HOW TO PROCEED AFTER A RIDESHARE CRASH IN HOUSTON: COMPLETE GUIDE TO UBER & LYFT INJURY CLAIMS UNDER TEXAS LAW

HOW TO PROCEED AFTER A RIDESHARE CRASH IN HOUSTON: COMPLETE GUIDE TO UBER & LYFT RIDESHARE INJURY CLAIMS UNDER TEXAS LAW

Uber and Lyft are now mainstream transportation services throughout Northwest Harris County, but when a crash occurs, the legal complexities are far from ordinary. Instead of a typical fender-bender between two drivers with personal auto policies, your crash involves a rideshare vehicle in which you may be either the driver, the passenger, or an entirely separate, third-party driver.

There are tons of corporate-backed and commercial insurance policies at stake. Making matters even more confusing is that Texas is a textbook example of what not to do when it comes to regulating TNC (Transportation Network Company) laws.We specialize in helping victims of serious auto crashes involving Uber, Lyft, and all other TNC vehicles in Cypress, Hockley, and throughout the Houston metro area. That means we know all the ins and outs of Texas TNC law as well as the immediate steps you should take to protect your claim for maximum compensation.

THE THREE TEXAS INSURANCE TIERS TO PROTECT YOUR INJURY CLAIM

The most significant aspect of your Uber or Lyft injury claim is ascertaining which insurance policy is actually in effect. Texas law requires Uber and Lyft to maintain a commercial insurance policy, but the amount of coverage available depends entirely on the driver’s status at the exact time and moment of the crash:

Driver Status Typical Texas Coverage

App OFF (personal use) Driver’s personal insurance only (most often inadequate).App ON, Waiting for a Ride $50K/100K Contingent coverage.

Accepted Ride or Trip in Progress Full Commercial Coverage, $1,000,000 in third-party liability.

If you are a passenger or a third-party driver, the key Texas Insurance policy to be concerned with is the third tier (the $1 Million policy). If you were actively riding in the Uber or Lyft at the time of the crash, or the driver had already accepted your call or fare (Trip in Progress), then the highest commercial liability limits are in play, giving you the best chance to cover catastrophic injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Protecting Your Claim Right After the Crash in Harris County

As a passenger, driver, or third-party driver in a car wreck with a TNC vehicle in Harris County, your rights under Texas personal injury law include certain actions you must take immediately after the crash:

Seek immediate medical attention:

First and foremost, always put your health first. This means no skipped doctor’s appointments or ignoring a nagging injury. Rideshare insurers will jump at the chance to use this as leverage, claiming your injuries aren’t really connected to the crash at all.

Call the police and get a crash report (CR-3):

Have the officer write up an official Texas accident report and ensure that the other driver is cited for any wrongdoing. It’s critical that the responding officer clearly notes in the crash report that the driver was working under the auspices of a TNC (Uber/Lyft) at the time of the crash.

Secure digital evidence:

Passenger: 

Take screenshots of the ride confirmation page with the driver’s name, license plate, and the trip details on the app.

Driver/Third Party: 

Snap pictures of the vehicle damage, the crash scene, and the other driver’s contact and insurance information.

Report the crash to Uber and/or Lyft via the app’s crash reporting feature:

Uber and Lyft maintain internal systems to track when a driver has been in a crash. Use the in-app reporting feature to ensure the incident has been logged in their system and that the ball is officially rolling on the commercial insurance carrier.

DO NOT talk to the insurance company’s adjusters (period):

Insurance adjusters exist to save their company money – even the Uber and Lyft “commercial” carriers will tell you that up front. A recorded statement is the easiest way for them to cut and run with low-ball settlements and less than you deserve. If you are injured, injured, do not give the insurance adjuster a recorded statement.

Why You Need A Texas Uber and Lyft Accident Attorney

Rideshare injury claims are in a class by themselves for Houston-area personal injury attorneys. Why? First of all, when a personal injury claim involves a rideshare vehicle and its driver, you now have two competing insurance companies: 1) the driver’s personal auto insurer (often underinsured), and 2) a corporate-backed, billion-dollar commercial insurer who have a massive legal team hired to deny every claim.

The personal injury attorneys at the Law Office of Shaw Clifford Law have a proven track record for standing up to powerful insurers and getting our clients the full and fair compensation they deserve. When it comes to Uber and Lyft injuries, we know the steps to take in the immediate aftermath of a crash in order to ensure your rights are protected and all your options for compensation remain open.

Give us a call for a free case evaluation if you were injured in a rideshare accident in Northwest Harris County.

Contact the Law Office of Shaw Clifford