In Texas, most rideshare accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no upfront fees to hire a lawyer. The attorney's fee is a percentage of the financial recovery they obtain for you. If you don't get paid, we don't get paid.
These cases are rarely simple. They involve multiple insurance policies, large corporate defendants like Uber or Lyft, and difficult questions about liability that are hard to sort through on your own. You may be dealing with serious injuries while the company responsible has a team of lawyers working to minimize their payout.
The contingency fee arrangement allows you to have an experienced legal team on your side, leveling the playing field without adding to your financial strain. It gives you access to the resources needed to pursue the maximum compensation available under the law.
If you have a question about an accident involving an Uber, Lyft, or another rideshare service, call us for a free consultation. Our team is here to listen and explain your options. Call Cowen | Rodriguez | Peacock at (210) 941-1301.
Key Takeaways for Rideshare Accident Attorney Costs in Texas
- Contingency fees mean no upfront costs. You only pay attorney fees if your case is successfully resolved, which makes professional legal help accessible when you need it most.
- The fee is a percentage of your total recovery. This structure ensures your attorney's goals are aligned with yours—maximizing your settlement or verdict.
- The law firm advances all case expenses. The firm pays for necessary costs like expert witnesses and court filings upfront. The settlement reimburses the law firm, then you receive your final check.
How Does a Contingency Fee Agreement Actually Work?
You need legal representation, but the thought of another bill is stressful. Medical expenses are accumulating, you may be out of work, and watching your savings dwindle creates significant financial pressure. How is it possible to afford a lawyer at a time like this? The contingency fee model was designed to solve this exact problem.
Core Concept: No Upfront Costs, No Fee Unless We Recover Money for You
A contingency fee is a promise: We take on the financial risk of your case. You do not receive a bill from us for our time or work while the case is ongoing. Our payment is entirely contingent on us successfully recovering money for you.
The fee is a pre-agreed-upon percentage of the final settlement or verdict. This percentage is clearly outlined in the agreement you sign at the beginning, so there are no surprises. It’s like partnering with someone who believes in your case so strongly that they are willing to invest their own time and resources to see it through, sharing in the success only at the very end.
What Does the Fee Cover?
This percentage covers the immense amount of work that goes into building a strong claim. It compensates for the lawyers’ time spent on legal research, negotiations, and court appearances. It also covers the work of the legal assistants and the firm’s operational resources dedicated to your case.
What About Case Expenses? The Firm Advances These Costs.
Pursuing a serious injury claim involves costs that quickly add up. At Cowen | Rodriguez | Peacock, we advance these costs on your behalf. You do not pay for them out of pocket.
Common case expenses include:
- Accident reconstruction: Hiring engineers to create a scientific model of how the crash happened, proving fault.
- Medical records: The administrative costs associated with gathering every page of your treatment records from various providers.
- Expert witness fees: Paying doctors to explain your injuries, economists to calculate your lost future earnings, or life-care planners to detail your future medical needs.
- Court filing fees: The official costs required to file a lawsuit with the court.
- Deposition costs: Paying for court reporters and sometimes videographers to officially record sworn testimony from witnesses and defendants.
These expenses are typically reimbursed from the total settlement amount at the conclusion of the case, after the attorney's fee is calculated. We provide a detailed statement so you can see exactly how every dollar is accounted for.
Why Is This the Standard for Rideshare and Commercial Accident Claims?
The contingency fee model is a necessity in cases against large companies. When you are up against a corporation like Uber or Lyft, you need a law firm that matches their resources and resolve. This fee structure makes that possible.
It Aligns Our Goals with Yours
The most important feature of a contingency fee is that our success is tied directly to your success. We are both motivated to secure the best possible outcome. This structure ensures we are partners working toward the same objective: maximizing your financial recovery. We only succeed when you do, which focuses the entire effort on achieving a just result for you and your family.
It Provides the Resources to Challenge Large Corporations
Uber and Lyft are not just tech companies; they are massive transportation entities with sophisticated legal teams and billion-dollar insurance policies. Just like when we handle a case involving an 18-wheeler from Amazon or a FedEx delivery van, we understand that these companies are built to protect their interests. They have protocols and legal strategies designed to reduce what they pay.
