Bridgeport Lyft Accident Lawyer

Get a Free Case Review

SERIOUS ATTORNEYS FOR SERIOUS INJURIES

Practice Areas

FREE CONSULTATION
five-stars-BBGgold

Chandler Ross is the best hands down! You can not go wrong with these attorneys!

— Tracy P.

Getting hurt in a Lyft accident in Bridgeport, Texas, can turn your life upside down fast. Medical bills pile up, you miss work, and Lyft’s insurance company is already working to limit what it pays you. You deserve real answers and a legal team that fights back. At Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys, we represent injured people in Bridgeport and throughout Wise County, and we want to help you understand your rights after a rideshare crash.

Table of Contents

How Texas Law Governs Lyft Accidents in Bridgeport

Lyft is classified as a Transportation Network Company (TNC) under Texas law. A Transportation Network Company is a company that allows a passenger to arrange a ride through a digital network. That classification matters a great deal when you are injured, because it determines which insurance policy applies and who bears legal responsibility for your losses.

Under Texas Insurance Code Chapter 1954, a transportation network company driver or the TNC itself must maintain primary automobile insurance that covers the driver while logged on to the digital network and while engaged in a prearranged ride. This requirement creates a layered insurance system that can be confusing for accident victims to sort out on their own.

The coverage that applies to your claim depends on what the Lyft driver was doing at the exact moment of the crash. Transportation network companies provide comprehensive commercial coverage for drivers, including $1 million in primary commercial liability insurance during Periods 2 and 3, when a driver has accepted a ride request or is transporting a passenger. If the driver was simply waiting for a ride request, the coverage is much lower. Mandatory insurance coverages required when drivers are between rides include $50,000 for bodily injury to or death of each person in an incident, $100,000 for bodily injury to or death per incident, and $25,000 for damage to or destruction of property of others.

Understanding which coverage period applies is one of the first things our team investigates after a Bridgeport Lyft crash. The difference between Period 1 and Period 2 or 3 can mean hundreds of thousands of dollars in available coverage. If you were a passenger, a pedestrian near Highway 380, or another driver on FM 2952 when the crash happened, the coverage period directly affects your claim.

Who Can Be Held Liable After a Bridgeport Lyft Crash

Liability in a Lyft accident rarely falls on just one party. Identifying every responsible party is critical to recovering full compensation for your injuries.

Under Texas Occupations Code Section 2402.114, a TNC driver is considered an independent contractor if the company does not prescribe the hours the driver is required to be logged into the digital network, does not impose restrictions on the driver’s ability to use other TNCs’ digital networks, does not limit the territory the driver may provide rides, and does not restrict the driver from engaging in another occupation or business. Because Lyft classifies its drivers as independent contractors rather than employees, the company often tries to distance itself from driver negligence. However, that does not mean Lyft escapes all responsibility.

The Lyft driver can be held personally liable if their negligence caused the crash. Common examples include distracted driving while watching the app on Chestnut Street, speeding through Bridgeport’s downtown area near the historic Wise County Courthouse, or driving while fatigued after hours of back-to-back rides. A third-party driver who caused the collision may also share or carry full liability.

In some cases, multiple parties share fault. Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule. Under the 51% rule codified in the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, you can recover damages only if you are less than 51% responsible for your injury, and your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. This is why it is important to have personal injury lawyers in your corner who will investigate every angle of the crash and protect your share of fault from being inflated by insurance adjusters.

Vehicle defects, poor road conditions on US-380, or even negligent TNC oversight can also contribute to a crash. Our team examines all potential sources of liability before building your claim.

What Damages You Can Recover After a Lyft Accident in Bridgeport

Texas law allows injured Lyft accident victims to pursue compensation for both economic and non-economic losses. Economic damages are the measurable financial losses you have already suffered or will suffer in the future. Non-economic damages cover the human cost of your injuries.

Economic damages in a Lyft accident claim typically include emergency room costs, surgery, physical therapy, prescription medications, follow-up care, lost wages while you recovered, and reduced earning capacity if your injuries are permanent. If you were treated at a hospital in the Decatur or Bridgeport area after your crash, those records become key evidence in calculating your full economic loss.

Non-economic damages include physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and disfigurement. Texas does not cap non-economic damages in personal injury cases outside of medical malpractice, which means a jury in Wise County can award a full and fair amount based on the facts of your case.

In cases involving catastrophic harm, such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, or severe burns, the damages can be life-altering and substantial. The same is true when a Lyft crash results in a wrongful death, where surviving family members may pursue compensation for funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship. Every case is different, and past results in other matters do not guarantee the same outcome in yours. What we can guarantee is that we will work to pursue every dollar of compensation the law allows for your specific situation.

