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The convenience of ridesharing apps is one of the main reasons why they’re so popular, but it’s always important to remember the risks you take when you get in a vehicle with a driver that you don’t know.
Most ridesharing drivers do their due diligence to provide for your care and safety while transporting you from point A to point B, but accidents can and do happen while on ridesharing trips. If you get involved in an Uber or Lyft accident, then your ability to file a claim afterward will be more complicated than in a regular accident situation. Despite that, you should still be able to file for full compensation for your losses since someone else was at fault for the accident.
Learn more about how to navigate rideshare accidents and how Kermani LLP law firm can help below.
Navigating Uber and Lyft Car Accidents: Policies, Liability Insurance, and Common Scenarios
Since the emergence of ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft, both the number of car accidents and the number of traffic-related fatalities have increased. Unfortunately, distracted driving continues to cause a huge percentage of traffic accidents, and that includes both regular accidents and ridesharing ones.
When your accident happens during a rideshare exchange, then your situation will be more complex. In most cases, it’s best to talk about what happened with either a Lyft case lawyer or an Uber crash lawyer depending on what company facilitated your ride when the accident happened. Both companies have different contractual agreements with their independent contractors who drive for them. Learn more about these ridesharing policies and how they could impact your ability to seek out compensation below.
Important Uber and Lyft Policies
Under the legal doctrine of vicarious liability, an employer can be held legally responsible for the negligence of an on-duty employee. Uber and Lyft can’t be held responsible under the legal doctrine of vicarious liability for their drivers, though, because they only hire independent contractors. This classification means that their drivers are not employees but instead responsible for maintaining their own insurance policies.
Since Uber and Lyft have these policies in place, it’s important to talk to an Uber accident lawyer or a Lyft rideshare accident lawyer who has extensive experience analyzing these ridesharing contracts and understands the different policies between the two companies.
Liability in Uber and Lyft Crashes: Who Pays?
So, who pays for the damages associated with a ridesharing accident? In general, it depends. If another driver caused the accident, then your claim will work much like a traditional car accident claim. You’ll seek out coverage from the responsible driver’s insurance policy.
If the Uber or Lyft driver caused the crash, then things can get pretty complicated. First, you’ll need to seek out coverage under the Uber or Lyft driver’s personal car insurance policy. This step can be very complicated, though, especially if your driver wasn’t carrying the proper insurance for ridesharing. If that’s the case, then their insurer might deny your claim. Even if the driver did have the right policies in place, their insurer might cap your losses based on the limits of the driver’s policy.
If you seek out this type of recourse and don’t receive enough compensation to cover your losses, then your next step should be to contact an Uber rideshare accident attorney or a Lyft accident attorney. It might be possible to get compensation from Uber or Lyft’s company insurance policies once you’ve exhausted your other options.
Liability Scenarios if Your Driver is in a Car Accident
Unfortunately, other drivers, your rideshare driver, and the ridesharing company aren’t the only potentially liable parties depending on what happened in your car accident. For instance, the driver’s vehicle may have experienced a critical component failure as a result of a poor maintenance job or a defective part.
If you believe another party might be liable for your accident, then it’s important to contact an Uber or Lyft injury attorney to help you investigate what happened, find the right evidence, and build up your claim.
Advice for Individuals Injured in an Accident
If you were injured in a ridesharing accident, then you should never make statements like “I’m not hurt”, or “It’s not that bad”. Instead, be mindful about your comments and wait until you’ve had a full physical evaluation before commenting on your well-being. It’s also best not to discuss what happened with any insurance adjusters until you’ve spoken with a lawyer. If possible, then don’t post online about your accident, either.
Immediate Steps After an Uber or Lyft Accident
After an accident, the number one thing you should do at the crash scene is ensure that you get the medical attention you need. This will protect your physical health as well as ensure that your right to any future claim is upheld, too. The second thing you need to do is call the police.
Getting the authorities involved is an important step. The police will officially document what happened, who was involved, and what they believe may have caused the crash.
In the next few days, you’ll want to collect proof of your losses. If you feel like your losses are significant, then your next step should be to contact an attorney. A passenger in Uber accident lawyer will help you determine your next steps.
Understanding Compensation in Rideshare Accidents
A Lyft or Uber accident attorney can help you seek out compensation to cover the economic and non-economic losses you endure. These losses may include expenses like medical bills, lost wages, or future medical costs. It could also include things like emotional distress or costs incurred dealing with new mental conditions like anxiety or PTSD.
