travel through.
- Sometimes the road is slippery.
- Construction work may impact lane availability.
- Debris may block part of the road.
- Potholes or uneven pavement makes lanes hazardous to smaller vehicles.
A Dallas personal injury attorney near you who is familiar with our metroplex roadways will be able to quickly investigate road conditions. They can quickly visit the location firsthand, which will be very helpful as you build your case.
2. Distracted Driving
Although your rideshare driver is expected to display professionalism when taking you to your location, that does not always happen. Distracted drivers inadequately pay attention to their surroundings while on the road. Believe it or not, some rideshare drivers get into accidents because they were:
- texting while driving,
- not checking their blind spots,
- switching lanes without using a turn signal, or
- driving while intoxicated.
How anyone could choose to endanger the lives of passengers by doing these things—while on the job nonetheless—is beyond us. But it happens. If your driver is guilty of any of these behaviors, give us the details and we’ll see that he or she is held responsible.
3. Driver of Another Vehicle
To be fair, your accident may not be the fault of your Uber or Lyft driver, but rather another vehicle driver on the road. The other driver may have negligently ignored relevant traffic laws, recklessly sped, or otherwise had a breakdown, leading to a collision with you and your driver.
4. Assault
Sometimes your injuries from your Uber or Lyft ride are not from a crash, but rather from the driver attempting to assault you while you are in their vehicle. If this happened to you, please record every detail you can recall. When your personal injury attorney discusses the incident with you, we will take the utmost care to treat both you and the information with discretion and sensitivity.
Neil Solomon
Partner
Real results matter. We do not get paid unless we win your case.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationCommon Injuries from Lyft and Uber Accidents in Dallas
Rideshare passengers who have been involved in unfortunate incidents have suffered a wide range of injuries varying in severity. Here are just a few of the more common kinds incurred by some of Zinda Law Group’s Dallas area clients:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Rib fractures
- Bone fractures
- Lacerations
- Internal injuries
- Broken bones
- Paralysis
Even if your injuries were not as severe as you originally thought, don’t hesitate to seek the professional guidance of a personal injury lawyer near you. With Zinda Law Group’s help, you may be able to receive compensation to pay for your losses, not matter how small or how big.
CASE RESULTS
Jason Aldridge
Attorney
Standing by 24 hours a day, 7 days a week ready to answer in your time of need.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationWhat To Do After A Rideshare Accident in Dallas, TX
Taking these several important steps following an accident will help you recover faster both physically and possibly also financially.
1. Seek Medical Attention if Injured
The most important thing to do after your Uber accident in Dallas is to monitor your health. If you have severe injuries, you’ll likely be taken to a nearby medical facility by ambulance as soon as possible. Even if your injuries are not critical, you should still check into a medical facility soon after the accident, as injuries can sometimes take days to present themselves.
2. Call the Dallas Police
After assessing your initial health status, notify 911 of the accident. When a Dallas police officer arrives, they will ask questions about how the accident occurred. Be truthful with the police, but do not admit to any fault or liability in the matter.
The police officer will ask you to fill out an accident report. You should fill out the accident report and then request a copy of the report when it is available. Having the report will help your Lyft accident lawyer build a case for maximum compensation for your injuries.
3. Report the Accident to the Relevant Ridesharing Service
Uber allows you to file an incident report on its website. Lyft offers the same. Both websites are accessible through their apps and provide step-by-step instructions on how to report your accident.
4. Contact Your Insurer
Notify your insurer that you intend to file a claim against the party responsible for your accident. However, do not divulge too much information about your condition before contacting a Dallas personal injury attorney. If you contacted the insurer not long after the accident occurred, symptoms of an injury may not yet have manifested. At the time, you may not have been in as much pain as you will be in later, during recovery.
In short, your statement to any insurer may not accurately reflect your true physical condition. You do not want a statement you make early on—that you do not feel any injury—to be used against you later at trial.
