Rideshare (Lyft/Uber) Accidents

Rideshare services such as Lyft and Uber have transformed how people get around in the modern world. However, even with the endless benefits these companies provide, they are not immune to devastating accidents. Those involved in rideshare accidents often endure debilitating injuries, excruciating pain, and extensive medical expenses. These outcomes can forever impact the lives of unlucky victims.

If you survived one of these accidents, it is time to learn more about your legal options and what remedies are available to you. Here’s everything you need to know about these rideshare accidents and how you can fight for your rights, and the damages you deserve.

What are some common causes of ride-sharing accidents?

Like any motor vehicle accident, rideshare accidents can occur for many different reasons. There are infinite variables that can cause a crash but some of the most common include:

• Fatigued drivers
• Poor weather conditions
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Distracted driving
• Traffic law violations
• Inexperienced motorists
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Reckless driving
• Motor vehicle defects

What should I do after an Uber/Lyft accident?

After an Uber/Lyft accident, you need to take action, not only to protect your health and safety but your legal rights as well. Following a rideshare collision, consider doing the following:

Contact the Authorities

Call 911 immediately after a rideshare accident to alert the police and EMS of the incident and notify them that you need immediate medical help.

Collect Evidence From the Scene

Try to collect as many photos and videos from the accident scene as you can, including pictures of the vehicles involved, their position on the road, your visible injuries, skid marks on the street, and any other evidence that can help show what happened.

Exchange Information

Try to exchange information with all those involved in the accident, including names, contact details, driver’s license numbers, and insurance information. However, as you exchange this information, make sure you watch what you say. Avoid making definitive statements about the accident, apologizing for anything that happened, or taking the blame for anything that occurred.

Get Witness Information

If there were people who saw the accident, get their names and contact details. These witness statements can help back up your claim and provide you with valuable information about the accident.

Who is liable for an Uber or Lyft Accident?

Depending on the circumstances of the accident, there may be several parties responsible for a rideshare crash, including:

• The Rideshare Driver: If the rideshare driver was negligent and caused an accident, they may be liable for any harm and resulting injuries.
• The Rideshare Company: Since most rideshare drivers are considered independent contractors, it is challenging to hold the rideshare company directly liable for an accident, even if their driver was responsible for the crash. However, although these drivers are not employees, they are often covered under the rideshare’s insurance policy, allowing injured victims to file a claim with the company’s insurer and get the money they need.
• Liable Third Parties: Sometimes, it is not the rideshare driver who is responsible for an accident, but rather other negligent parties such as other motorists, pedestrians, and even motorcyclists.

Uber and Lyft drivers Car Insurance Requirements

Rideshare insurance requirements are often broken down into different insurance-related periods, including:

• Period 0: The Rideshare App is Off, and the Rideshare Driver is Offline
  During Period 0, if an accident occurs, the rideshare driver’s insurance coverage will apply.
• Period 1: The Rideshare App is Turned On. However, the Driver Has No Ride Requests Yet

In this period, rideshare insurance will only offer liability coverage for passengers and other motorists involved in an accident. For example, Uber provides the following insurance coverage for this period:

• $50,000 in bodily injury per individual
• $100,000 in bodily injury per accident
• $25,000 in property damage per accident

• Period 2 and 3: There is a Ride Request, and the Driver is En Route to Pick up the Rider or Is Driving the Passenger to Their Destination

Once a rideshare driver is matched with a customer, the rideshare company’s insurance covers them until they drop off the customer at their destination. As a result, these companies are required to carry a $1,000,000 liability insurance policy and also offer the following additional coverage:

Lyft

Lyft provides comprehensive and collision coverage to its drivers, as long as they have collision coverage on their car insurance policy. However, Lyft has a deductible of $2,500, which needs to be paid out of pocket before the company covers any damages.

Uber

On the other hand, Uber’s drivers have $1,000,000 of uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily insurance coverage and comprehensive and collision coverage with a $1,000 to $2,500 deductible.

What do you have to prove in a rideshare accident injury claim?

Typically, most settle rideshare injury claims outside of court, which will involve the insurance company entering into negotiations with the victim’s lawyer and coming up with a settlement amount. However, if they cannot reach an agreement, litigation may be necessary.

In general, to initiate a claim for negligence in Florida following a rideshare accident, the victim must demonstrate how this accident affected their lives. Victims must show that certain conditions exist to pursue a valid injury claim, including a significant loss of body function, permanent injury, disfigurement or scars, or serious bodily harm.

Under these conditions, victims can often fight for damages related to their pain and suffering, loss of income, medical bills, and other expenses.

When to call a lawyer?

To bring a successful legal claim following a rideshare accident, first thoroughly understand the state’s laws and bring relevant evidence and strong arguments proving your claim. Thankfully, with an experienced rideshare accident attorney on your side, you will not have to tackle this legal battle alone.

Once retained, these attorneys can determine if you have a valid legal claim, secure the evidence required to show fault and damages, ensure that legal motions are filed on time, and go after the maximum compensation you deserve.

That is why, following a rideshare accident, do not wait any longer to get the legal help you need. Instead, contact The Ward Law Group today for a free case evaluation and let us show you what we can do for you. We have extensive experience with both Uber and Lyft Rideshare accident cases.