Katy Ridesharing Accident Attorneys

Katy Ridesharing Accident Lawyer

When you get into an Uber, Lyft, or any other ridesharing service that services Katy, you never expect to get into an accident. Even if and when that happens, your first thought probably isn’t “Who will pay my medical bills?”

Of course not! Your first priority is to collect yourself and make sure you’re alright. But eventually, expenses will matter. The question of who pays your medical bills is an important one for your lawyer to consider.

Ridesharing companies are not set up to cover your medical bills. In fact, their insurance tactics and regulations intentionally confuse people in an aim to reduce the likelihood that they’ll have to pay out claims.

The rideshare company couldn’t care less about your injuries or your medical bills. That’s why you need an aggressive Katy rideshare accident lawyer at Stewart J Guss, Injury Accident Lawyers to represent your best interests and help protect your rights.

We are a national law firm based in Houston with multiple offices around the country. We also work with affiliate law firms in most states that share our focus and dedication to excellence. No matter where you are located, we may be able to help you, so call or contact us now. We are open, for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 800-898-4877, or you may contact us now by clicking here to submit your case for review.

Rideshare vs. Taxi

Uber and Lyft are software companies. They are not taxi companies. Strange, right? They pick you up and take you to a destination. Sure sounds like a taxi to us!

However, rideshare companies have circumvented taxi laws and regulations by calling themselves software companies. This is how rideshare companies can attempt to avoid liability in the case of accidents. The driver is driving their own personal car, not one owned by a company. Further, the driver is not employed by the rideshare company. Instead, drivers are independent contractors. This legal distinction allows Uber and Lyft to avoid responsibility if a driver gets into an accident.

Normally, companies are at least somewhat responsible for employees who get into car accidents while on the job. This applies to any company, not just taxi companies. However, because Uber and Lyft drivers are independent contractors, there is no liability for the companies when a driver gets into an accident.

If you are a driver or a passenger and an accident happens, this might make it sound like all hope is lost. It’s not! Partnering with a skilled Uber accident lawyer in Katy can give you the advantage you need to help you collect maximum compensation for your injuries. Here’s how.

Ridesharing Insurance

An Uber or Lyft driver uses their personal vehicle, not a vehicle owned by the ridesharing company. This complicates where liability sits in an accident.

Uber’s policy makes things even more complicated for drivers:

  • When the app is not active – The driver’s personal auto insurance is in effect. When the driver is not active on the app, they are essentially off duty and Uber cannot be held responsible for any damages to a person or property.
  • When the app is on but the driver does not have a passenger – Both the driver’s insurance and Uber’s insurance may be applicable in the case of an accident. Uber’s coverage is relatively small, however, and they will fight tooth and nail to claim the driver was not active at the time.
  • When the app is on and there is a passenger in the vehicle – Uber’s insurance coverage kicks in here with high coverage amounts, but this coverage may not apply in all situations.

Because of the complexity and the inherent confusion underlying the insurance requirements and when Uber’s insurance would apply, you need the guidance of an experienced Katy rideshare accident attorney. Your lawyer can help you throughout the complex legal process, determining whose insurance coverage is applicable in your specific situation and helping you collect every dollar you deserve. The last thing you want is to pay out of pocket for your medical expenses after an accident you did not cause!

Common Injuries in a Katy Rideshare Accident

Ridesharing services have increased traffic-related deaths over the last decade. Because there are more cars on the road and some ridesharing drivers do not take proper care, the number of car accident deaths has increased by over a thousand per year.

Not all car accidents will cause death, but this increase in accidents means you are more likely to suffer injuries while riding in the back of an Uber or Lyft.

Your injuries may include:

  • Broken bones
  • Scars
  • Burns
  • Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
  • Neck injuries
  • Back injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
  • Amputation

Depending on the severity of your injuries, you could face a lifetime of treatments and rehabilitation. This will come at an exceptional cost. Even if you have relatively minor injuries, never underestimate the amount of medical bills you will receive.

To help you combat these excessive charges, you need a rideshare accident lawyer guiding you along the way. The complexities involved in this business relationship between the rideshare company and the driver create a situation where the everyday lawyer cannot give you the help you deserve. Your lawyer must have experience helping rideshare accident victims like you.

Six Steps to Take After a Katy Ridesharing Accident

After you are involved in a rideshare accident, the steps you take immediately after can play an important part in your ability to recover maximum compensation for your injuries.

Following these steps can help ensure that you do not pay a penny out of your own pocket for your medical expenses.