A contingency fee allows a firm to commit the necessary financial resources to level the playing field. This includes funding things like digital forensics to analyze rideshare app data, hiring industry-leading experts, and conducting extensive depositions—actions that an individual could not afford to fund on their own.
It Reflects the Complicated Insurance Landscape in Texas
Texas law outlines different insurance requirements for a rideshare driver depending on their status at the time of the crash.
- App Off: If the driver's app is off, their personal auto insurance is the primary coverage.
- App On, Waiting for a Ride: Once the driver logs in, a limited liability policy required by the rideshare company applies. This typically includes at least $50,000 in coverage per injured person and $100,000 per accident.
- Actively Engaged in a Ride: From the moment a ride is accepted until the passenger exits the vehicle, the full $1 million commercial liability policy is in effect.
The insurance company for Uber or Lyft will conduct an investigation to determine which period the driver was in, as this dictates which policy applies. A law firm working on contingency has the resources to conduct its own independent investigation, ensuring the correct, and often much larger, policy is triggered.
Beyond the Percentage: What Else Determines the Financial Outcome of My Case?
The cost of a lawyer is an investment in your recovery. The return on that investment depends on the ability to prove two key elements: who was at fault for the accident and the full extent of your damages.
The Strength of the Evidence
The evidence we gather serves two purposes:
- Proving Fault: We gather police reports, witness statements, traffic camera footage, and data from the rideshare app itself. In Texas, the legal concept of modified comparative fault is used. Simply put, your financial recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found to be more than 50% at fault, you are barred from recovering anything. The insurance company will look for any reason to place blame on you; our job is to build a case that clearly shows the other party's responsibility.
- Proving Damages: This is more than just adding up your current medical bills. A comprehensive damages claim includes:
- Future Medical Costs: What surgeries, therapies, or medications will you need down the road?
- Lost Earning Capacity: How has this injury rewritten your ability to earn a living, both now and for the rest of your career?
- Pain and Suffering: The physical pain and emotional distress caused by the accident and your injuries.
- Property Damage: The cost to repair or replace your vehicle if you were hit by the rideshare driver.
The Cost of Not Hiring an Attorney
The "cost" of hiring a rideshare accident attorney should also be weighed against the potential cost of not having one. Without representation, you are negotiating directly with a professional claims adjuster whose performance is measured by their ability to resolve claims for the lowest amount possible.
They might make a quick, low offer before the full extent of your injuries is known, hoping you'll accept it out of financial pressure. You might unknowingly sign away your rights to compensation for future medical needs or lost wages, leaving you with uncovered expenses years later. The true "cost" of going it alone is leaving a significant amount of money on the table that you are legally entitled to receive.
How Does Your Firm's Experience with Trucking Companies Help My Rideshare Case?
A corporate defendant is a corporate defendant. Whether it's a UPS big rig that caused a highway pileup or a Toyota Camry with an Uber sticker that ran a red light, the case is ultimately against a large, well-funded company. These companies, and their massive insurance carriers, prioritize their bottom line.
Our firm has years of experience handling involved commercial vehicle cases. We understand the tactics these companies use because we've seen them time and again. This deep experience directly benefits our clients in rideshare accident cases.
Examples of Corporate Tactics
Companies use sophisticated strategies to minimize their liability. We are prepared for them. Here’s what we commonly see:
- Driver Classification: Trying to classify their drivers as independent contractors to argue they are not responsible for the driver's negligence.
- Delay and Frustrate: Using teams of lawyers to file complicated motions and drag out the process, hoping you will get frustrated as bills pile up and accept a low offer.
- Biased Investigations: Relying on their own internal investigations that are designed to find evidence that favors their driver and the company.
We Know How to Uncover Corporate Negligence
In a truck accident case, we look beyond the driver to the company itself. We investigate hiring practices, training protocols, and maintenance records. We apply the same deep-dive approach to rideshare cases. Was the driver properly vetted? Did they have a history of reckless driving that the company should have known about? Was there a glitch in the app that contributed to the crash?
