Houston’s streets are busy, and rideshare vehicles weave through them every hour of the day. Stephen Goldenzweig, a trusted Houston rideshare accident lawyer, stands ready to guide injured riders, drivers, and bystanders through the legal maze that follows an Uber or Lyft crash. Our team’s mission is simple: secure the medical care and compensation you need so you can focus on healing.

Call an experienced Houston rideshare accident lawyer. We fight aggressively to get you maximum compensation, so you can focus on recovery.

Meet Stephen Goldenzweig and Our Rideshare Accident Team

Stephen Goldenzweig built his career on knowing how insurance companies think because he once defended them. Today, the Houston rideshare collision attorney at Goldenzweig Law Group uses that inside knowledge to protect crash victims. We keep caseloads low, stay personally involved, and treat every client like family.

Our promise: no fee unless we win, timely case updates, and straight answers in English or Spanish.

What To Do Immediately After an Uber or Lyft Crash

A clear plan protects your health and your claim.

  1. Call 911 and request a police report. Official documentation locks in the facts.
  2. Gather evidence. Photograph the vehicles, visible injuries, driver information, and app screenshots showing the ride status.
  3. Seek medical care right away. Some injuries hide under adrenaline; medical records prove the link to the crash.
  4. Report the accident in-app and to your insurer. Written notice triggers coverage but avoid recorded statements.
  5. Start a daily injury journal. Short notes about pain, doctor visits, and missed activities show how the crash changed your life.

Houston Rideshare Accident Law Firm Handling Complex Injury Lawsuits

Rideshare accidents are not like standard car crashes. When an Uber, Lyft, Waymo, or Tesla robotaxi is involved, the question of who pays for your injuries becomes far more complicated. Multiple insurance policies may apply depending on the driver’s app status at the time of the collision, and corporate defendants often try to shift responsibility away from themselves.

A rideshare accident lawyer in Houston at Goldenzweig Law Group understands rideshare liability and can identify the proper channels for legal action. Rideshare accident claims involve unique legal challenges:

  • Determining whether the driver was offline, waiting for a ride, or on an active trip
  • Identifying which insurance policy applies based on app status
  • Holding the rideshare company accountable as a corporate defendant
  • Sorting through overlapping personal and commercial coverage
  • Preserving app data and ride logs before they are deleted or overwritten

HPD crash reports provide the initial documentation. However, building a strong rideshare accident case in Harris County courts under the Texas fault-based insurance system requires going well beyond the police report. Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule, which allows you to recover damages as long as your share of fault is less than 51 percent. Our attorneys go to work quickly to demonstrate the liability of other parties so that we can pursue maximum recovery on your behalf.

We serve rideshare accident victims throughout Houston, including Downtown Houston, The Heights, Midtown, the Galleria area, and the Medical Center.

Houston Uber Accident Lawyer

Uber accidents happen throughout Houston every day, and the amount of insurance coverage available depends entirely on what the driver was doing with the app at the time of the crash. The driver’s status determines which policy applies and how much coverage is available:

  • Offline: The driver’s personal auto insurance applies. Uber provides no coverage when the app is not active.
  • Waiting for a ride request: Uber provides limited liability coverage while the driver is logged into the app but has not yet accepted a trip.
  • Active trip: Once a driver accepts a ride, from pickup to drop-off, Uber’s commercial policy provides up to $1 million in liability coverage.

Common Uber accident scenarios in Houston include collisions during rushed pickups in congested areas like Midtown and the Galleria, distracted driving while checking the app, and crashes involving passengers during active trips on Houston freeways.

Passengers injured in an Uber accident have the right to file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance and, depending on app status, against Uber’s commercial policy. If you were hurt as a passenger, another driver, or a pedestrian, you should speak with a Houston car accident lawyer before accepting any offer.

Houston Lyft Accident Lawyer

Lyft’s insurance structure closely mirrors Uber’s three-tier system. Both provide up to $1 million in coverage during active trips and require their drivers to carry personal collision insurance. However, Uber and Lyft structure their insurance coverage differently in key ways.

Uber’s deductible for damage to a driver’s vehicle is typically $1,000, or lower for certain rental arrangements. In contrast, Lyft’s deductible is generally $2,500. Lyft also commonly offers first-party uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage with no deductible during active trips. However, coverage details for both companies can vary significantly by state.

