The Essential Guide to Reimbursed Medical Costs from Rideshare Accidents in Texas
In 2023, there were over 15,000 rideshare-related accidents reported in Texas. Behind each of those statistics lies a personal story of the physical, emotional, and financial toll taken on innocent passengers.
If you’ve found yourself in a rideshare accident, your top priority should be ensuring your medical needs are taken care of. But the path to getting your medical expenses reimbursed can be fraught with challenges.
That’s why we’ve created this essential guide to help you navigate the process of claiming medical costs from a rideshare accident in Texas.
We’ll cover your legal rights, the immediate steps to take, how to properly document your expenses, navigating insurance claims, and when to seek professional legal assistance. By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
Understanding Your Rights
As a passenger in a rideshare vehicle, you have certain legal rights when it comes to medical expenses resulting from an accident. Texas state law requires rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft to carry liability insurance coverage. This means their insurance should cover your medical bills if you’re injured while riding with one of their drivers.
The minimum liability insurance coverage for rideshare companies in Texas is:
$50,000 in bodily injury liability per person
$100,000 in bodily injury liability per accident
$30,000 in property damage liability per accident
So, if you incur $60,000 in medical expenses from a rideshare accident, the driver’s liability insurance should cover up to $50,000 of those costs. However, the insurance company may try to dispute or underpay valid claims, which is where having the right legal representation becomes crucial.
It’s also important to understand that your own personal auto insurance may come into play. If the rideshare driver’s liability coverage is insufficient to fully reimburse your medical expenses, your own policy’s underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage could help make up the difference. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you navigate the complexities of stacking insurance policies to maximize your recovery.
Additionally, Texas law prohibits rideshare companies from requiring passengers to sign away their right to sue. This means you maintain the ability to take legal action if necessary to recover your losses. However, it’s always best to try to resolve things amicably with the insurance providers first before resorting to a lawsuit.
Immediate Steps After a Rideshare Accident
The actions you take immediately following a rideshare accident can have a significant impact on your ability to successfully claim medical expenses later on. Here are the key steps to take:
Call the police and file an official accident report. This creates an official record of the incident that will be crucial evidence.
If possible, document the scene with photos and videos. Capture any visible injuries, vehicle damage, and the overall accident scene.
Seek medical attention, even if you don’t think you’ve sustained any serious injuries. Some injuries, like whiplash or internal bleeding, may not be immediately apparent. Getting checked out by a doctor creates a paper trail of your medical condition following the accident.
Obtain a copy of the police report and any other documentation from the responding officers.
Notify your own auto insurance provider about the accident, as well as the rideshare company’s insurance. Provide them with all the details and documentation you’ve collected.
Following these steps will help ensure you have a strong paper trail to support your medical expense claims down the line. Remember, even if you don’t think your injuries are serious, it’s always best to get checked out by a medical professional.
How to Document Your Medical Expenses Properly
Proper documentation is key to successfully claiming reimbursement for your medical costs from a rideshare accident. Start by gathering all your medical bills, receipts, insurance statements, and any other relevant financial documents.
Be sure to keep detailed records of the following:
Ambulance or emergency transportation costs
Hospital bills, including any overnight stays
Doctor and specialist visit fees
Prescription medication costs
Physical therapy or rehabilitation expenses
Any costs for medical equipment (crutches, braces, etc.)
Mileage and parking costs for trips to medical appointments
You’ll also want to document any lost wages or earning capacity due to your injuries, as these may be reimbursable as well.
Organize this documentation chronologically and make copies for safekeeping. This detailed paper trail will be crucial evidence when submitting your insurance claims and, if necessary, taking legal action.
Another important step is to keep a personal journal documenting your recovery process. Note things like:
Your initial symptoms and how they’ve progressed over time
Any limitations on your daily activities or mobility
The emotional and psychological impact of your injuries
Details on any follow-up medical treatments or procedures
This firsthand account from the victim’s perspective can provide valuable context to supplement the cold, hard numbers on your medical bills.
Navigating Insurance Claims
Once you have your medical expenses documented, it’s time to start navigating the insurance claims process. This can be one of the most challenging and frustrating parts of getting reimbursed, as insurance companies often look for ways to deny or underpay valid claims.
Start by filing claims with both the rideshare company’s liability insurance and your own auto insurance provider. Provide them with all the documentation you’ve gathered, including the police report, medical bills, and any other supporting evidence.
Be prepared for the insurance companies to push back. They may claim your injuries weren’t caused by the rideshare accident, that the medical treatment was unnecessary, or that the costs were inflated. Don’t get discouraged – keep pressing forward with your well-documented claims.
If an insurance company denies your claim or offers an unacceptably low settlement, you have the right to appeal. Work closely with your insurance provider to understand their reasoning and provide any additional evidence they may require. You can also seek the assistance of a personal injury attorney to help navigate this process.
