What Is the Average Uber or Lyft Accident Settlement in Texas?

If you or a loved one was in an accident, it’s often an overwhelming experience. When that accident involves a rideshare vehicle/driver, the experience can be significantly more troubling. Many factors can affect liability for at-fault parties in a rideshare accident, and you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and damages. Also, you may be wondering whether to file a claim and asking, “What is the average Uber or Lyft accident settlement in Texas?”

A rideshare accident attorney can explore your likelihood of success with a Texas claim. They can also address any other questions about your case. While every Texas case is unique, Stevenson & Murray can evaluate what factors may impact your settlement amount for your case.

Are Rideshare Accidents Common?

Ridesharing connects an owner-operator driver, who is under contract with a rideshare company, with a potential passenger via a mobile application. Uber and Lyft have market values of about $62.5 billion and $5.5 billion, respectively. While rideshare vehicles still remain a small percentage of vehicles on the road, they account for about 13% of vehicles in some cities.

In general, motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for U.S. residents aged 13-25. In Texas, one Texas resident died every two hours and three minutes, and one Texan was injured every two minutes and six seconds in 2023.

As an example, Houston has several hotspots for rideshare accidents, including intersections like:

• Pease Street and Fannin Street
• Bissonnet Street and Westchester Avenue
• Main Street and Montrose Boulevard

Many accidents also occur along I-45 and the Sam Houston Parkway.

How Can I Establish Liability for Rideshare Accidents?

In Texas, whether a rideshare driver is responsible for an accident depends on several factors, such as the driver’s status at the time of the accident and Texas’s regulations concerning accident insurance.

When a driver is offline or their app is off, their personal insurance policy is available, and rideshare coverage typically doesn’t apply.

However, if the driver is considered online and waiting to receive a passenger’s ride request, they typically have insurance coverage secondary to their personal coverage. If their personal coverage doesn’t provide complete coverage, their rideshare’s insurance policy might cover the rest.

If a driver has accepted a request for a passenger’s ride or they’re actively transporting someone, the rideshare’s accident insurance typically covers injuries and property damage caused by the rideshare driver.
Thus, the status of the driver at the time of an accident is important and can affect insurance coverage in Texas.

What Is the Average Rideshare Settlement Amount?

Often, companies like Uber and Lyft require settlement confidentiality when resolving accident claims. This means it’s often difficult to accurately assess what amount you might expect for your own accident. Also, there isn’t a set amount you might expect, as settlement compensation is based on each case’s unique circumstances.

Regardless, companies like Uber and Lyft remain wealthy companies that enjoy privacy, which means they often tend to prefer to resolve cases through settlement before they require court filings or media attention.

As a result, the amount you might expect in a settlement after a rideshare accident tends to be higher, on average, than for a standard two-car accident injury claim. More complicated cases with more substantial injuries and/or property damage often result in higher accident settlement payouts.

FAQs

What Type of Attorney Can Help Me With an Uber or Lyft Accident Claim?

An experienced personal injury attorney can provide critical legal guidance for a rideshare claim, especially when you’re facing substantial injuries and emotional distress caused by an Uber or Lyft accident.

An attorney can explain your accident victim rights, your potential compensation needs, and the necessary first steps for filing a claim for damages. An attorney can reduce your stress by handling communications and negotiations with the other party. Having an attorney represent you can let you focus on your recovery.

How Long Do Uber or Lyft Accident Settlements Typically Take in Texas?

The time it can take to settle a rideshare accident claim varies widely, as it typically depends on many case-specific factors. Factors that can influence the claim’s timeline include whether:

• An investigation takes place.
• Liability is in dispute.
• You require extensive medical care.
• Negotiations are successful.

An attorney typically needs sufficient time to fight for a settlement based on your damages, and it’s important to remain patient so you can get full and fair compensation.

What Types of Damages Can I Get for a Texas Rideshare Settlement?

The compensation you might expect for your damages depends on your specific case. In Texas, you can claim compensation for rideshare accident-related medical expenses, wage loss, pain and suffering, property damage, and more.

If you’d like to learn more about the types of damages you might be entitled to after your accident, speak with a trusted attorney.

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim for a Rideshare Accident in Texas?

In Texas, the deadline, or statute of limitations, is two years for the majority of personal injury claims. While there are some exceptions to this general rule, the timeframe basically starts once you’ve been in a rideshare accident.

If you delay filing your claim and miss the deadline, you may lose your right to recover damages. Consequently, it’s critical to speak with an attorney to make sure your claim is quickly filed.

Contact Stevenson & Murray – Experienced Rideshare Accident Lawyers

If you need help with a rideshare accident claim against companies like Uber or Lyft, contact the attorneys at Stevenson & Murray. We are known for being diligent attorneys, especially at the Harris County Civil Courts.

Our law office is located in the Greenway/Upper Kirby neighborhood. Just six miles southwest of downtown Houston, we have excellent freeway access (U.S. 59, I-610, and I-10 are all nearby). Right from our office, it’s easy to navigate Houston’s sprawling layout. We have plenty of ample parking options for clients, too.

Contact us today for a consultation, or feel free to stop by our office. Let us explain how we can help with your case.