Any car accident’s financial, physical, and emotional consequences can be devastating, especially for anyone not at fault.
When the at-fault party is an Uber or Lyft driver, seeking compensation for damages is often more complex.
You still need to talk to an insurance company, but whose insurance you should contact depends on certain factors.
Should the driver’s personal insurance cover your damages? Should the ridesharing company’s insurance pay?
If you suffered an injury in a rideshare accident, you may benefit from reaching out to a rideshare accident attorney to ask specific questions about your accident and the laws that apply.
continue reading...
Don’t fight alone. Start your free case review here and we’ll get back to you within 2 hours.
Serious auto accidents typically come with significant financial damages. Additionally, you often have to manage those financial repercussions while trying to get through the physical and emotional strain of recovering from your injuries. You can take on the case without legal representation, but the burden can be heavy.
If you have not yet decided to hire a rideshare accident attorney, consider the following benefits they have to offer:
A rideshare accident lawyer stands in for you throughout the entire process of your case. They offer a professional presence and work with compassion. As a result, you can rest easier and focus on healing while your attorney handles all the paperwork and keeps in contact with the insurance company. Arguably, the most significant benefit of hiring a personal injury attorney for a car accident is they typically work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing upfront for the services they provide. Instead, they only receive payment when your case concludes in a settlement outside of court or an award provided in court.
If you suffered an injury in a rideshare accident caused by someone else, consider talking to a rideshare accident attorney at Mike Morse Law Firm today. We are dedicated to helping accident victims reach fair compensation for the damages incurred and have the experience to back it up. With a ridesharing accident lawyer at our firm, you have a powerful, winning advocate on your side.
Contact Mike Morse Law Firm today to schedule your free consultation.
Anytime you experience an auto accident, you can take a sequence of actions to protect your right to compensation and get the medical help you need. In the event of a rideshare accident, follow these simple steps:
If collecting photographs and information at the scene was not possible, you can still seek compensation. With the help of a rideshare accident attorney, you will have the help you need to build a case to support your claim.
Whether you are the passenger in a ridesharing vehicle or the driver of the other vehicle, you should not be held responsible for the damages from a car accident caused by another party. As a passenger, you bear no responsibility for the accident, and if you suffer injuries during the ride, you should receive compensation from the ridesharing company’s insurance.
Similarly, if you are the other driver in a car accident with a rideshare vehicle, you would contact the company about filing a claim. However, which insurance pays depends on whether the rideshare driver was on duty at the time of the collision. When the other driver is at fault, the rideshare driver and any injured passengers they have at the time will file claims with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. In a no-fault state, everyone would file claims under their personal injury protection insurance unless the damages are significant enough to warrant a lawsuit.
Rideshare companies typically offer coverage to their drivers under certain circumstances. The amounts depend on the state and the company. Additionally, all rideshare companies stipulate exactly when their insurance coverage takes effect. For example, look at the coverage offered by Lyft and Uber, the two largest ridesharing companies in the U.S.
Lyft and Uber both provide liability coverage for drivers when the app is on. However, the driver’s personal insurance policy applies when the app is off. Additionally, having the app on is different from having a passenger. When the app is on and waiting for a ride request, Lyft and Uber provide the following protection:
When the driver picks up a passenger or is in the process of a ride, they have the following coverage:
These are the basic levels of coverage offered by both companies. However, because states mandate driver insurance requirements, Lyft and Uber provide additional coverage in certain states.
To file a lawsuit and pursue compensation in a personal injury case, you must prove that you suffered damages due to someone else’s negligence. Compensatory damages refer to the losses you incurred from the accident and are further divided into economic and non-economic losses. Additionally, you may receive punitive damages under infrequent circumstances.
Economic damages are the specific losses with tangible evidence. For example, you may receive compensation for the following:
With the help of a ridesharing accident lawyer, you can prove your claim by providing medical bills, receipts, repair estimates, and any other documentation proving these losses.
Non-economic damages are distinguishable from economic damages because they are more subjective. Examples include:
Non-economic damages from a car accident or personal injury case often require a deeper understanding of the law and precedent. A rideshare accident attorney can help you value your case more accurately.
To receive punitive damages, you must prove that the other driver acted with complete disregard for your safety and the safety of other drivers. This may include driving recklessly, speeding excessively, or driving under the influence. The purpose of punitive damages is not to replace your financial losses but to punish the other driver for their behavior.
Although not all regions offer taxis as a form of public transportation, it is important to know the difference in safety between the two options. Studies have suggested that rideshare services are associated with an increase in the number of accidents over the years when compared to taxis.
This could also be a result of the overall increased use of rideshare services today. However, correlation does not necessarily imply causation, and various factors contribute to accidents, including factors beyond the control of rideshare or taxi services.
But ultimately, the dangers that come from rideshare services tend to be more severe than those from taxi vehicles. The graph below displays a side-by-side comparison of some recent statistics when using Taxis and Uber, two common forms of public, auto transportation.
No matter how you’re involved in a rideshare accident, you may benefit from retaining legal representation. These accidents typically present more challenges than those involving private automobiles, sometimes leaving injured victims wondering how they can recover the compensation they deserve.
Whether liable insurance companies attempt to deny your claim or offer unreasonably low settlement amounts, anyone in a Michigan car accident should consult the Mike Morse Law Firm. During your free case evaluation, we will review the facts of your case and tell you how we can assist you.
As with any kind of car crash, many factors can contribute to causing rideshare accidents. The rideshare driver, another vehicle driver, pedestrians or road conditions may all bear a degree of responsibility. Investigations into the cause of rideshare accidents are crucial because they will show why the crash happened and which parties are liable for paying damages.
Because rideshare cars are commercial vehicles while providing services to customers, multiple parties may be liable if they cause an accident, including:
However, rideshare drivers are typically independent contractors instead of employees. This designation can limit whom you can hold responsible for your injuries. You can alleviate the stress of wading through the resulting confusion by hiring an experienced attorney.
Malfunctioning traffic signals, government-owned vehicles and poorly maintained roads cause some rideshare accidents. If a government agency is behind the cause of your accident, your claim becomes more complex.
These claims are subject to strict deadlines, requirements and protocols. Hiring a competent rideshare accident lawyer who understands how to make claims against government agencies can ensure that you don’t lose your right to compensation.
Although ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft provide insurance to their drivers and passengers, the coverage at a given time depends on the driver’s status:
If the driver’s status at the time of an accident isn’t clear or comes into question, determining whose insurance policy is responsible for paying damages becomes challenging.
The more insurance companies involved in accident claims, the more complex these claims may become. In a rideshare accident, multiple insurance companies may be involved, including:
None of these companies wants to pay benefits and will likely argue amongst themselves over which company is ultimately responsible. Your lawyer will work to assign fault and recover compensation.
Most car insurance companies require policyholders to report it if they use their vehicles for commercial purposes, such as ridesharing. If these drivers don’t disclose this information and cause an accident, their insurance carrier may deny valid claims.
Rideshare drivers and passengers, pedestrians and occupants of other vehicles involved in accidents may find themselves in a challenging situation trying to obtain compensation for their damages.
Don’t fight alone. Start your free case review here and we’ll get back to you within 2 hours.
© 2024 Mike Morse Law Firm. All Rights Reserved. | Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Service
Site by Clixsy