Can I Sue Uber Or Lyft For A Car Accident?
Yes, there are specific situations where you can sue Uber or Lyft for a car accident. Before you decide to sue Uber or Lyft, it’s important to take a step back and determine whether it would be appropriate to sue Uber, Lyft, or possibly another driver.
In order to win a personal injury case against anyone, we must first show that the other person was negligent. A driver is considered negligent if they fail to act as a reasonable person would act in a given situation. For example, a person would likely be negligent if they drove 100 mph down an ice-covered highway because a reasonable person would slow down for the icy conditions. A driver will also be considered negligent if they run a stop sign, tailgate another car, fail to yield, speed, or drink and drive.
Three Scenarios Where You Might Sue Uber Or Lyft
1. Your Uber Driver Is Negligent
In Texas, an employer is responsible for their employee’s negligence if the employee is acting within the course and scope of their employment. An employee is acting within the course and scope of their employment if they are performing tasks they were hired to do.
A person driving an Uber or Lyft passenger is acting within the course and scope of their employment if they are transporting an Uber or Lyft passenger. This means you could sue Uber or Lyft if one of their drivers is negligent and the driver’s negligence causes you to be injured.
2. Your Uber Driver Is Partially At Fault
Many car accidents are caused by one negligent driver. However, it’s not unusual for a car accident to be caused by more than one negligent driver. If your Uber or Lyft driver’s negligence is partially responsible for your personal injuries, then your Uber or Lyft driver will be held partially responsible for your injuries. For example, if your Uber driver and another driver are both 50% at fault, both drivers will be expected to pay for 50% of the harm they caused. Both negligent drivers paying for 50% of the harm they caused will result in you receiving 100% of the compensation you deserve.
The same law that makes employers responsible for their employees’ actions still applies if the Uber or Lyft driver is partially at fault.
3. An Uber Driver Negligently Collides With You Or Your Car
The above-mentioned rules work the same way if an Uber or Lyft driver collides with you or your vehicle. You could sue Uber or Lyft if their driver negligently injured you even if you weren’t riding in their car as a passenger. We will still need to prove that the driver was acting within the course and scope of their employment, and we will also need to prove the percentage of liability that should be placed on Uber, Lyft, and their driver.
How Much Compensation Will I Receive If I Sue Uber Or Lyft?
This is a question that can’t be answered with a “one size fits all” answer. However, you can sue Uber or Lyft for the following damages if their driver is negligent:
- Past and future medical bills
- Past and future pain and suffering, impairment, and mental anguish
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Property damage
- Wrongful death when the lawsuit is brought by the surviving family member(s)
Contact Us For A Free Consultation
The good news for Uber and Lyft passengers is that they can’t be faulted for negligently driving. However, you can’t just “sit back” and expect a great outcome for your Uber or Lyft car accident. It’s important to start building a winning case right away. Allbee Law Firm provides free consultations, and calls are answered 24/7. Call us at (972) 848-4848.