5. Document Evidence Both at the Scene and Later
If it is possible and safe to do so, document evidence at the scene immediately following the accident. Collect evidence regarding:
- The name and contact information of the Uber/Lyft driver
- The Uber/Lyft driver’s personal insurance information
- The location of the accident
- Your injuries
- The vehicle that caused your accident (focus on the license plate for identification purposes)
- The road conditions
- The damage done, if any, to others and/or property nearby
If any witnesses are present on the scene, try to get their names and contact information, as well. Witnesses greatly help a Lyft car accident lawyer present corroborating evidence to your side of the story during litigation.
6. Keep a Record of All Related Expenses
Further, make sure that you document any and all medical expenses that you incur afterwards as that will help your attorney prove the extent of your injuries and what your monetary compensation for damages should be. Document any and all hospital visits, physical therapy sessions, days taken off from work, and other related expenses needed to get you back to how you were prior to the rideshare accident.
7. Retain A Dallas Personal Injury Attorney
As quickly as you can, obtain the services of a Dallas Uber accident lawyer or Dallas Lyft accident lawyer. The attorney may want to talk to you in person about your accident. He or she will gather information from you that will clarify who or what was responsible for your crash.
For starters, to properly prepare and investigate your case, they must know the following right away:
- Where the accident occurred
- What the road conditions were like
- Who caused the accident
- How the accident happened
- Whether there were any witnesses and
- Whether you have contacted the insurance companies
If you have already talked to agents representing the insurance companies, the attorney will want to know what you disclosed to them. Of course, he or she will also want to know the severity of your injuries.
Importantly, an Uber or Lyft car accident lawyer will be able to guide you through the legal process of getting your case filed on time according to Texas law. In addition, Zinda Law Group personal injury attorneys can help you determine fault and avoid pitfalls with a potential claim. Ultimately, if we take your case, we will do everything we can to assist you in obtaining maximum compensation for your injury.
Read More: What Should I Do If I’m Injured in an Uber Accident?
Cole Gumm
Attorney
We are here to ensure you won’t have to face this difficult time alone.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationHave Your Dallas Uber and Lyft Injury Lawyers Take Action
After retaining a Zinda Law Group Lyft accident attorney in Dallas, you’ll provide the lawyer with your medical expenses, the contact information you have of any potential witnesses at the accident scene, a copy of the police report, and any other information the lawyer believes is helpful to your case. The lawyer will take the evidence and use it to strengthen the validity of your case.
After filing the lawsuit against the responsible party or parties, the lawyer may negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf to obtain a favorable monetary settlement for you. If the negotiations are unsuccessful, your lawyer will bring your case to trial. You’ll want an advocate who is well prepared to argue that you are entitled to maximum compensation from the accident.
Who can be held responsible for my rideshare accident?
Allocating liability for an Uber or Lyft accident can be difficult to determine. For one, Uber does not consider its drivers to be employees. Rather, they are referred to as “independent contractors.”
The difference may seem small, but is potentially very significant when it comes to insurance liability. Most personal insurance policies exclude coverage for accidents that happen at work, forcing any accident victim to try and obtain compensation through the responsible party’s work insurance. However, thanks to the status of “independent contractor” rather than employee, Uber and Lyft can get away with limiting coverage as it pertains to their drivers.
Furthermore, if a driver was recognized as an employee, the company could be held responsible for their driver-employee’s accident through the vicarious liability doctrine. The doctrine does not apply to independent contractors.
Despite the difficulties, it is still possible for you to hold Uber or Lyft liable for the driver’s conduct when it leads to an accident. Uber and Lyft contain insurance policies for their drivers if an accident occurs while a vehicle was in driving mode. This means that the ridesharing companies only consider themselves liable if a passenger is in the vehicle when the accident occurs, or if the driver was en route to picking up a passenger.
What if the Uber or Lyft driver was not in driving mode when she caused an accident? Would someone hit in another vehicle—or even a pedestrian—be able to sue Uber or Lyft? Zinda Law Group will help an injured party pursue a claim against the driver’s individual insurance policy.
What Can I Expect For Rideshare Accident Compensation in Texas?
