Did you or a family member suffer injuries in a rideshare accident in San Antonio, TX? You may be entitled to significant compensation. In rideshare cases, it’s tough to know where to turn for that compensation. An experienced San Antonio Lyft accident attorney at George Salinas Injury Lawyers can help you fight to recover money for medical bills, lost wages, and more.
We have over 110 years of combined experience. We’ve already used that experience to help our clients recover hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts.
To learn more about how we can use our skills to your advantage, contact our San Antonio car accident lawyer at (210) 225-0909 and schedule a free consultation today.
How George Salinas Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Lyft Accident in San Antonio, TX
It’s important to take legal action quickly after a car accident involving a Lyft vehicle. Evidence can disappear quickly, and witnesses might forget what they saw.
In Lyft car accident cases, it’s even more important to take swift action. You will likely pursue compensation from a commercial insurance carrier. These policies involve higher dollar values. That means the insurance company is more likely to fight hard to minimize its liability.
An experienced San Antonio personal injury attorney at George Salinas Injury Lawyers can help you overcome the challenges you might face. Our lawyers have been recognized by Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.
When you hire us, we will:
- Handle the investigation into your accident
- Gather evidence to prove liability
- Bring in trusted experts to help build your case
- Calculate the fair value of your personal injury case
- Identify the available insurance coverage
- Negotiate with the insurance companies for a fair settlement offer
We aren’t afraid to fight for you in court if necessary. To learn more about how our San Antonio personal injury lawyers can strengthen your claim for compensation, call for a free consultation.
What Is My San Antonio Lyft Accident Case Worth?
The amount of money you can recover by filing a personal injury claim depends on many different factors. Insurance companies typically assign the greatest weight to the severity of a victim’s injuries. That said, many different issues are relevant when assessing the value of a personal injury case.
When our lawyers calculate how much your personal injury case is worth, we will consider:
- The types of injuries you have suffered
- The cost of your medical care and expenses
- Whether you lose income during recovery
- How the injury might impact your future earnings
- Whether you require ongoing medical treatment
- Whether you contributed to the accident
- Damage to your quality of life and lifestyle changes
In Uber and Lyft accident cases, Lyft’s insurance coverage is also an important factor. Insurance in Lyft accident cases is different from your typical car accident case. Unlike cab drivers, Lyft drivers are independent contractors. While employers are typically responsible for their employees’ negligent acts, Lyft cannot be held liable when Lyft drivers cause accidents.
While Lyft drivers purchase car insurance like anyone else, they are using their personal vehicles to earn a living. That means their car insurance companies can deny claims related to accidents they cause while they’re on the job.
Under Texas law, Lyft is now required to purchase commercial insurance coverage. However, coverage requirements vary depending on the driver’s status at the time of the accident.
What Sorts of Damages Are Available to Lyft Accident Victims?
Like any car accident victim, Lyft accident victims may be entitled to recover compensation for economic and non-economic damages.
As a victim, you may deserve compensation for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost future earning potential
- Physical therapy
- Nursing care
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
Our car accident lawyers in San Antonio handle complex accident cases like yours every day. We’ll carefully evaluate your losses to determine the types of damages that might be available in your case. Just give us a call to schedule a free case review to learn more.
Can I Recover Compensation If I’m Being Blamed for Causing A Lyft Accident in Texas?
Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule. You can recover compensation if you were less than 51% at fault for the crash, but your award will be reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are 51% or more responsible, you cannot recover damages.
Fault must be proven with evidence. If you were a passenger in a Lyft, you’re rarely found at fault unless you directly interfered with the driver’s ability to operate the vehicle. In most cases, you can hold either the Lyft driver or another motorist responsible.
Our San Antonio Lyft accident lawyers can investigate the crash, challenge unfair blame, and work to secure the full compensation you deserve.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Lyft Accident in Texas?
- The at-fault party owed you a legal duty of care: Every driver has a duty to behave safely on the roads.
- They breached their duty of care: A driver breaches their duty of care if they fail to exercise reasonable caution. Their actions are compared against a hypothetical reasonable driver. If an average reasonable driver would have been more careful behind the wheel, then the driver who fell short is considered in breach of their duty.
- The breach caused your accident: The careless or wrongful behavior on the part of the driver must have been a direct cause of the crash. If a driver was distracted but the cause of the accident was actually an impaired motorist hitting them in a way they couldn’t have avoided even if they’d been paying attention, then their distraction wasn’t the cause of the collision. They likely wouldn’t be responsible for any resulting losses.
- You suffered damages: You must have been harmed as a direct result of the accident. This means you must have experienced physical or mental injuries or property damage that can be directly linked to the crash.
You can also prove negligence by demonstrating that a driver violated a safety rule designed to protect against the losses you endured.
For example, if your driver was speeding and a crash happened because of it, they violated the speed limit law designed to prevent high-speed accidents. This is an example of negligence per se, and the very act of their rule violation is enough to create the presumption they were negligent unless they can prove otherwise.
It isn’t always easy to prove causation. Our lawyers have the resources to launch a full investigation. We’ll interview witnesses, review police reports, and search for videos and photos of the crash. Gathering all of this evidence can help you to make a strong claim so you can maximize the chances of winning your case and being compensated for your losses.
Understanding Lyft Insurance Coverage in Texas
Under Texas law, employers are vicariously liable for employees’ negligence. However, Lyft drivers are independent contractors, so accident victims generally cannot sue Lyft directly for a driver’s negligence.
Lyft does provide insurance, but coverage depends on the driver’s status:
- If the Lyft driver is in their vehicle while the app is off, then the driver’s personal auto insurance coverage applies and Lyft does not provide any protection.
- If the Lyft driver is in the vehicle, the app is on, and the driver is waiting for a ride request, Lyft has third-party liability insurance that provides $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage. It also provides $25,000 per accident in property damage coverage.
- If the Lyft driver is on the app and is en route to pick up passengers or if a ride is in progress, Lyft provides at least $1,000,000 in third-party auto liability insurance. Lyft also provides other first-party coverage as well, including uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage and contingent comprehensive and collision coverage if the driver has these protections in place on their own policy.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) isn’t automatically included in Texas and must be purchased separately. For injured passengers, claims typically start with Lyft’s $1 million policy.
Because multiple insurance policies may apply, rideshare accident claims can be complex. Our San Antonio Lyft accident lawyers can determine coverage and fight for the maximum recovery.
How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After Sustaining Injuries in a Lyft Accident in Texas?
If you were injured in an accident, you have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. The two-year statute of limitations starts to run on the date of the accident. Once two years pass, you can no longer sue for damages.
Contact a San Antonio Lyft Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Recovering fair compensation after a Lyft accident can be difficult, and a San Antonio Lyft accident lawyer can help you understand the complex insurance issues that apply in these cases. Contact George Salinas Injury Lawyers today at (210) 225-0909 to schedule your free consultation.