Injured In An Uber Accident? 

WHO DO I CALL IN SUGAR LAND, TX?  

Advanced smartphone technology has paved the way for rideshare apps such as Uber to connect directly with customers that need to travel from point A to point B in a timely manner. With just a tap from a finger on the Uber app, you enjoy a stress-free ride that is a fraction of the cost of what it takes to ride in a cab. Moreover, Uber drivers offer a wide variety of vehicles to take care of virtually every customer travel need. There is no doubt the emergence of Uber and other rideshare apps have helped reduce the number of alcohol-related accidents in the State of Texas.

Unfortunately, Uber has prompted Texas legislators to enact strict guidelines to prevent vehicle accidents. Attorney Adam Capetillo has compiled an impressive record helping clients win judgments for just compensation to cover the expenses generated because of an Uber accident. With the rise of Lyft, Adam Capetillo represents clients injured in accidents involving Lyft drivers as well. If you were injured because of an Uber (or Lyft) accident, you should consult with Adam Capitello, a Texas licensed personal injury lawyer, that has an impressive record of litigating Uber accident cases.

Texas Rideshare Regulations

At the start of the rideshare movement, regulations imposed on rideshare companies failed to address the rapidly growing number of accidents caused by rideshare drivers. In response to growing discontent among rideshare customers, Texas Governor Abbot signed a bill into law during the 2017 legislative session that has established an uniform set of rules that govern the rideshare industry.

The uniform set of rideshare regulations eliminated the confusion caused by the regulations imposed by individual Texas cities. Here are the regulations that Governor Abbot signed into law:

• No tolerance policy for driver intoxication
• Mandatory criminal background checks and personal driving history checks for every rideshare driver
• Riders are prohibited to discriminate against riders based on race, color, gender, age, disability, location, destination, and national origin
• Drivers of rideshare vehicles must provide accommodations for service animals
• Rideshare drivers cannot charge extra to accommodate passenger disabilities

Texas law also offers passengers of rideshare companies protection against the negligence that often leads to vehicle accidents.

Uber: A Powerful Company that Does Not Want to Pay

Paying off insurance claims triggers a financial hit for Uber much in the same way similar payouts hurt the bottom line of insurance companies. This mean Uber is frequently reluctant to settle claims made by passengers that were injured during an Uber involved accident.

Personal injury lawyer Adam Capetillo wants you to know that Uber drivers are not employees of the rideshare company. They are referred to in the United States tax code as independent contractors, which Uber leverages to its financial advantages. Uber drivers must have personal auto insurance and in many cases, the personal auto insurance does not include coverage for accidents that occur at work.

Clearing Up Uber Insurance Coverage

Uber now provides a $1 million insurance policy for each of the rideshare company’s drivers. However, the $1 million insurance policy only applies in certain cases.

Here is how Uber accident lawyer Adam Capetillo explains the complicated Uber insurance payout model.

• If an Uber driver is operating a vehicle for personal business and he or she does not pick up passengers, then the driver’s personal auto insurance policy covers auto accidents
• If an Uber driver is working, but at the time of a crash is not carrying any customers, then both the driver’s policy and Texas law apply in the case of insurance payouts
• If an Uber driver is transporting one or more passengers and the driver is involved in a car crash, then Uber’s $1 million insurance policy takes precedence

The personal injury attorneys at Capetillo Law firm will help you clarify how much Uber is required to pay out under Texas law. Do not allow Uber and its team of experienced litigators bully you into settling for much less than what you deserve. Whether you are an Uber passenger or the driver of a vehicle hit by an Uber driver, you can incur expenses that run into the tens of thousands of dollars.

Possible Monetary Damages for Injuries Caused by an Uber Driver

Although the Uber insurance payout scenarios are confusing, the list of possible expenses that our clients have to pay because of an Uber driver accident are clear. Legal monetary damages assigned to Uber because of the injuries caused by an Uber driver can include one or more of the following:

• Medical bills
• Rehabilitation
• Lost wages
• Emotional trauma
• Long term disability
• Pain and suffering

Of the possible reasons for winning just compensation in an Uber driver lawsuit, emotional trauma is the most difficult to prove. However, personal injury lawyer Adam Capetillo is highly skilled at convincing civil court judges that an accident caused by an Uber driver produced emotional scars that cost clients a substantial amount of money.

If you were involved in an accident that involved an Uber driver and the accident produce one or more injuries, you should contact Capetillo Law Firm to schedule a free initial consultation. You can call our office at 346-249-5544 or submit the form placed on the home page of our website.