Uber Accident Lawyers in Houston
If you’ve been involved in a rideshare accident and are facing mounting medical bills, significant property damage, or are tied up in disputes with insurance companies, you need experienced and aggressive Uber accident lawyers in Houston on your side.
At Grimes & Fertitta, our dedicated legal team specializes in representing victims of car accidents in complex personal injury cases and can help you navigate the twists and turns of the legal landscape after a rideshare accident. We understand the unique challenges posed by accidents involving independent contractors like Uber and Lyft drivers, and we’re here to fight for your rights.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in an Uber or Lyft accident, call the Houston injury attorneys from Grimes & Fertitta today at (713) 224-7644 or schedule a consultation online.
Complicating elements in a rideshare accident
Rideshare accidents can be particularly complicated due to the involvement of independent contractors and the policies of the rideshare companies. When you’re in an accident with an Uber or Lyft driver, understanding these key complicating factors can be crucial to building a strong personal injury case.
Uber and Lyft drivers are independent contractors
One of the primary complexities in rideshare accidents is the classification of Lyft and Uber drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. This classification can significantly impact liability and insurance coverage.
Our Uber accident lawyers have a deep understanding of the legal implications of this classification and can use it to your advantage in your case.
Rideshare accidents involve complex insurance coverage
Uber considers its drivers “contracted partners,” and it is their official stance that any accident caused by one of these “contracted partners” is not their liability, although they do offer commercial insurance policies to cover drivers that do not furnish their own.
So, after being involved in an Uber accident, you could be dealing with the driver’s insurance company, Uber or Lyft themselves, and/or (in the event that both of those fail) your own insurance policy. Regardless, if you are seriously injured in an Uber accident, you cannot trust that any of these insurance companies will give you what you really deserve.
Large companies get by in business by minimizing the bottom line and maximizing profits, and unfortunately for accident victims, that often comes in the form of compensation. Don’t let the insurance companies nickel and dime you, call an experienced Houston car accident lawyer who can help you get what you deserve.
Types of damages in a lawsuit
There are many types of damages that you and your attorney can pursue after being involved in a rideshare accident. Our Uber accident lawyers in Houston can help you recover the damages that you deserve for all of your pain. The types of damages in a lawsuit that you may be able to recover from a Lyft or Uber accident claim include:
- Special compensatory damages, often called economic damages, include expenses that are quantifiable. Common types of special compensatory damages include:
- Medical bills
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- General compensatory damages are intended to compensate you for overall harm done by the accident but can include things that are hard to quantify. Common general compensatory damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Disfigurement or impairment
- Wrongful death damages come about when someone loses their life in an accident. These can be both general and special compensatory damages, and can include the following expenses:
- Funeral expenses
- Medical expenses for the deceased
- Loss of companionship or financial support
- Punitive damages are much rarer and are intended to punish the responsible party for particularly reckless behavior. Punitive damages will generally only be sought if the court fears that the negligent party will repeat a dangerous pattern of behavior and believes that they may financially deter them.
Ultimately, you and your attorney will ask for what you believe you deserve, but in order to get it, your Houston Uber accident lawyer will need to build a strong case and prove it. To do that you’ll need to gather evidence to support your personal injury claim.