Injured in a Rideshare Accident? Advice from Kermani LLP
A passenger in Lyft accident attorney should be compassionate regarding your accident and the losses you’ve endured. Here at Kermani LLP, we have an attorney who has the right qualifications and experience to handle your case. Check out the firm’s past case results and testimonials from clients to ensure they’re a good fit. Finally, schedule a one-on-one meeting with the attorney to make sure they seem like a good fit to represent you. At Kermani LLP, we’re confident that our lawyers exemplify all these qualities and can represent you effectively.
Services We Provide
A Lyft accident lawyer will help inform you regarding your legal options after your crash. Kermani LLP will help you identify the potentially liable parties, build up your case, collect evidence, file the right legal paperwork, negotiate with the other party, handle insurance adjusters, and take your case to court if necessary.
Schedule Your Free Consultation With Our Expert Team Today
Ridesharing accidents can lead to substantial losses. From significant medical bills to lost wages and even emotional distress like PTSD, you deserve to get the financial compensation you need to move forward. In almost every ridesharing accident, there is a party whose negligence caused your crash.
Here at Kermani LLP, our team is prepared to help investigate the specific circumstances of your accident to identify what caused your crash and who might be responsible. From there, we’ll help you compile the evidence you need to build a solid case. When we present it to the responsible party, we’ll fight to negotiate a reasonable settlement that reflects the value of your claim.
If the driver’s insurance is maxed out, then we will pursue the rest of what you need from Uber or Lyft. Are you ready to get started on your case? Schedule a meeting with our firm now to learn more about your legal options for pursuing justice after your recent rideshare accident.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do immediately after being involved in an Uber or Lyft accident?
Immediately after getting in a Lyft or Uber accident, you should make sure that the police come out to document the scene of the accident. Next, get the medical treatment you need to ensure your physical safety. Make sure you keep a record of your medical diagnosis and expenses. If your losses are adding up, then your next step should be to contact a lawyer.
How is the legal process different for accidents involving Uber or Lyft vehicles?
The legal process is a bit more complicated during rideshare accidents because several parties could be liable. What’s more, since the ride was a business transaction, the situation is more complex.
What types of compensation can I seek if I’m involved in an Uber or Lyft accident?
If you’re involved in an Uber or Lyft accident, you can pursue compensation that reimburses you for any financial losses you sustain as a result of your injuries. This compensation could include damages in the form of current or future medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Your settlement award should accurately reflect your losses.
Who is liable in an accident involving an Uber or Lyft vehicle – the driver, the company, or both?
After a Lyft or Uber accident, usually, the driver’s car insurance policy will kick in to cover the losses associated with the accident. If the injured person’s losses exceed the policy’s limits, then the company’s insurance policy would be the next source of recourse.
What is the statute of limitations for filing a claim related to an Uber or Lyft accident?
Uber and Lyft passengers have a two-year period after the accident to seek out a personal injury claim.
How does insurance coverage work in accidents involving Uber or Lyft?
Insurance coverage after a rideshare accident is complicated. First, the rideshare driver’s policy should come into play since you were a passenger in their vehicle. This can be very complicated, though, especially if the driver’s insurance company didn’t know the driver was using the vehicle for business purposes or the driver didn’t have the right insurance. Under these cases, the injured person may need to file with the rideshare company’s insurance policy.
Can I file a claim if I was a passenger in an Uber or Lyft vehicle during the accident?
If you were injured in a rideshare accident, then you can file a claim for compensation for your losses. To determine who to file a claim with, consider contacting an attorney about your specific situation.
What challenges might I face when filing a lawsuit against Uber or Lyft?
Rideshare companies have strong legal teams that will attempt to minimize your claim or deny it altogether. They may try to push liability onto the rideshare driver, even if they don’t have the proper insurance coverage. They might also try to challenge or dismiss the extent of your losses.
How are injuries and damages assessed in accidents involving Uber or Lyft vehicles?
Injuries and damages are assessed after an accident based on the evidence provided in your claim. You can build up your evidence by investigating the accident, getting a copy of the police report, collecting photographs or video footage of the accident, documenting your medical bills, keeping a copy of your medical diagnosis, or even having a medical expert testify on your behalf regarding the severity of your injuries.
What role does a lawyer play in navigating claims involving rideshare companies like Uber or Lyft?
Your lawyer can help you identify your legal options, build up a solid case up front, file your claim, negotiate with the responsible parties, and work to ensure that you get a settlement award that is just and fair.
Every case is unique, so we tailor our approach to meet your specific needs.