Lyft accidents in Houston can involve multiple liability, and determining fault often requires a close look at the driver’s app status at the moment of the crash. The following parties may share responsibility in a Lyft accident claim:

  • The Lyft driver
  • Lyft’s corporate insurance carrier
  • Other at-fault drivers involved in the collision
  • Vehicle maintenance providers
  • Third-party companies that are responsible for road conditions

When multiple insurers are involved, each one typically tries to shift the financial burden onto the others. Our Houston rideshare accident lawyers understand how these policies interact and can pursue the full compensation you need from the proper sources.

Houston Waymo Accident Lawyer

Waymo operates autonomous vehicles in Houston. Accidents involving these driverless cars raise legal questions that traditional car crash cases do not address. When there is no human driver behind the wheel, liability may fall on multiple parties depending on what caused the collision:

  • The autonomous vehicle’s software and sensor systems
  • Waymo as the vehicle operator and technology developer
  • Third-party technology or component manufacturers
  • Other human drivers involved in the crash
  • Road design or maintenance failures

Acting quickly to preserve evidence in a Waymo accident case is critical. Onboard data such as sensor readings, video recordings, and system decision logs must be secured promptly before they are overwritten, deleted, or otherwise lost. Under 49 U.S.C. Section 30118, manufacturers and operators of motor vehicles have obligations related to safety and defect reporting that may be relevant to autonomous vehicle collision cases.

Houston Tesla Robotaxi Accident Lawyer

Tesla has begun operating its robotaxi service, and accidents involving Tesla’s autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles raise unique legal issues. When a Tesla operating in self-driving mode causes a crash, liability shifts from driver error to potential defects in the vehicle’s software, sensors, or hardware.

Product liability law may apply, holding Tesla responsible for design or manufacturing defects that contributed to the collision. Investigating these cases requires obtaining vehicle data logs, Autopilot or Full Self-Driving engagement records, and software version information.

A study based on Tesla’s own data from its Austin robotaxi operations found that the crash rate for Tesla robotaxis was roughly three times that of human drivers, even with a safety monitor in the vehicle. These findings underscore the importance of preserving all available technical evidence as early as possible.

Who Can File a Houston, TX, Rideshare Accident Claim?

Texas law allows several categories of people to pursue injury claims after a rideshare accident. Your right to file depends on how you were involved in the collision:

  • Passengers
  • Rideshare drivers
  • Other motorists and passengers
  • Pedestrians
  • Cyclists
  • Third parties with property damage

Anyone injured by negligence or who lost a loved one due to negligence involving a rideshare vehicle can bring a claim.

Common Causes of Houston Rideshare Accidents

Rideshare accidents in Houston often result from the unique pressures and distractions that come with driving for a platform-based service. The following causes appear frequently in the claims we handle:

  • Distracted driving from GPS navigation and in-app notifications
  • Driver fatigue from working long hours across multiple platforms
  • Speeding to complete trips quickly and maximize earnings
  • Unsafe pickups and drop-offs in congested or restricted areas
  • Autonomous system errors in self-driving rideshare vehicles

Injuries Commonly Experienced After Rideshare Accidents in Houston

Rideshare accidents can cause serious physical harm, especially when they involve high-speed collisions or larger vehicles. The following injuries are among the most common in the claims we handle:

  • Head and brain injuries
  • Neck and back injuries
  • Broken bones
  • Internal injuries
  • Disability
  • Wrongful death

What Compensation is Available After a Houston Rideshare Incident Resulting in Injury?

Texas law allows rideshare accident victims to seek compensation that reflects the full scope of their injuries and losses. Injury victims commonly pursue the following types of economic and non-economic damages:

  • Medical expenses
  • Future healthcare costs
  • Lost wages and employment benefits
  • Diminished earning capacity
  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish and trauma
  • Property damage
  • Wrongful death damages when applicable

A Houston Rideshare Accident Lawyer Can Help

How Goldenzweig Law Group Handles Houston Rideshare Accident Claims

Rideshare accident claims require a targeted approach that accounts for the unique insurance and liability issues these cases involve. We handle every phase of the process from the initial investigation through resolution:

  • Determining which insurance policy applies based on the driver’s app status
  • Preserving app data, ride logs, and vehicle records before they are lost
  • Dealing with corporate insurers for Uber, Lyft, Waymo, and Tesla
  • Filing claims and pursuing litigation in Harris County when necessary

We Offer Related Legal Help After a Rideshare Accident

If your accident involved specific circumstances, the following resources from Goldenzweig Law Group may also be helpful:

Who May Be Liable for My Injuries?

