Ridesharing services like Lyft and Uber became more mainstream modes of transportation for several people in recent years. Users view ridesharing as a convenient and cost-effective thanks to get around.
Most people who use Uber and Lyft also believe that it’s a comparatively safe thanks to travel. Early safety concerns focused on potential risks posed by strangers sharing a vehicle. Despite some reports of violence – both by drivers and passengers – perhaps the larger safety issue is one that’s common to everyone on the road: car accidents. If you or a beloved are involved during a car accident with or as a passenger of an Uber or Lyft vehicle you ought to contact an experienced car accident attorney.
What Makes Ridesharing Accidents Unique Among Car Accident Cases?
Ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft operate much differently from traditional taxi cabs or car services:
• Individuals use their own vehicles to supply transportation to riders who hail them through the ridesharing service’s online app.
• Drivers typically don’t have commercial driver’s licenses or their own commercial auto insurance as would be required for cabbies and other professional drivers.
The ridesharing companies maintain that their role is just to match drivers with riders in order that they can share a visit . They maintain that the drivers aren’t their employees. Some municipalities have contended that they really function more sort of a traditional taxi or limousine service.
Uber and Lyft do take steps to screen drivers who offer rides through the app, including criminal background checks and records of any prior accidents or traffic infractions (speeding tickets, DUI, etc.).
What Happens If i’m in an Accident as an Uber Passenger?
Uber provides commercial coverage that applies from the time an Uber driver accepts a call until the time the rider is dropped off at their destination. This insurance typically features a $1 million policy limit – significantly above what’s available from most individuals’ auto coverage.
• If you’re injured during a single-vehicle accident involving only the Uber vehicle, or if you’re injured in an accident that was the Uber driver’s fault, the Uber coverage should be available to buy your medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages and other losses. you’d generally not be ready to seek compensation from the driver’s personal auto policy, though there are some legal arguments that coverage might be available.
• If the crash was caused by another driver’s negligence, you ought to be ready to recover compensation from that at-fault driver within the same way you’d if you were a passenger during a friend or family member’s car, for instance .
What Happens If My Lyft Driver Gets Into an Accident?
Accidents involving Lyft drivers are handled very similar to Uber accidents. Lyft also provides coverage to its drivers while they’re on the way to select up a rider and while the driving force is transporting the rider to their destination.
This insurance would apply during a single-vehicle accident involving a Lyft driver, also as a multi-vehicle crash caused by a negligent Lyft driver.
What If I’m a Driver Hit by a Ridesharing Vehicle?
Even if you’ve got never taken a ride with Lyft or Uber, you’ll still end up during a situation where you want to affect the problems raised by coverage for ridesharing services. With numerous Uber and Lyft drivers on the road lately , there’s a big risk of being involved during a crash with one among them.
Several factors about your crash could affect your entitlement to compensation and therefore the source of that compensation:
• If the Uber or Lyft driver was on the way to select up a rider or was transporting a rider at the time of the crash, the ridesharing service’s insurance would inherit play. If the ridesharing driver was guilty for the crash, you’ll be ready to recover compensation from Uber or Lyft’s commercial coverage.
• As in any accident, if you were guilty for the crash, you’d need to address your own policy for coverage – and therefore the individuals within the ridesharing vehicle would likely pursue claims against your insurance.
• If the Uber or Lyft driver was driving without a fare (for example, awaiting a hail, running an errand, driving to a well-liked area in hopes of getting a hail), the ridesharing service’s commercial policy would likely not apply. If the Uber or Lyft driver was liable for the crash that injured you, you’d presumably got to pursue compensation from the driver’s private auto policy.
In any event, you ought to notify the ridesharing service that you simply were involved during a crash with one among their drivers, and ask the police to incorporate this information on the accident report.
Get Help From a Ridesharing Accident Lawyer
One thing is clear: crashes involving Lyft, Uber or other ridesharing services have A level of complexity that goes beyond the standard crash. That’s why it’s important to figure with an experienced car accident attorney who has the talents and resources to research and pursue compensation during a complicated scenario.
Call our law offices today at any of our convenient locations and get a free consultation.
Arlington (817) 522-4451
Dallas (972) 362-6848
Fort Worth (817) 764-1375
Plano (972) 354-4602
Cedar Hill (972) 338-9427
McKinney (469) 522-3688
Lewisville (972) 354-4605
Frisco (972) 725-7681
Grapevine (817) 835-8677
Irving (972) 354-4610
Keller (817) 204-0904
Garland (214) 572-2251
Denton (940) 222-4060
Addison (972) 564-8108
You can also contact us online by using our quick contact form.
