A Lyft ride is supposed to get you home safely. When a crash turns it into a trip to the emergency room, a Lyft accident lawyer in Houston can help you sort out whose insurance should pay and what your claim may be worth. At Thiessen Law Firm, we fight giants, and rideshare insurers are the kind of opponent we take on.
Rideshare claims add layers that an ordinary crash does not have, including app data and several possible insurance policies. We can review what happened, gather the trip records, and explain your options.
If you want to talk through your situation, a rideshare accident lawyer in Houston at our firm can meet with you for a free consultation.
How Lyft Insurance Works in Texas
A Lyft crash starts like any other collision, and much of the early work matches what our car accident lawyers in Houston do every day. The difference is insurance. Under Texas law, the coverage available depends on what the driver was doing in the Lyft app when the crash happened.
Coverage generally depends on the driver’s app status:
- App off: the driver’s personal auto policy applies
- App on and waiting for a ride: at least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage
- Ride accepted or passenger on board: higher coverage may apply, including at least $1 million in liability coverage once a passenger is in the car
Many personal auto policies exclude rideshare driving, so a driver’s own insurer may deny the claim if the app was on. When insurers point fingers at each other, the trip records can often settle the question. We work to secure those records early.
For a free legal consultation with a lyft accident lawyer serving Houston, call (713) 864-9000
Who May Be Liable After a Lyft Crash
The Lyft driver may be at fault for speeding, running a light, making an unsafe lane change, or looking at a phone. Houston drivers often juggle the app, GPS directions, and heavy traffic at the same time. If the Lyft driver caused the crash, the Lyft-provided policy may cover your injuries.
Another motorist may also be to blame. If you were a passenger, a pedestrian, or in another car, your claim may go against that driver’s insurer. Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may also come into play if the at-fault driver lacks enough insurance.
Texas law generally treats Lyft drivers as independent contractors, which limits claims against Lyft itself. A personal injury lawyer in Houston can review each policy and each party that may share fault. Under Texas proportionate responsibility rules, your recovery may be reduced if you are found partly at fault and barred if your share is over 50 percent.
Houston Lyft Accident Lawyer Near Me (713) 864-9000
What Our Houston Lyft Accident Lawyers Look for in the Evidence
Rideshare crashes leave a digital trail that ordinary wrecks do not. Lyft keeps records of the driver’s app status, GPS location, speed, and trip timeline. Those records can show whether a ride was accepted and how the driver was moving before impact.
We also collect police crash reports, photos, witness statements, and traffic camera or dashcam footage when it exists. Your own screenshots of the ride, receipts, and messages with the driver can help too.
Electronic data that no one asks for may be overwritten or become harder to obtain if you wait too long to start your case. Our Houston Lyft accident lawyers can send preservation requests to Lyft, the insurers involved, and nearby businesses with cameras as soon as we take your case.
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Injuries and Compensation After a Lyft Accident
Passengers often ride in the back seat, looking at a phone, with no warning before impact. That can lead to whiplash, back injuries, concussions, broken bones, and internal injuries. Some symptoms, such as those from a concussion, may take days to appear.
Depending on your case, you may be able to recover compensation for:
- Medical bills and future treatment
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Physical pain and mental anguish
- Physical impairment and disfigurement
- Vehicle and property damage
Early offers from rideshare insurers often come before you know how long treatment will last. If you settle, you generally cannot reopen the claim later. Our Lyft accident lawyer in Houston can help you judge whether an offer covers your future needs.
Steps to Take After a Lyft Accident in Houston
Call 911 if anyone is hurt, and get medical care even if you feel fine. Prompt treatment protects your health and creates records tied to the crash. Follow your treatment plan, because gaps in care give insurers a reason to question your injuries.
Report the crash through the Lyft app and take screenshots of the ride details. Get the driver’s name, insurance, and license plate, along with contact information for witnesses. Photograph the vehicles, the scene, and your injuries if you can.
Be careful with adjusters from any insurer, including Lyft’s. You do not have to give a recorded statement or guess about fault. Texas generally gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit.
How Thiessen Law Firm Fights for Rideshare Accident Victims
Thiessen Law Firm is family-owned, and our team is Houston-born and raised. Our attorneys bring over 90 years of combined experience, and we have been serving since 2011. Mark Thiessen, our founding partner and a board-certified attorney, worked in insurance defense before he chose to represent injured people.
That background helps against rideshare insurers, who know how to wear people down. We prepare every case as if it is going to trial, and a retired radiologist on our staff reviews imaging to help document your injuries. Our results include a $2.4 million confidential settlement in a rideshare sexual assault case, though past results do not predict the outcome of your case.
We can connect you with medical providers in our network, help schedule appointments, and help arrange rides to treatment. We can also come to you for a consultation, and our team serves clients in English and Spanish.
Talk to Our Team About Your Lyft Accident
Lyft trip data and crash evidence can be harder to get as time passes. Thiessen Law Firm can start preserving records now while you focus on getting better. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
If you were hurt as a Lyft passenger, driver, pedestrian, or motorist, speak with a Lyft accident lawyer in Houston at our firm about your options. Reach out to Thiessen Law Firm today for your free consultation.