Who Is Liable in a Texas Rideshare Accident?

While most rideshare trips are uneventful and drivers deliver their passengers to their destination, this is not the case in every situation. Sometimes, a rideshare driver causes a crash that hurts their passengers or others on the road. In other instances, a passenger in a rideshare is struck by a third party and is harmed.

When these accidents happen, it’s important to understand who is liable after a Texas rideshare accident. The answer may depend on many factors, including whose actions caused the crash as well as what the rideshare driver’s status on the app was at the time of the incident. 

The San Antonio rideshare accident attorneys at The Aguirre Law Firm, PLLC can help you to determine who you can hold accountable for your losses and will work with you to build a strong claim so you can recover damages. To learn how we can fight for you, call us or contact us online today to schedule a free consultation with a Texas rideshare accident lawyer.

Who Could Be Held Liable for a Texas Rideshare Accident?

There are multiple potential parties who could be held legally liable after a rideshare accident in Texas. This could include:

• The rideshare driver: Drivers are generally expected to maintain their own insurance when driving for a rideshare company and must make sure they have the proper coverage since many individual policies exclude commercial activity. A driver could be liable for negligence or violating a safety rule, and both passengers in the rideshare vehicle and others on the road could pursue a claim if the driver’s actions led to a crash. 
• The rideshare app: Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare apps are not considered to be employers of drivers. The drivers are independent contractors. As a result, vicarious liability rules do not apply, and rideshare companies are not automatically liable for on-the-job actions of drivers. However, Uber and Lyft both carry liability insurance that can provide coverage when the driver is active on the app, en route to pick up a passenger, or transporting a passenger. There are differing amounts of coverage depending on a driver’s status, and the policy limits are much higher when a passenger is in the car.
• Other drivers on the road: If another driver causes an incident with the rideshare driver, that other motorist could be held responsible for injuries to the driver and passenger that result from the incident. 

It’s also possible that those responsible for road design or maintenance, or for vehicle design or maintenance, could be held liable as well if problems with the roads or the car were the cause of the crash. Most often, however, it is the rideshare driver or other motorists on the road who are to blame, and Uber and Lyft’s third-party liability coverage is often active as well. 

Proving Liability After a Texas Rideshare Accident

If you want to pursue legal action after a rideshare accident occurs, you will need to show:

• The defendant had a legal obligation to you. This could include the obligation of a driver to be safe on the roads or of a vehicle manufacturer to release a safe product
• The defendant breached the legal obligation. This means they failed in some way. You can show they were negligent or violated a safety rule. In some cases, like when a defective product is the issue, strict liability rules can also apply. 
• You were hurt because of the breach and suffered damages you can be compensated for. You have to prove the defendant’s actions were the cause of your harm.

The San Antonio car accident lawyers at The Aguirre Law Firm, PLLC can help you to identify defendants and gather the necessary proof to maximize your chances of recovery. 

Contact a Texas Rideshare Accident Lawyer Today 

Don’t hesitate to get help when you are hurt. Contact a Texas rideshare accident lawyer at The Aguirre Law Firm, PLLC to schedule a free consultation so we can begin working on building a strong claim.