It’s important to note that the insurance companies have teams of adjusters and lawyers whose sole purpose is to minimize payouts. They’re skilled at finding technicalities and loopholes to deny or lowball claims. That’s why having an experienced advocate in your corner, whether it’s a seasoned insurance claims specialist or a personal injury lawyer, can make all the difference.
When to Seek Legal Assistance
In many cases, working directly with the insurance companies is sufficient to get your medical expenses from a rideshare accident reimbursed. However, there are certain situations where consulting a personal injury attorney can be highly beneficial:
The insurance company denies your claim or offers an unreasonably low settlement
You’ve suffered serious or catastrophic injuries that will require ongoing, long-term care
The rideshare driver was uninsured or underinsured, leaving a gap in coverage
There are disputes over liability or who was at fault for the accident
An experienced personal injury lawyer who specializes in rideshare accidents can help you in several key ways:
Negotiating with insurance companies to maximize your settlement
Gathering additional evidence to support your medical expense claims
Filing a personal injury lawsuit if necessary to recover full compensation
Ensuring you don’t settle for less than the full value of your case
Advising on the complex interplay between different insurance policies
Our consultations are free, so it’s well worth your time to at least have an initial discussion with us. We can review the details of your case and advise you on the best path forward to get the reimbursement you deserve.
Keep in mind that personal injury lawyers typically work on a contingency fee basis. This means they only get paid a percentage of the final settlement or judgment they’re able to secure on your behalf. So you don’t have to worry about upfront legal costs – the attorney’s fee comes out of the compensation they help you recover.
Choosing the Right Personal Injury Attorney
If you do decide to work with a lawyer, it’s important to find one who specializes in rideshare accident cases and has a proven track record of success. Here are some key things to look for:
Experience: How many rideshare accident cases has the attorney handled? What was the outcome of those cases? You want someone who knows the nuances of this specific type of personal injury claim.
Success Rate: What percentage of the attorney’s cases result in favorable settlements or verdicts for their clients? The higher the success rate, the better.
Resources: Does the law firm have the financial resources and legal experience to take on the insurance companies and their teams of lawyers?
Communication: How responsive is the attorney, and do they make you feel heard and informed throughout the process? You want to work with someone who prioritizes client service.
Reputation: Check online reviews and ask for referrals from past clients. An attorney’s reputation can speak volumes about the quality of their work.
Contingency Fees: Get clarity upfront on the attorney’s fee structure and how much of your final settlement you’ll actually receive. Avoid any lawyers who seem overly aggressive about maximizing their own cut.
By taking the time to find the right personal injury attorney, you can rest assured that your interests will be zealously represented and that you’re giving yourself the best chance of a favorable outcome.
Common Issues and How to Overcome Them
Even with an experienced attorney on your side, you may still run into some common challenges when trying to get your rideshare accident medical expenses reimbursed. Here are a few issues to watch out for and strategies to overcome them:
Denied Insurance Claims: If an insurance company denies your claim, don’t accept their decision at face value. Work with your lawyer to understand the reasoning behind the denial and gather any additional evidence needed to appeal the decision.
Underpayment of Claims: Insurance companies are notorious for offering lowball settlements that fall far short of covering the true cost of your medical care. Your attorney can negotiate aggressively to get you the full compensation you’re entitled to.
Disputes Over Liability: The insurance companies may try to shift blame onto you or the other driver, arguing that the accident wasn’t their insured’s fault. Your lawyer can help prove liability through accident reconstruction, witness statements, and other evidence.
Pre-Existing Conditions: If you had a previous injury or medical condition, the insurers may try to claim your current issues aren’t related to the rideshare accident. Your attorney can work to establish the connection and ensure you’re compensated accordingly.
Uncooperative Providers: Sometimes medical facilities or doctors can be difficult to work with when it comes to providing records or billing information. Your lawyer has the leverage to cut through red tape and get the information needed to support your claims.
By being aware of these potential roadblocks and having an experienced advocate on your side, you can overcome them and maximize your chances of a favorable outcome.
Next Steps If You Were Injured In A Rideshare Crash
Dealing with the aftermath of a rideshare accident can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to getting your medical expenses covered. But by understanding your rights, taking the right immediate actions, thoroughly documenting your costs, and knowing when to seek legal help, you can navigate this process and get the compensation you’re entitled to.
Don’t hesitate to contact a personal injury attorney who specializes in rideshare accidents. They can be your ally in ensuring the insurance companies live up to their obligations and that you receive the full reimbursement for your medical bills and other damages. Your health and financial wellbeing are too important to leave to chance.
Call Carrollton Injury Law at 972-360-9898 for your FREE injury claim evaluation. We will share how we can help you get reimbursed for your rideshare accident medical expenses in Texas.
At Carrollton Injury Law we put Personal back into Personal Injury Law.
