Rideshare Accidents

Of all the car accident-related deaths that occur each year, rideshare accidents are responsible for 3%. That equates to around 987 deaths per year. It’s challenging to determine who’s responsible for an Uber or Lyft accident. However, this must be determined in order for the injured victims to be compensated for their injuries.

The ridesharing company might provide liability coverage, but car accident claims include different coverage levels and multiple insurers. This is especially true if there’s more than one car involved in the accident. 

This guide will discuss who is at fault in rideshare accidents, what to do in an Uber or Lyft accident, and why you should contact a car accident lawyer. 

What’s Ridesharing?

Ridesharing refers to when multiple people use the same car to get to destinations close to one another. The main difference between a taxi and an Uber/Lyft is that you can’t hail an Uber from the sidewalk like you can a taxi. You have to reserve a ride via their mobile app. 

All drivers for Uber and Lyft have to pass a screening process. It primarily includes a background check and vehicle inspection. Drivers also have to carry their auto insurance policy. 

Does Uber and Lyft Provide Insurance for Their Passengers?

Both Lyft and Uber provide a $1 million liability insurance policy. This covers damages for passengers injured in a crash. This coverage might also apply to the occupants of the other cars involved in the crash. Determining liability in a Lyft or Uber accident can be difficult. Their drivers are independent contractors, not employees. 

Depending upon what state the accident occurs, the driver might be required to carry no-fault insurance. Passengers that don’t have this type of insurance coverage could receive benefits from the policy covering the ridesharing vehicle. 

Things can get complicated if the injured person’s medical and other expenses exceed the limits of that insurance policy. The passenger can then explore getting more reimbursement from Uber or Lyft’s liability insurance. 

Uber and Lyft also have various insurance requirements depending upon whether the driver would pick up a customer or drive people when they’re on duty but haven’t accepted the ride request. The liability coverage policy only applies to passenger injuries. In addition, the passenger must be injured either during the ride or while in the process of being retrieved.

More confusion can arise from a variety of different circumstances. That’s why it’s essential to contact a Lyft or Uber attorney to handle your claim immediately. 

Who’s Responsible for the Damages From Rideshare Accidents?

In order to receive compensation, the liable party must be determined if:

• Rideshare accidents occurred in a state that has a fault-based system
• The accident meets the threshold for a no-fault state

For example, if a driver ran a stop sign and hit your Lyft, that driver is responsible. Additionally, some states have proportional liability. Keeping that same scenario in mind, if your Lyft driver was speeding at the time of the crash, both drivers are liable. Also, both are assigned different percentages of liability. Again, ridesharing drivers are not company employees. Therefore, both Uber and Lyft are not responsible for compensating victims of car accidents. 

However, there are some instances where Lyft or Uber are liable. For example, you could sue the company if they didn’t do a background check on one of their drivers and that individual caused an accident. 

Can Anyone Else Be Held Responsible?

Other parties can also be held partially or fully responsible for an accident. Some examples of other liable parties include:

• A restaurant or bar that overserves someone, who then drunk drives and causes a car accident
• A car manufacturing company that makes a faulty vehicle or part
• A trucking company that overworks their drivers, causing exhaustion
• A state, county, or city that doesn’t provide signage warning drivers of different road hazards

A ridesharing accident attorney that has experience in these types of cases will know how to pursue your case.

Are Non-Economic Damages Covered?

The negligent driver is liable for compensating the injured person for intangible losses, including pain and suffering. This could include a driver of another car or a Lyft or Uber driver. If the ridesharing driver is responsible, the injured party can file a claim against Uber or Lyft for non-economic damages sustained by them and their family.

Do I Need an Attorney?

Yes. You need a rideshare attorney to help you when you’ve been injured.

Multiple insurance companies are involved in rideshare accident cases. That causes figuring out who will compensate the injured party challenging.  Additionally, ridesharing companies are fairly new. Most launched less than 10 years ago. 

As a result, the regulations and rules surrounding Uber and Lyft services are everchanging. It’s essential to hire an attorney who is up-to-date and experienced in this area of law. 

Contact Alpha Accident Lawyers to Handle Your Ridesharing Case

It can be challenging to navigate claims for rideshare accidents. You should spend this time focusing on your recovery. Let our team at Alpha Accident Lawyers assist you during this traumatic time. We have experienced ridesharing attorneys who will handle your case every step of the way. Contact our office today to book a free consultation.