The Two-Year Deadline Texas Sets for Filing a Lyft Injury Claim

Time is not on your side after a Lyft accident. Texas law sets a firm deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit, and missing it almost always means losing your right to compensation entirely.

Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, a person must bring suit for personal injury not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues. The clock starts running on the date of your accident. This two-year period is not just a suggestion. A court will almost certainly dismiss your case if you do not file your lawsuit within this window.

There are limited exceptions to this deadline. If the injured person is a minor, meaning they are younger than 18 when the injury occurs, the two-year statute of limitations clock does not begin until their 18th birthday, effectively giving them until their 20th birthday to file. If the injured person is under a legal disability at the time the cause of action accrues, the time of the disability is not included in the limitations period, as covered under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.001.

Waiting also hurts your case practically. Surveillance footage from intersections near Bridgeport City Park gets overwritten. Witnesses forget details. Lyft’s own ride data, including GPS records and app logs, can become harder to obtain. The sooner you contact Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys after your crash, the better positioned you are to preserve the evidence that proves your case. Call us at (940) 800-2500 as soon as possible after your accident.

Steps to Take After a Lyft Accident in Bridgeport, Texas

What you do in the hours and days after a Lyft crash can significantly affect the strength of your claim. Taking the right steps protects your health and your legal rights at the same time.

First, call 911 immediately. A police report from the Bridgeport Police Department or the Wise County Sheriff’s Office creates an official record of the crash. That report documents the location, involved parties, and initial findings about fault. Never skip this step, even if the crash seems minor at first.

Second, seek medical attention right away, even if you feel okay. Some injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and internal bleeding, do not show obvious symptoms immediately. A gap between the crash and your first medical visit gives insurance companies a reason to argue your injuries were not caused by the accident.

Third, document everything you can at the scene. Take photos of vehicle damage, road conditions, traffic signs, and any visible injuries. If you were a Lyft passenger, take a screenshot of your ride confirmation and driver information from the app before closing it.

Fourth, do not give recorded statements to Lyft’s insurance carrier without speaking to an attorney first. Insurance adjusters are trained to ask questions that can minimize or shift blame for your injuries. TNCs are required to keep all individual ride records for five years and driver records for at least five years after the date the driver ceases to be authorized as a driver for the TNC, which means that data exists and can be used in your favor. Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys knows how to request and use that evidence effectively. Call (940) 800-2500 today for a free consultation.

FAQs About Bridgeport Lyft Accident Lawyers

Does Lyft’s $1 million insurance policy automatically pay my claim?

No. The $1 million commercial liability policy that Lyft maintains under Texas Insurance Code Chapter 1954 is available when a driver has accepted a ride or is actively transporting a passenger, but Lyft’s insurer does not simply write a check. You must prove negligence, establish the driver’s app status at the time of the crash, and document your damages. Insurance companies routinely dispute liability and undervalue claims. An attorney can handle all negotiations on your behalf and push back against lowball offers.

Can I file a claim if I was a pedestrian or another driver hit by a Lyft vehicle?

Yes. You do not have to be a Lyft passenger to file a claim. If a Lyft driver’s negligence caused a crash that injured you as a pedestrian near Bridgeport’s town square, as a cyclist, or as the driver of another vehicle on US-380, you have the same right to pursue compensation as any other accident victim. The key is identifying which coverage period the driver was in at the time of the crash, which determines which insurance policy applies to your claim.

What if the Lyft driver was uninsured or their personal policy denied the claim?

This is a common scenario. Many personal auto insurance policies exclude coverage for commercial driving activity. When a driver’s personal insurer denies a claim, Lyft’s commercial policy is designed to step in. Texas Insurance Code Chapter 1954 requires that TNC insurance cover the driver while logged into the digital network, which closes many of these gaps. An attorney can identify all available coverage sources, including uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, to maximize your recovery.

How long does a Lyft accident claim take to resolve in Texas?

The timeline varies depending on the severity of your injuries, the clarity of liability, and whether Lyft’s insurer cooperates or disputes your claim. Some cases settle within a few months. Others involving serious injuries, disputed fault, or multiple parties can take a year or longer. Reaching maximum medical improvement before settling is important because it ensures you are not leaving future medical costs on the table. Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys works to resolve cases efficiently while ensuring you receive full and fair compensation.

Do I have to pay upfront to hire Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys for a Lyft accident case?

No. Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. There are no upfront costs and no hourly charges. You can call us at (940) 800-2500 for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your Bridgeport Lyft accident case and learn what your options are under Texas law.

Content prepared by Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys, principal office located in Denton, Texas. This page is advertising material. Past results in other matters do not guarantee or predict the same outcome in your case, as results depend on the unique facts and law applicable to each matter. This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

More Resources for Bridgeport, TX