While Uber provides an alternative form of transportation, the proliferation of its vehicles throughout the nation and in Texas means that more Uber vehicles are on the road than ever before. This increases the likelihood that if you’re in a car accident an Uber driver will be involved.
Whether you’re a passenger in an Uber vehicle or hit by a rideshare driver, you may have questions regarding who is responsible for your injuries. An experienced San Antonio Uber accident lawyer can evaluate your situation and explain who may be responsible.
Rideshare Company
Many people assume that if a rideshare driver is involved, the rideshare company is responsible for the injuries – just like a person’s employer is held responsible if their employee causes a wreck while performing their job duties.
However, Uber and other rideshare companies typically do not treat their drivers as employees. Instead, drivers are classified as independent contractors, which has largely been a business structure that has successfully insulated these companies from liability. Generally, these companies will only be held liable for injuries caused by their own negligence, such as failing to complete a proper background check on a driver.
Uber offers a three-tier insurance system for its drivers that can be used after a rideshare driver’s personal insurance has been depleted. If a rideshare driver is on the app and waiting for a ride request, Uber provides third-party liability insurance of $50,000 for bodily injury liability per person, $100,000 per accident for injuries, and $25,000 for property damage.
If the driver accepts a ride request, Uber provides $1 million in third-party liability coverage. This coverage applies until the driver drops off a passenger.
Rideshare Driver
Texas is an at-fault state for car accidents. The party responsible for the accident is also responsible for paying for the damages they cause. If the rideshare driver is responsible for the accident, you would file a claim with their personal liability insurance. The minimum liability insurance all drivers must carry provides the following coverage:
- $30,000 in bodily injury liability per person
- $60,000 in bodily injury liability per accident
- $25,000 in property damage per accident
This insurance applies while the driver is off the app. If the accident occurs while the driver is waiting for a ride request or responding to one, the insurance described above applies. An experienced attorney can demand driver logs to determine which policy applies.
Other Motorists
In some accidents involving rideshare vehicles, another motorist is at fault. Like any other auto accident in Texas, the party responsible for the accident is responsible for paying for the damages they cause. If another driver is at fault for the accident, you can file a claim with their liability insurance provider.
Vehicle Manufacturer
Some accidents happen because of defective auto parts. Tires may blow out, brakes may fail, or suspension systems can affect steering. An experienced San Antonio car accident attorney can investigate your case to determine if defective auto parts played a role. If they did, we can pursue compensation from the product manufacturer.