Although rideshare services have existed for more than ten years, the laws surrounding accidents are relatively new. Accident claims are complicated, leaving some injured victims unsure about what to do next. You have rights if you sustained injuries as a passenger in an Uber or Lyft vehicle or were struck by a rideshare driver while operating your own car. You don’t need to figure out the complicated claims process alone. Contact a Conyers Uber and Lyft accident lawyer at MG Law today.
When you hire MG Law to represent you, we will handle your claim’s complicated legal aspects so you can concentrate on your recovery. We have years of experience assisting injured victims fight for the compensation they deserve. You don’t have to handle this alone; MG Law stands ready to help.
What to Do Following a Rideshare Accident?
If you are injured, contact the police. You want a formal report documenting the accident and your injuries. You must report any accident involving injuries to the police. You do not want to delay as it can hurt your case down the line.
What to do next will vary based on the severity of your injuries. If you can, write down information on all involved vehicles, including make and model, license place, driver information, insurance, etc. You want as much information as possible. Next, safely take photos of the vehicle damage and the surrounding scene. Be sure to capture the lighting and weather conditions. Did anyone stop as a witness? You’ll want to get their contact information as well.
Rideshare drivers must contact Uber or Lyft to report the accident. Be cautious when someone from the driver’s insurance company or the rideshare company calls you about the accident. They will ask you to provide a recorded statement, which you should not do without first speaking to a rideshare injury attorney.
What Are the Causes of Lyft and Uber Accidents?
Accidents involving rideshare vehicles are no different than other types of accidents. Any number of actions can lead to a collision, including:
- Distracting driving,
- Violating traffic laws,
- Drinking and driving,
- Driving fatigued, and
- Driving recklessly.
What’s important is identifying who is at fault and legally responsible for your injuries and other damages. Before receiving any compensation after a rideshare accident, you must prove liability. With rideshare accidents, the added complication is determining whose insurance will reimburse you—the rideshare driver’s personal auto policy or the rideshare company’s policy?
What Are Georgia Laws Surrounding Rideshare Drivers?
Uber and Lyft must carry liability insurance, but their coverage applies only in certain situations. But while rideshare companies carry significant insurance policies in the event of an accident, their policies aren’t necessary first in line to pay for your injuries. Under many conditions, the driver’s own insurance is primary. And even though drivers must have insurance, rideshare companies don’t diligently verify coverage. That means you might find yourself in a situation where the rideshare driver’s insurance should be primary, but they are uninsured.
Determining Who Is Responsible for Your Injuries
Identifying who should be reimbursing you for your injuries requires looking at the facts of your case. Here are several different rideshare accident scenarios and who might be responsible for your injury claim.
The passenger in an Uber or Lyft
If you’re the passenger in a rideshare vehicle, you likely do not have fault for the accident. If the rideshare driver caused the collision, you will pursue a claim through Uber’s or Lyft’s liability coverage. If the other driver is at fault, you will look to that driver’s insurance as the first source of recovery.
Rideshare Driver Hit Your Vehicle
When a rideshare driver crashes into you, you might be pursuing a claim through their insurance or the rideshare company. It all depends on the status of the driver’s app at the time of the collision. If their rideshare app was off, then their personal insurance is primary. Uber or Lyft might pay if the driver’s insurance doesn’t step up, provided the driver’s app was on, and they were waiting for a fare.
When a rideshare driver is en route to pick up a passenger or has a pre-arranged fare in the vehicle, then you would present a claim through Uber or Lyft.
You are a Rideshare Driver
The process may seem confusing if you are a driver for Uber or Lyft and someone else hits your car. If your app was off, then any rideshare insurance won’t pay for any damage or injuries you cause to another party because you’re considered “off the clock.”
When your app is on, rideshare company coverage should kick in, up to a lower limit, typically $50,000 injury per person or $100,000 for all injuries in one accident and $25,000 in property damage.
Rideshare drivers who have a passenger or are on their way to pick up a passenger have much higher limits, typically $1,000,000. That covers any damage or injuries you cause. But what if the other driver is at fault? You would need to pursue a claim through their carrier for your own injuries. Suppose that driver doesn’t have enough insurance to pay for everyone’s injuries or they are uninsured. In that case, the rideshare policy will likely cover you and any passenger in the rideshare vehicle.
What Compensation Should I Expect?
Compensation in a rideshare accident varies based on multiple factors, including your damages. In general, potential damages that you could receive compensation for include:
- Medical expenses,
- Future medical costs,
- Lost wages,
- Future loss of earning capacity,
- Property damage, and
- Pain and suffering.
Your Conyers Uber and Lyft attorney will explain what your case is potentially worth based on your damages, liability, and available insurance coverage. Your potential settlement also depends on the strength of your evidence. You may have done nothing to cause your injuries, but if you cannot prove that, you won’t prevail in a liability and damages argument.
Contact a Conyers Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer
Hiring a skilled Conyers Uber and Lyft accident attorney is crucial. You need an attorney with rideshare case experience—a legal advocate not afraid to stand up to rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft. Contact MG Law today if you sustained injuries in an accident involving a rideshare vehicle. Let our rideshare injury lawyer review your case and help you decide the best course of action and how best to maximize your potential settlement.