Why You Need an Uber Accident Attorney in Texas?

As ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft continue to grow in popularity, there's been a corresponding rise in accidents involving those vehicles. A recent report found that while the overall number of traffic fatalities decreased over the same period, the number of people killed in crashes involving ridesharing vehicles increased by 3%.

The research team found that the most likely reason for this increase was the fact that drivers were less experienced and therefore less able to handle situations that arise during a crash. In addition, the researchers noted that many of the crashes involved alcohol use, which makes it even harder for inexperienced drivers to react quickly enough to avoid crashing into another car.

While the overall number of fatal vehicle accidents decreased over the same period of time, the number of people dying in crashes involving ridesharers increased by 3%.

While most people think about car crashes when it comes to auto insurance, there are many different ways someone could be injured while riding in a vehicle. A motor vehicle crash involving a passenger in a ride-sharing app like Uber or Lyft is called a "rideshare accident." These types of collisions tend to involve fewer injuries than traditional auto accidents because they typically happen quickly and involve lower speeds. However, just because the collision doesn't cause serious injuries doesn't mean that the victim won't receive compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain, and suffering, etc.

The good news is that rideshare drivers and passengers alike often carry some form of commercial insurance that covers claims related to ridesharing accidents. But, depending on the type of collision, the coverage available to each party may vary. For example, Uber and Lyft riders are covered under the standard personal automobile policies that cover the vehicles used during trips. In states like Texas, however, the rideshare companies operate as independent contractors and therefore don't qualify for basic personal auto insurance. Instead, they must purchase additional commercial insurance that provides coverage for certain incidents.

In addition to determining whether the driver or rider carries personal insurance, another important factor is how well the driver knows the individual requesting a trip. If the driver doesn't know the person very well, he or she might not realize that the passenger is likely to drink alcohol or take drugs. This puts him or her at risk of being held liable if the passenger becomes intoxicated and causes a wreck.

Uber ridesharing app claims it provides "safe, reliable transportation." While that might sound like a good thing, there are some things you should know about how accidents happen and what happens next.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately one million people are injured every year in car crashes. In fact, according to NHTSA, over half of those injured in a crash aren't wearing seatbelts. And while many of us think we're safe behind our steering wheels, statistics show that nearly 40% of drivers involved in fatal accidents weren't wearing a seatbelt.

That's why it's critical that you take action after an accident occurs. You'll want to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer who knows how to handle cases involving auto accidents. Here are three key steps you should follow after an accident:

1. Get medical attention immediately
2. Call the police and report the incident
3. Contact an Uber accident lawyer

Uber accident cases are unique because many people don’t realize how much responsibility drivers bear when it comes to protecting passengers from harm during trips. When someone gets injured while riding in an Uber vehicle, the driver may be held responsible. This could include liability for damages caused by negligence, such as failing to maintain proper safety equipment or following unsafe driving practices.

There is no specific branch of law that focuses exclusively on rideshare accidents. Instead, lawyers often practice general civil litigation, meaning they handle a wide range of legal matters, including those related to personal injury, family law, employment law, real estate, bankruptcy, and criminal defense. Many personal injury lawyers focus specifically on representing clients involved in car accidents or medical malpractice. However, some ride-sharing accident lawyers do work in areas outside of transportation. For example, a lawyer who handles slip and fall cases might represent someone whose foot slipped off a curb onto a sidewalk.

In addition to having the knowledge necessary to successfully pursue an Uber accident lawsuit, an experienced ride-sharing accident lawyer must possess certain skills. These include being able to effectively communicate with opposing counsel and judges, build rapport with witnesses and victims, and understand how to properly prepare legal documents.

Most people think of car accident lawyers as being only necessary when insurance companies are playing hardball with them, but it’s important to remember that most car accidents happen because someone else is at fault. In many cases, the person responsible for causing the crash is negligent and doesn’t have enough liability coverage to pay out damages.

This is exactly why all car injury victims should work with a personal injury attorney. While insurance carriers and ride-hailing companies have plenty of experience handling car accident claims, they don’t always understand how to handle the unique issues surrounding injuries sustained in a motor vehicle collision.

In addition to helping you navigate the legal process and negotiate settlements, accident attorneys can help you recover lost wages due to missed work, medical bills, pain and suffering, and much more. If you've been injured in an auto accident caused by another driver, contact a rideshare accident attorney in Harris County, Galveston County, Fort Bend County, Montgomery County, Brazoria County, Houston, Sugar Land, Missouri City, and Stafford, Texas at Thornton Esquire Law Group, PLLC, today at  www.thorntonesquirelawgroup.com  for a free consultation.