972-928-0085

Menu

Goff Law Icon | Attorney in Dallas, TX for Personal Injury, Accidents, Sexual Assault, and Brain Injury

Rideshare Accident Attorney

Dallas Rideshare Accident Lawyer

Rideshare accidents can raise questions about who was responsible, how the insurance coverage works, and what to do next. Your Dallas rideshare accident lawyer with Goff Law, PLLC can explain how these cases differ from other collisions and what makes them more complex. Your Dallas car accident attorney with our firm is recognized by SuperLawyers and takes the time to explain how liability, insurance coverage, and claim timing affect your options. If you have questions after a rideshare crash, contact us to get answers from a team that understands this process.

What Makes Rideshare Accidents Different From Other Crashes

Not every crash with an Uber or Lyft driver works the way you might expect. Even if it feels familiar at first, the insurance rules and liability issues are very different from a typical car accident. Many people are caught off guard when they find out the rideshare company is not automatically responsible, and the insurance coverage offered by companies like Uber or Lyft depends on what the driver was doing in the app at the time of the crash.

Uber and Lyft Insurance Rules Most Riders Never Hear About

Insurance coverage for rideshare drivers changes depending on whether the driver was waiting, on the way to a pickup, or already driving a passenger. If the driver was not using the app, their personal auto policy applies. If they were online but had not accepted a ride, the company provides limited backup coverage. Once the ride is active, Uber or Lyft’s higher-limit policy takes effect. These differences matter because coverage can drop off entirely or shift between policies depending on the timing of the crash. Your rideshare accident attorney in Dallas from Goff Law, PLLC can review trip logs, app data, and company policies to identify which insurer is responsible and how much coverage may be available.

Why Legal Responsibility Is Not Always Clear

Rideshare crashes often involve multiple people, not just the driver. A third-party driver might have caused the crash, or the rideshare company may be responsible for hiring someone with a known safety record. These cases can get even more complicated if the app malfunctioned or if there are questions about the driver’s status. Digital records from the rideshare platform often help clarify who was active in the app, what trip was in progress, and how the crash unfolded. Trip screenshots, timestamps, and messages can help confirm who should be held responsible and what coverage applies.

1

Common Causes of Rideshare Accidents in Dallas

A lot can go wrong when rideshare drivers are rushing between pickups, watching the app, or trying to find a safe place to stop. Dallas traffic, busy intersections, and real-time route updates make those decisions even harder. These crashes often happen when drivers are distracted, overworked, or trying to meet passenger demands in the middle of a fast-moving environment. Here are some of the most common causes we see in rideshare-related crashes:

  • Distracted driving
  • Drunk or impaired driving
  • Unsafe pickup and drop-off locations
  • Speeding or reckless lane changes
  • Driver fatigue during long shifts
  • Poor visibility during late-night rides
  • Improper left turns or failure to yield
  • GPS-related confusion or missed turns
  • Multi-app distractions from working on several platforms at once
  • Pedestrian-related incidents near crosswalks or loading zones

 

The pace of rideshare work pushes drivers to make quick decisions, and some of those choices come with real consequences. Riders, pedestrians, and nearby drivers all share the risk when safety takes a back seat. Your Dallas personal injury lawyer can investigate what went wrong and help identify the cause behind the crash.

1

Injuries Caused by Rideshare Collisions

Pain, stress, and missed work are common after rideshare crashes, even when the injuries seem minor at first. These impacts often interfere with sleep, movement, and basic routines like getting dressed or driving. Rideshare collisions can lead to harm that builds over time and affects both your physical and mental health.

Common physical injuries include broken bones, spinal trauma, and internal bleeding. These can interfere with basic tasks like walking, lifting, or even getting dressed. Injuries to the ribs, joints, or abdomen often make it difficult to sit or sleep comfortably. Some crashes even result in brain injuries, which may lead to memory issues, mood and personality changes, or difficulty focusing. These symptoms are not always immediate, but they can have a lasting effect on your ability to work, communicate, or take care of daily responsibilities.

Many people experience anxiety or panic in traffic after a serious crash. Riding in a car again may feel unsafe, especially if the crash happened while using a rideshare app. Some people also struggle with sleep issues or mood changes that make it harder to keep up with everyday routines. If your injuries stem from a rideshare or motorcycle accident, your legal advocate at Goff Law, PLLC can include emotional distress in your claim. That may include symptoms like panic, stress in traffic, or trouble focusing at work. These mental health effects are part of the overall picture when building a claim for compensation.

Fault can be hard to untangle after a rideshare crash. The driver, the app company, and even people outside the vehicle may have played a part. For example, a passenger might assume Uber or Lyft will pay for everything, only to find out that another driver or a third-party company shares the blame. Here are some of the people or companies who may be responsible for a rideshare accident:

  • The rideshare driver
  • Uber, Lyft, or another rideshare company
  • A private motorist in a separate vehicle
  • A commercial truck or delivery driver
  • A city contractor responsible for road repairs
  • A manufacturer if a brake failure or a tire blowout was involved
  • A drunk or impaired driver
  • A distracted driver using multiple apps or devices

It is not always obvious who caused the crash or who should cover the costs. Our team at Goff Law, PLLC examines how each party was involved and how liability is assigned under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001. That includes reviewing driver status, platform use, and how insurance coverage applies across different policies.

Rideshare accidents often result in medical bills, missed work, and changes to your routine. Some injuries need follow-up care or long-term treatment, while others affect how you move, rest, or get through the day. Damages are generally grouped into financial losses and non-financial effects tied to pain and disruption.

Ambulance transport, hospital visits, imaging, and prescription costs are some of the first expenses people face. You may also need time away from work or face unexpected repair costs if your vehicle or property was damaged. These expenses often come in before you know who will pay for what. Ongoing financial losses can also include physical therapy, medical equipment, and changes in your ability to earn a living. A rideshare accident lawyer in Dallas can help calculate these costs using medical records, billing statements, and income documentation.

Some injuries cause pain that makes everyday tasks harder. You might avoid driving, struggle to sleep, or feel anxious about getting back into a rideshare. These symptoms can interrupt your routines, affect your focus, and make it harder to manage daily responsibilities. Your Dallas rideshare accident attorney will review how these issues have developed since the crash and how they relate to your injuries. Our team at Goff Law, PLLC uses that information to help build a complete and detailed claim.

Rideshare accidents do not just involve passengers and drivers. People on sidewalks, crosswalks, and curbs are often in the path of a distracted or rushing driver. These injuries tend to happen fast and without warning — often during a pickup or drop-off when the driver is focused on the app instead of the road. Here are a few ways pedestrians and cyclists get injured in rideshare-related crashes:

  • Sudden stops in marked crosswalks
  • Failure to yield to people entering intersections
  • Drivers speeding through yellow lights at busy corners
  • Drop-offs that block crosswalks or bike lanes
  • Distracted driving in school zones or commercial areas
  • Dooring accidents involving bicyclists and motorcyclists 
  • Sharp turns into curbside pickup zones
  • Double parking that forces riders or cyclists into traffic

Pedestrians often suffer the most serious injuries when these crashes happen. Even at low speeds, the impact can cause broken bones, spinal trauma, or lasting nerve damage. These cases require careful review of street camera footage, driver logs, and app data to understand what happened and who is responsible.

Get Help From Your Dallas Rideshare Accident Lawyer Today