We Prepare Every Case for Trial
Companies like Uber, Lyft, Amazon, and FedEx respect strength. They are more likely to offer a fair settlement to a law firm with a proven record of taking cases to court and winning. Our reputation for being trial-ready gives our clients leverage during negotiations. It sends a clear message to the other side that we will not back down from pursuing the full value of a claim.
What Questions Should I Ask a Lawyer About Fees During a Consultation?
A free consultation is a two-way conversation. It’s your chance to learn about the firm and determine if it's the right fit for you. You should feel empowered to ask direct questions about the financial aspects of your case.
- Question 1: What is your contingency fee percentage?
The firm you speak with should be completely transparent about their fee structure. You should have a clear understanding of the percentage before signing any agreement. - Question 2: Does the percentage change if the case goes to trial?
Some firms have a tiered fee structure where the percentage increases if a lawsuit has to be filed or the case proceeds to a full trial. - Question 3: How are case expenses handled?
As mentioned earlier, our firm advances these costs. You should confirm this is the policy and ask how these expenses are tracked and reported to you throughout the case. - Question 4: Who is responsible for expenses if the case is lost?
For some firms, if there is no recovery, you owe them nothing for fees or the expenses they advanced. You should always clarify this point with any attorney you consider hiring. - Question 5: Can you provide me with a written copy of the fee agreement to review?
Never move forward with a firm that is not willing to put everything in writing. A clear, detailed agreement protects both you and the attorney and ensures everyone is on the same page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hiring a Texas Rideshare Accident Attorney
Are settlement funds taxed in Texas?
Generally, compensation for physical injuries and medical expenses is not considered taxable income by the IRS. However, portions of a settlement for lost wages or punitive damages might be taxable. This is a tricky area, and we will guide you on the specifics of your situation.
Can I still hire a lawyer if I was a passenger in the Uber or Lyft?
Yes. As a passenger, you are almost never at fault for an accident. You have a strong claim for compensation, and we help you file against the at-fault driver's insurance, which could be your rideshare driver, another driver, or both.
How long do I have to file a rideshare accident lawsuit in Texas?
In Texas, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is two years from the date of the accident. It is important to act well before this deadline expires to preserve evidence and build the strongest possible case.
What if the rideshare driver who hit me was also making a delivery for a service like Uber Eats?
This adds another layer of difficulty, potentially involving commercial delivery insurance policies in addition to rideshare coverage. Our firm’s experience with delivery vehicle accidents, such as those involving FedEx or UPS, is directly relevant here. We investigate all potential sources of coverage to maximize your recovery.
What is the first thing I should do after a rideshare accident?
Your first priority is safety and health. Move to a safe location if you can, call 911 to report the crash and request medical assistance, and accept emergency medical care. After seeking medical attention, use your phone to take photos of the accident scene, vehicle damage, and any visible injuries. If possible, get the contact information of any witnesses.
Finally, report the accident in the rideshare app and contact an attorney before giving a recorded statement to any insurance company.
What if the at-fault driver's insurance company contacts me with a settlement offer?
You should not accept an offer or sign any documents from an insurance company without first consulting an attorney. Initial offers are often far less than the true value of your claim and may not account for future medical needs, lost earning capacity, or your full pain and suffering.
Accepting an early offer typically requires you to sign away your right to pursue any further compensation for your injuries.
Does my own auto insurance policy cover me in a rideshare accident?
It might. If you have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on your own auto policy, it could apply, especially if the at-fault driver's insurance cannot cover all of your damages.
An experienced attorney can review all available policies, including your own, to identify every possible source of recovery.
Focus on Your Recovery, Not on the Bills
You didn’t ask for this to happen, and you shouldn't have to worry about how to afford legal help while you’re trying to heal. The contingency fee model was designed for situations just like this—it provides access to justice for everyone, regardless of their financial situation.
We manage difficult accident cases for families across Texas. We understand the challenges you face after a serious crash. The sooner we begin investigating your accident and preserving evidence, the stronger your case will be.
Call us today for a free, no-obligation case review at (210) 941-1301.