  1. Call 911. Even if you think your injuries are minor, call 911. This will help your case in two major ways. First, you will get emergency medical treatment you need. When you call 911, an ambulance will rush to the accident scene. Emergency medical personnel will evaluate your injuries and either treat you or transport you to the hospital for further treatment. Second, the police will come. The police create an accident report by speaking to you, the drivers, and any witnesses. This helps the police diagram the accident. The police accident report may not assign fault, but it will help your legal team determine who is to blame.
  2. Take pictures. If your injuries may keep you from taking pictures, ask a trusted friend or family member to help. Getting pictures and video of the entire accident scene, your injuries, damage to the vehicles, and anything else that might seem relevant will help your case.
  3. Talk to witnesses. While the police may speak with witnesses, many witnesses will not wait around for the police to arrive. Make sure you at least get witness contact information so your legal team can speak with them later. Witnesses often provide unique perspectives and insight into the seconds leading up to the accident. This can shed light on who is to blame for your injuries.
  4. Seek additional medical help. After your initial medical review, you should still see your regular doctor as soon as possible after your accident. Your family doctor knows your health better than anyone and will quickly spot any changes in you. Your doctor will note these changes in your medical file and your doctor can help you chart a path for recovery. Any changes in your body and your ability to live your life may help increase the amount of compensation you can receive from the at-fault party.
  5. Keep a journal. Seriously, write down everything! Over time, you will forget the hurdles you faced on your road to recovery. You will forget the daily struggles, the pain, the medication, and the time spent on the couch longing for your old life! These details are crucial to your ability to collect every dollar you deserve from the at-fault party. Someone else caused all your pain and suffering. Work to hold them accountable by keeping detailed records.
  6. Speak with our Katy rideshare accident lawyers today! Your ability to collect maximum compensation for your rideshare accident injuries depends on the lawyer you choose to represent you. Choose wisely! Your lawyer must understand the nuances of rideshare insurance law and demonstrate proven success in helping other accident victims recover compensation for their injuries. Speak with an authority on Katy rideshare accident claims today.

Talking to an Insurance Adjuster After a Katy Ridesharing Accident

Be extremely careful if you get a phone call from an insurance adjuster. In fact, don’t talk to them at all.

You are not required to speak with an insurance adjuster after an accident. You need to be aware of your rights and understand why it’s dangerous for you to do so. They work for the insurance company. Regardless of whose insurance company reaches out to you, whether it is the driver’s or the rideshare company’s, you must be careful and watch what you say. The insurance adjuster is looking for any way to blame you for the accident or to suggest that your injuries were not caused by the accident. These people are not your friends!

Letting your lawyer talk for you is the best decision you can make. Your legal advisor understands that the insurance company is not looking to help you and certainly not looking to pay out your claim. That’s why you need an experienced rideshare accident lawyer who can stand up to the big insurance companies and fight to protect your rights.

Without an aggressive advocate on your side, you risk missing out on collecting maximum compensation for your injuries. To help you avoid paying out of pocket, let your lawyer talk to the insurance company.

Damages You Could Collect After a Katy Ridesharing Accident

The point of filing a rideshare injury claim is to collect compensation from the at-fault party. Regardless of who caused your accident, you have suffered injuries and you deserve to be compensated for those injuries. Your losses and expenses after an accident are known as “damages.”

Via your rideshare accident claim, your lawyer may try to get you compensation for the following damages:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning potential
  • Loss of companionship
  • Loss of life enjoyment
  • Present and future medical bills
  • Rehabilitation costs

More expenses may come along in the future; the medical bills you see piling up on your kitchen table may only represent a fraction of what it will take for you to make a full recovery from your accident.

The insurance company representing the at-fault party knows that you need money. They also know that you may not fully appreciate the severity of your injuries or understand the amount of money it will take for you to get the medical treatment you deserve.

Insurance Companies Prey on Katy Ridesharing Accident Victims

Medical expenses can become astronomical. In fact, an inability to pay medical bills causes two-thirds of all bankruptcy filings in our country every year.

Do not let yourself become a statistic.

When you partner with a trusted Katy rideshare accident attorney, your lawyer can help you estimate how much money you will need to collect. Make sure you do not pay a dime out of your own pocket.

Calculating the value of your rideshare accident claim is important because it will show you not only how much it will cost for your medical treatment, but also the amount of money you may lose by being out of work. Even if you only miss a few days or weeks of work, that’s lost income that would be in your bank account if not for someone else’s negligence.

Dealing with your injuries, impediments, and the frustration around not living your regular life is enough. You do not need to add financial hardship on top of everything else you have to deal with after your rideshare accident. It’s not something your family should have to deal with, either.