For a personal injury lawsuit under Texas law, North Texans can obtain economic damages, non-economic damages, and potentially punitive damages. In a circumstance where the victim of the rideshare accident passes away due to their injury, a loved one can file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the victim. The same type of compensation is available whether you are pursuing a personal injury lawsuit or a wrongful death lawsuit.
Economic Damages
Economic damages is compensation for monetary losses such as medical expenses (past and future), loss of earnings, loss of use of property, and loss of future employment. To ensure you receive accurate compensation for your economic damages, keep documents which demonstrate your medical expenses, the extent of your property damages, and the value of your missed work.
Non-economic Damages
Non-economic damages is compensation for non-monetary losses such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, inconvenience, and loss of companionship. Non-economic damages are harder to quantify than economic damages. However, your attorney has done so before and can help estimate the potential value of your non-monetary losses.
Punitive Damages
Unlike economic and non-economic damages, punitive damages punish the responsible party rather than making the victim “whole again.” Your personal injury case must meet a very high standard to obtain punitive damages. Nevertheless, a Dallas County court may award punitive damages in addition to economic damages in a situation where the responsible party was reckless or acted intentionally.
Even if you are able to meet the threshold for punitive damages, Texas state law has a damage cap on what you can receive. In Texas, the cap for punitive damages is $200,000 or twice the number of economic damages plus an equal amount of non-economic damages up to $750,000.
Calculating how much to claim can be tedious and confusing. Furthermore, you may forget to request compensation for several things, like tollway charges to and from medical appointments. Consult with your Lyft accident attorney in Dallas to determine how much you should claim, and whether you should pursue punitive damages.
Uber And Lyft Insurance Policies Will Impact Your Compensation Amount
For an accident covered by, Uber is liable up to $50,000 per person for bodily injury, up to $100,000 for total bodily injury, and up to $25,000 in property damages when the driver was in driving mode.
For an accident covered by Lyft’s policies, Lyft is liable up to $50,000 per person for bodily injury, up to $100,000 for total bodily injury, and up to $25,000 in property damages when the driver was in driving mode. The driver’s Lyft app must be turned on during the accident for Lyft’s insurance coverage to kick in. If not, only the driver’s personal insurance applies.
Statutes Of Limitations also impact your potential for damages recovery
Texas law states that any action arising out of a personal injury has a two-year statute of limitations from the date of the accident. So, if you were injured in a crash in your Lyft on May 1, 2022, you will have only until May 1, 2024, to file a personal injury claim.
There is an exception if the accident victim is a minor. For example, if an Uber or Lyft driver is responsible for injuring a 10-year child, the child will not have to worry about the statute of limitations until they turn 18. This would theoretically give the 10-year-old child the right to file a lawsuit against the responsible party at any point over the next 10 year period.
Zinda Law Group Dallas Uber and Lyft injury lawyers are Here To Help
Accidents and injuries are emotionally taxing for everyone involved. When navigating police reports, medical expenses, and rehabilitation, it is important to have a Lyft accident lawyer who will assist you in obtaining maximum compensation for your injury. That way you can focus on recovering and getting your life back to how it was prior to the accident.
At Zinda Law Group, our Dallas Uber and Lyft injury lawyers have experience and knowledge of relevant laws to guide you through the claim filing process after an Uber or Lyft accident. Therefore, if you feel you need assistance getting your claim filed correctly and on time, give us a call.
Our Dallas office can be reached at (800) 863-5312, so go ahead and dial us today. It is easy to schedule a 100% free case evaluation with one of our Dallas Uber accident lawyers or Dallas Lyft accident lawyers. When you do, you will be expected to pay nothing unless we win your case; it is our No Win, No Fee Guarantee.
Meetings with attorneys are available by appointment only.
Our Awards
AWARDED TO JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA BY THE NATIONAL TRIAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION (2016-2020)
AWARDED TO JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA (2009, 2011-2012, 2014-2021), & NEIL SOLOMON (2020-2021)
AWARDED TO JACK ZINDA (2016-2020)
LIFETIME MEMBERS JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA
Jason Aldridge
Attorney
We have successfully represented clients in a wide variety of cases across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free Consultation
