If you’re in a car accident with an Uber or Lyft driver, and the ridesharing driver was at fault, your legal options vary. When the driver is picking up or transporting a passenger, Uber and Lyft provide $1 million in liability coverage. When they are logged into the app without a passenger, the ridesharing companies offer more limited coverage. If the driver isn’t logged in, you must deal with their private insurance company.
Uber and Lyft returned to Austin in 2017 after a year hiatus, and they seem to be here to stay. That means your chances of being involved in a car accident involving a ridesharing driver are higher than ever. At Shaw Cowart LLP, our personal injury attorneys have decades of experience advocating for victims. If you were injured by an Uber or Lyft driver, we will fight for you.
Before an Uber or Lyft Driver Logs into Their App
When a ridesharing driver is not logged into their Uber or Lyft app, a car accident would play out the same way it would with any other motorist. You would deal with their auto insurance company to get compensation for your injuries and damage to your vehicle.
In Texas, every driver must have a minimum auto insurance overage of:
- $30,000 bodily injury liability per person
- Up to $60,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $25,000 property damage liability per accident
The other driver’s insurance company won’t be on your side. They will use every excuse in the book to try to pay you as little as possible. The car accident lawyers at Shaw Cowart LLP will take on the insurance company to get you the compensation you deserve, including:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
When an Uber or Lyft Driver is Logged into their App but Hasn’t Accepted a Ride
Most insurance companies don’t provide any coverage when drivers use their vehicles for commercial purposes, such as driving for Uber or Lyft. Many insurers also don’t offer policies with “ridesharing endorsements” that would give Uber or Lyft drivers coverage.
To account for this, ridesharing companies offer limited liability coverage when their drivers are logged into the app but haven’t accepted a ride. In these circumstances, Uber and Lyft provide:
- $50,000 bodily injury liability per person
- Up to $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $25,000 property damage liability per accident
When an Uber or Lyft Driver is Picking Up or Transporting a Passenger
After a ridesharing driver has accepted a ride, Uber’s and Lyft’s insurance companies will cover your damages. Both companies offer up to $1 million per accident. If your injuries exceed that, you may have to turn to your own uninsured motorist coverage to be fully compensated.
Contact Our Austin Car Accident Attorneys Today
If you were injured in a car accident with an Uber or Lyft driver, the attorneys at Shaw Cowart LLP will fight for justice on your behalf. We have the skills, experience, and dedication to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
We serve Austin and nearby areas of Texas. Call (512) 499-8900 today to schedule a consultation.