Uber Accident Attorney in Arlington, Dallas & Fort Worth

With the creation of the smartphone rideshare apps such as Uber, it has eliminated the need for calling for a taxi. You can simply click on the Uber app and get a ride within minutes. The Uber app is easy to use and gets you an inexpensive ride to wherever you need to go. The Uber app has become one of the most popular rideshare apps on the market today.

The benefits of the Uber app and the Uber rideshare network is that it has quite obviously reduced the number of DWI accidents in the Arlington, Dallas and Fort Worth areas. By creating a way to obtain instant car rides with a few clicks, Uber has undoubtedly saved many lives and prevented injuries due to reducing DWI accidents.

Even though Uber may have reduced DWI accidents, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t serious car accidents involving Uber drivers. If you are involved in an accident with an Uber driver or you are injured as a passenger in an Uber vehicle it is important that you contact an Uber accident attorney to help provide you with expert legal advice. The Law Offices of David Kohm have experienced Uber accident attorneys that focus on these types of rideshare accidents.

What to Do if You Were Involved with an Accident with an Uber Driver?

You’ve been in a car wreck with an Uber driver and have injuries needing medical care. What do you do now? The Law Offices of David Kohm has Arlington & DFW Uber accident attorneys that handle many cases similar to yours every year, ready to help defend you rights.  We recommend that before you take any steps or visit with an insurance adjuster, you need to consult with an experienced auto accident attorney regardless of what you have been advised.

Uber Accident Personal Injury Issues

Uber accidents are actually pretty complex cases because the insurance coverage for personal injury damages. Uber believes that their driver’s are “contracted partners” and if you are injured in an accident with one of their drivers they are not liable. The driver uses their personal insurance to cover your injuries. Uber’s stance is that if the Uber driver caused the accident they are liable personally and Uber is not liable for the accident.

Uber Insurance Coverage

When it comes to suing a Uber driver who is responsible for an accident, things can become more complicated. Different levels of coverage and liabilities are outlined for different types of claims. The question turns upon how strictly the driver is acting in a commercial capacity at the time of the accident. Let’s discuss the different categories and levels of liability, below.

When a Uber driver is not logged into the ridesharing app, they are effectively off the job and acting in the capacity of anyone using their vehicle for personal leisure and daily transport purposes. In this capacity, Uber is not liable for any damages that may occur.

The driver’s personal insurance company would still be liable for at least basic coverage that is 30/60/25 in Texas. This stands for $30,000 for each person injured in the accident, $60,000 to cover the total accident, and $25,000 to cover any property damage resulting from the accident. Should your needs go over this, you will have to make a claim with your own insurance pursuant to Underinsured Motorists Insurance provisions.

If the Uber driver is logged onto the app and waiting for a ride, they are now on the job even if they have not accepted any work yet. The new Texas state law requires drivers to carry 50/100/25 coverage, which nearly doubles the cap for personal injuries and the total accident.

When an Uber driver has accepted a job and is en route to pick up that passenger, the total liability coverage increases to $1 million. This would ensure that the injuries of multiple victims or to property and other vehicles is accounted for in full. While there are still caps on how much money would be paid per person for injuries, the law accounts for the hypothetical situation of extensive damage.

At this phase, the driver is working in the strictest sense as a commercial vehicle operator. All the coverage that he carried from Uber while in transit carries over with the addition of uninsured motorists cover and limited protection to cover any damages to the driver’s car.