After an accident, family members often feel unnecessary stress and pressure to take on additional jobs or work overtime to cover the financial loss of the accident victim being out of work. That’s not their burden to bear. That is the sole responsibility of the at-fault party, the one who caused your accident and your injuries.

Working with an aggressive Katy rideshare accident injury lawyer can be the answer to your questions. You need help to understand just how much money you need to get back to your regular life. This will include not only medical costs but also financial losses from missing work or your inability to return to work at all.

Not all lawyers are created equal, and not all lawyers have the resources required to take on a complex rideshare accident claim. Choosing the right legal representation for you can make all the difference. Choose someone whose goals align with yours: collecting maximum compensation for your injuries.

Katy Ridesharing FAQs

Katy Ridesharing LawyerThe Houston area alone hands out over 3 million vehicle registrations each year. Meanwhile, the rideshare industry—including the two giants Uber and Lyft—continues to grow at astounding rates. With this rapidly-growing number of cars on the road, accidents naturally follow.

Getting in a regular car accident is confusing and frustrating enough. When you are a passenger in an Uber or Lyft and suffer injuries in a car accident, it’s a whole new headache as you try to figure out who’s to blame. That’s why you need the services of an experienced rideshare accident lawyer in Katy. Like the rideshare industry itself, this is a new and ever-changing area of law.

Understanding what comes next and how you collect compensation for your injuries is important. Uncertainty leads to more stress. The questions below may help you get a better idea of what happens next for you. To find out more, speak with a compassionate and aggressive Katy rideshare accident lawyer.

Whose insurance covers the passenger in a Katy ridesharing accident?

If you are a passenger in a rideshare vehicle when an accident happens, the rideshare company’s insurance may cover your injuries, but only up to a certain amount… and you can count on the company putting up a big fight. They do not want to pay out any claim, especially if your injuries are severe and may require a substantial amount of money to help you recover.

If your driver caused the accident, their insurance may cover your injuries, too. Rideshare companies may require the driver’s insurance to cover you. If there are any medical expenses left after their limits are exceeded, then the rideshare company’s insurance might kick in. Again, do not count on this happening out of the goodness of these corporations’ hearts.

Rideshare companies do not want to pay for accidents and injuries. They will fight to keep money in their pocket. That’s why you need an aggressive Katy rideshare accident lawyer to fight for for you and help you collect every dollar you deserve. Rideshare companies have professional legal teams; why shouldn’t you? Don’t let them stack the deck.

Does the rideshare driver have to carry special insurance in Katy?

Yes. Because the rideshare driver is using their personal vehicle, they are subject to Texas insurance requirements just like anyone else on the road. (Whether or not they follow those requirements is another story entirely!)

If your driver is underinsured, meaning they do not carry enough insurance coverage to cover your medical expenses, you may need to file a rideshare accident injury claim to recover additional compensation. This might sound tedious, but do you really want to be in a position where you have to pay for medical bills related to your rideshare accident? Of course not!

Partnering with a trusted Katy rideshare accident lawyer gives you access to years of experience helping accident victims like you recover compensation for your injuries. The last thing you want is to face financial hardship because of an accident you did not cause.

Do I have to go to court for my Katy ridesharing accident?

Many people fear the courtroom, and that’s entirely understandable. But going to court and going to trial are not the same. A trial can be a costly and time-consuming endeavor. In car accident claims, it often means the insurance company refuses to settle for a fair and reasonable amount, leaving you no other option than to make your case before a jury.

While most rideshare accident injury claims settle out of court, we want to make sure you get every dollar you deserve. That might require going to trial. We will take all necessary steps to avoid this additional stress, but insurance companies have a vested interest in not paying your claim.

This is also why your case depends on a Katy ridesharing accident lawyer who has proven trial experience. You do not want a lawyer whose first time in court is with you.

Why do I need to file a Katy ridesharing accident claim?

Unfortunately, most insurance coverage will not provide enough money to cover serious or lifelong medical expenses. Most insurance companies will fight to prevent you from receiving full compensation. After all, they don’t make any money if they pay your claim!

Your only options may be to sue them. By filing a rideshare claim, you allege another driver caused your accident, resulting in your injuries. Filing this claim gives you the chance to state your claims, through your lawyer, that your medical expenses and other financial losses should be covered by the at-fault party, not by your savings account.

Filing your claim properly and promptly can give you the chance to recover maximum compensation for your injuries. You should not bear the burden of paying your medical expenses or covering your financial losses that result from your rideshare accident. Give yourself the best chance of reaching that goal by partnering with a skilled rideshare accident attorney in Katy.

