If you were hurt in a collision involving a ridesharing vehicle while you were riding as a passenger, driving another vehicle, walking, or riding a bicycle, you may have suffered serious injuries. The growth of ridesharing services has raised numerous questions, including who is liable for an accident involving a ridesharing vehicle. Drivers who work for ridesharing companies must obey the rules of the road just like any other driver.
A ridesharing driver who causes an accident may be held liable, but insurance issues can be tricky. In some cases, another person may be liable for a crash. A Dallas ridesharing accident lawyer can figure out who was liable for the crash that caused your injuries and help you seek justice. Contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC at (844) 730-0233 to talk to a member of our team today.
How Insurance Coverage Comes into Play in Ridesharing Accidents
In most cases, if you were hurt in an accident in which another person was liable, you would file a claim with that individual’s insurance company to seek compensation. Things can be much more complicated if the driver who caused a collision worked for a ridesharing company.
Ridesharing drivers transport passengers in their own vehicles. Personal auto insurance policies generally contain exclusions related to business use. If a driver with a standard personal auto insurance policy got into an accident while operating a vehicle for a business-related purpose, the insurance company would most likely deny coverage.
Some drivers who work for ridesharing companies have a personal auto insurance policy with a ridesharing endorsement that provides coverage while they are working. Few have commercial auto insurance policies because the premiums are expensive.
Ridesharing companies provide insurance coverage that can cover injury-related losses and property damage to third parties. The amount of coverage available depends on whether a driver was logged in to the app, whether the driver was traveling to pick up a customer, and whether a customer was in the vehicle at the time of the collision.
The Texas Insurance Code, Chapter 1954, sets minimum insurance requirements for ridesharing workers. Drivers must have a minimum of $50,000 in bodily injury liability coverage when logged in to a rideshare network but not engaged in a prearranged ride, and $1 million in coverage when engaged in a prearranged ride.
For a free legal consultation with a ridesharing accidents lawyer serving Dallas, call (844) 730-0233
Who May Be Found Liable for a Collision
An accident involving a ridesharing driver may happen because a worker is using an app, talking to a passenger, and navigating an unfamiliar route, possibly all at once. In some cases, a driver violates one or more traffic laws.
If a person who worked for a rideshare company was speeding or texting, ran a red light, or drove while intoxicated and caused an accident that injured you, the driver may be found responsible. If the driver was working at the time of the crash, the ridesharing company may be held liable. If the driver was not working, his or her personal auto insurance policy may cover costs related to the collision. If the driver was not transporting a passenger but was logged in to the ridesharing app and waiting for a customer, that may fall into a grey area in terms of liability.
The ridesharing company may be found liable for an accident if it hired an unqualified driver. Ridesharing companies should conduct background checks to avoid hiring workers with a history of speeding, reckless driving, operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or other serious offenses that could create a danger for passengers, other drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
Sometimes a motor vehicle accident is not caused by a driver, but rather is due to a mechanical failure. If the crash occurred because of a design flaw or a manufacturing defect in the vehicle, the car’s manufacturer may be held liable. If a part failed, the company that produced the part may be found responsible. If a mechanic performed a repair incorrectly and that caused the collision, the mechanic may be found liable.
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Dallas Ridesharing Accident Lawyer Near Me (844) 730-0233
How to Seek Compensation for Your Injuries
If you were hurt in an accident involving a driver who was working for a rideshare company at the time of the crash, you may be able to pursue a financial award from an insurance policy. If the driver had commercial insurance or a ridesharing endorsement, you could pursue a settlement through that insurance carrier. If not, you could seek compensation through the ridesharing company’s insurance policy.
If you suffered injuries in an accident involving a ridesharing driver when the individual was not covered by the ridesharing company’s insurance policy, and if the driver’s personal auto insurance would not cover your losses because the driver was working and did not have a ridesharing endorsement, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver to seek compensation for your losses.
The issue of the rideshare driver’s status at the time of the accident may not be clear cut. The driver might claim that he or she was working at the time of the collision, while the company might dispute that and argue that the business was not liable. A Dallas ridesharing accident lawyer can investigate the circumstances at and around the time of the crash to figure out the driver’s status.
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Get Legal Assistance with Your Case
A Dallas ridesharing accident lawyer can figure out who was liable for the collision that caused your injuries and help you seek compensation, but you do not have a lot of time to act. According to the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003, the statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit in Texas is two years.
If you are worried about the cost of an attorney, you should not be. Ben Crump Law, PLLC operates on a contingency basis. That means that if you come to us seeking help with a personal injury case, we will not charge you any money up front. We will only collect a fee if we obtain compensation on your behalf. Call our office today at (844) 730-0233 to discuss your case with a member of our staff.
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