This blog was posted by Shaw-Cowart Personal Injury Lawyer in Austin, representing clients in Austin and the surrounding areas
Uber/Lyft Passengers Injured in Truck Collisions Around Austin
Austin is one of the most active rideshare markets in Texas. Uber and Lyft vehicles move through downtown, the airport corridor, the Domain, and virtually every Austin neighborhood around the clock. When a rideshare vehicle is involved in a collision with an 18-wheeler, the passenger in the back seat is in a particularly vulnerable position — they had no control over the driving, no ability to see the crash coming, and suddenly find themselves dealing with injuries, multiple insurance companies, and a legal situation more complex than a standard two-vehicle crash. Our Austin truck accident lawyers represent rideshare passengers injured in truck collisions regularly, and understanding how these cases work is the first step toward protecting your rights.
The key issue in any rideshare-plus-truck crash is identifying which parties are responsible and which insurance policies apply. Unlike a crash involving two private drivers, a rideshare collision can involve the truck driver’s liability policy, the trucking company’s coverage, Uber or Lyft’s own commercial insurance policy, the rideshare driver’s personal policy, and potentially the rideshare passenger’s own underinsured motorist coverage — all at the same time. Our attorneys sort through that coverage structure quickly so injured passengers are not left waiting for insurers to resolve disputes among themselves while medical bills pile up.
How Fault Works in a Rideshare Truck Collision
Texas is a fault-based state, meaning the party or parties who caused the crash are responsible for compensating those they injured. In a collision between an 18-wheeler and a rideshare vehicle, fault can rest with the truck driver, the rideshare driver, or both — and as a passenger, you are generally not at fault for the collision at all. That means you have the right to pursue compensation from every at-fault party, which can include the truck driver and their employer, the rideshare driver if their negligence contributed to the crash, and potentially the rideshare company itself depending on the circumstances.
The trucking company is typically the most important defendant when the 18-wheeler’s driver caused or contributed to the crash. Trucking companies carry significant commercial liability policies, and our attorneys pursue those policies aggressively when their driver’s negligence is a cause of a passenger’s injuries. The truck driver’s fatigue, distraction, speeding, or mechanical failure on the truck itself — all potential contributors we investigate in every case — can support substantial claims against the carrier.
Uber and Lyft Insurance Coverage for Passengers
Both Uber and Lyft provide commercial liability coverage for passengers injured while riding in their vehicles. When the rideshare app was active and a passenger was in the vehicle, Uber and Lyft each carry up to $1 million in third-party liability coverage per incident. That coverage can apply when the rideshare driver bears some fault for the crash — for example, if the driver made an unsafe lane change into the path of the truck, or failed to yield in a situation where a more attentive driver would have avoided the collision. Our attorneys evaluate the rideshare driver’s conduct in every case to ensure that all available coverage is identified and pursued.
When the truck driver is solely at fault and the trucking company’s coverage is sufficient to address the injuries, Uber and Lyft’s policy may not be the primary source of recovery. But in cases where the trucking company’s policy limits are reached or disputed, and in cases where the rideshare driver shares fault, that additional million-dollar coverage can be critical for passengers with serious injuries and substantial damages.
Common Crash Scenarios Involving Rideshare Vehicles and Trucks
The downtown Austin area produces rideshare-truck collisions at intersections where delivery trucks and large commercial vehicles share streets with constant Uber and Lyft activity. A rideshare driver running an intersection or making a turn across the path of a truck, or a truck driver running a signal and striking a rideshare vehicle crossing with the right of way, are both scenarios our attorneys have handled. Airport pickups and drop-offs around Austin-Bergstrom create mixed traffic zones where rideshare vehicles, rental cars, and freight trucks converge at the same interchanges and access roads on SH-71. Highway crashes on I-35 and US-183 where a rideshare vehicle is rear-ended or sideswiped by an 18-wheeler are perhaps the most severe category, given the speeds involved.
Injuries Rideshare Passengers Sustain in Truck Crashes
Passengers in rideshare vehicles are often seated in the rear of the car, which provides less structural protection than the front seats in certain crash configurations. In a rear-end crash by an 18-wheeler, rear passengers can suffer some of the most severe spinal and brain injuries in the vehicle. In a T-bone or side-impact crash, the door next to the passenger is the primary barrier between them and the striking vehicle. Traumatic brain injuries, cervical and lumbar spinal injuries, rib fractures, and internal organ damage are all common in the rideshare crash cases our lawyers handle. The fact that the passenger had no warning and no ability to brace for the crash means that the full energy of the collision is absorbed without any preparation.
Steps to Take After a Rideshare Truck Crash in Austin
Get medical attention immediately. Preserve your Uber or Lyft trip records — the app provides documentation of the trip including driver information, route, and timing, all of which our attorneys use in the case. Get the truck driver’s information, the trucking company name, and photos of the vehicles and scene if you can safely do so. Report the crash through the rideshare app as required by Uber and Lyft’s policies. Do not give recorded statements to the trucking company’s insurer or to the rideshare company’s claims team before speaking with our lawyers. In a multi-insurer situation like this one, each carrier is protecting its own interests — you need someone protecting yours.
If you were injured as a passenger in a rideshare vehicle involved in a crash with an 18-wheeler anywhere in Austin, our truck accident lawyers offer free consultations and charge no fees unless we recover compensation for you. Call 512-499-8900 today.