Do I have to file a Katy ridesharing accident claim soon?

Yes. According to the Texas statute of limitations for car accident, you only have two years after the date of your accident to file a claim against the at-fault party.

Two years seems like a long time right now, but think about everything you may have to deal with:

  • Extended hospital stays
  • Multiple surgeries
  • Time off work
  • In-facility rehabilitation
  • In-home care

Before you know it, two years have gone by and you have missed your chance to hold the negligent driver accountable. If you miss this important deadline, you cannot bring a rideshare accident injury claim against the at-fault driver. This means you could be on the hook for all of your medical expenses! Do not let this happen to you. Speak with a lawyer today!

How much is my Katy ridesharing accident claim worth?

Every accident victim wants to know the answer to this question, but no one can tell you with certainty exactly how much your claim is worth. What your lawyer can do is work with you and with their trusted resources to create an accurate estimate of your future needs. Your lawyer’s resources—which may include accident recreation experts and actuaries—will help by determining the severity of your injuries and calculating how much your medical expenses may be in the future. They will also calculate how much time you will spend out of work to determine how much salary you may lose.

Taking all of these calculations together, your legal team now has an accurate estimate of the true value of your claim. This gives your lawyer a good starting point for negotiations with the insurance company. The last thing you want is to not know the full value of your claim, settle for way less than what your claim is worth, and then end up on the hook for your medical bills because the money you got was not nearly enough. You can avoid this situation by partnering with a trusted and experienced Katy rideshare accident lawyer.

How quickly will I get the money I’m owed for my Katy ridesharing accident?

Like so many questions about the law, the answer here depends. We know you are hurting and we know you have mountains of medical bills. We want to help you get money to pay those bills as quickly as possible. But we also want to make sure you are not short-changed, and that you get every dollar you deserve. This can take time.

Some rideshare injury claims will settle in a few months. Others may require a trial that can take a year or more. One of the biggest factors in how long it takes to collect money for you is how severe your injuries are and your medical prognosis. The more severe your injuries, the more costly they are, and the longer it will take to collect compensation.

Don’t let time scare you away. Patience pays. The most important thing here is that you do not pay a penny out of your own pocket for your medical expenses. The best way to reach that goal is to file a rideshare accident injury claim as soon as possible after your accident and let your lawyer start fighting to collect every dollar you deserve. By starting this process soon after your accident, you can focus all of your effort and energy on your physical recovery while your legal team focuses on holding the negligent party liable and collecting maximum compensation for you.

Can I just settle my Katy ridesharing accident claim?

Yes, and that is often your lawyer’s goal. But you should never settle without a lawyer. Many insurance companies prey on accident victims like you. Insurance companies are in the business of making money, and if they pay the full value of your claim, they will not turn a profit. That’s why they contact you so soon after your rideshare accident and offer you an “exclusive, time-sensitive” offer.

Don’t believe them!

When an insurance company makes you a quick settlement offer and pressures you to take it, they do that because it is in their best interest, not yours. They want to make you go away for as little money as possible. They do not care if you do not have enough money to pay your medical expenses, they do not care if you recover from your injuries, and they never lead with their highest number. All they care about is settling your case for less than it’s worth!

They may even tell you that you do not need a lawyer to review the settlement offer or that a lawyer will only take money from the offer, leaving you with less. This isn’t true. In reality, working with a lawyer can increase your settlement amount and the money you have to pay your bills. The insurance company also won’t tell you that if you take their initial offer and then later realize the settlement funds have run dry but you still have bills to pay, you’re out of luck!

When you sign the settlement offer, you waive your right to bring any future claims against the insurance company for this accident. That’s why it is vital to your recovery that you work with a skilled Katy personal injury attorney who can help you collect every dollar you deserve.

What can your Katy rideshare lawyers do for me?

Our lawyers can help you maximize your financial recovery by aggressively negotiating with the insurance company. Without the right legal team at your side, you risk financial hardship by having to pay your medical expenses and absorb your financial losses, all resulting from an accident you did not cause.

If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a rideshare accident, speak with an aggressive and experienced Katy rideshare accident lawyer today.

Call Our Katy Rideshare Accident Attorneys Right Now for Help

The legal team of Stewart J Guss, Injury Accident Lawyers, is nationally recognized for protecting the rights of injured victims for more than 20 years. If you were injured in a rideshare accident in Katy, call our office right now for a free consultation! Because we take all of our personal injury cases, including ridesharing cases, on a contingency fee basis, you will not owe us a dime unless we win your case. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so call us today at 800-898-4877 or contact us now by clicking here.
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