Crash responsibility can fall on one or many parties. The rideshare driver is commonly at fault, but another negligent motorist, a defective parts manufacturer, or a careless road contractor may share blame. Uber or Lyft may also face exposure if they ignored safety red flags during driver screening.

How Rideshare Insurance Works in Texas

Texas divides coverage into three tiers:

  • App Off: Only the driver’s personal policy applies (minimum $30 k/$60 k bodily injury, $25 k property).
  • App On, Waiting: Uber/Lyft provide up to $50 k per person / $100 k per crash plus $25 k property damage.
  • Passenger Onboard or Ride Accepted: A commercial policy of $1 million in liability and UM/UIM kicks in.

Houston Hotspots for Uber and Lyft Crashes

Downtown, Midtown, and the Medical Center bustle with late-night pick-ups. High-speed wrecks often strike on I-10, I-45, US-59/I-69, Beltway 8, and the West Loop (I-610). Airports (IAH, Hobby) and venues like NRG Stadium draw dense rideshare traffic.

Rideshare Accident Scenarios

  • Rear-end or T-bone impacts when drivers rush to the next fare.
  • In-app distraction collisions caused by looking at navigation or ride requests.
  • Passenger injuries during sudden stops or careless drop-offs.
  • Pedestrian and cyclist strikes in busy entertainment districts.
  • Multi-vehicle pile-ups when congested interchanges leave no escape route.

Recognizing your crash type guides evidence collection and expert selection.

Can I Sue Uber or Lyft Directly?

Uber and Lyft label drivers as independent contractors, but their $1 million policies still apply when a ride is active. Lawsuits typically name the driver and any other negligent party; the rideshare insurer then steps in to pay the judgment or settlement.

Strategic pleading ensures the deepest pocket covers your losses, even without naming the corporation outright.

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?

Texas grants two years from the crash date to file an injury suit. Miss the deadline, and the court will dismiss your case.

Early legal action preserves black-box data, witness memories, and financial records vital to proving damages.

Why Hire a Houston Rideshare Accident Attorney?

A seasoned advocate levels the playing field. Stephen Goldenzweig investigates liability, navigates Texas House Bill 1733 insurance tiers, and negotiates aggressively so you do not accept a lowball offer. If insurers refuse to treat you fairly, we prepare for trial and present a compelling story to the jury.

Studies show represented claimants recover significantly more than those who face insurers alone.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do I owe legal fees up front?

No. We advance all costs and collect nothing unless we recover for you.

What if the rideshare driver had no passengers?

Coverage still exists, though at lower limits. We track the app’s status to unlock the proper tier.

Can I recover if I was partly at fault?

Yes, as long as you are less than 51 % responsible under Texas’s modified comparative fault rule.

Will my case settle or go to court?

Most resolve through negotiation, but we prepare every file as if trial is inevitable, which often drives higher offers.

Testimonials

“If you’re looking for a great attorney with experience please don’t hesitate to call. These attorneys know what they’re doing. I was involved in an accident, where the other driver rear ended me on 610. Initially, the insurance did not want to accept responsibility but after I hired this firm, they immediately fought for me and they accepted liability. After my treatment, my case settled and I am very pleased with my settlement. Call them! You won’t regret it” – Rosalinda D.

Ready for a Free Consultation?

Serving Houstonians in and around the Greater Houston Area:

  • Downtown Houston
  • Midtown
  • The Heights
  • Galleria
  • Medical Center

Speak With a Houston Rideshare Accident Lawyer at Goldenzweig Law Group

If you were injured in a rideshare accident, do not wait to get legal help. Rideshare companies and their insurers want to protect themselves, and anything you sign or say early on can limit your ability to recover full compensation. Reach out to Goldenzweig Law Group today to schedule a free consultation as soon as possible.