You may be able to secure a financial recovery for the injuries you suffered in a rideshare accident. This is true if you were:
- A rider in the Uber or Lyft
- Hit in your car by a rideshare driver
- Injured by the driver in another way
With the proper evidence to show fault and liability, you can file an insurance claim to recover compensation for your medical treatment, lost wages, and more. A personal injury attorney from our firm may be able to help with your claim.
Rideshare Companies Provide Liability Insurance Policies to Cover Their Drivers
Uber and Lyft provide liability auto coverage during some parts of their drivers’ cycles. When in effect, these policies can pay out to cover the damages suffered by:
- A rideshare rider in the vehicle
- Drivers and passengers in other vehicles hurt in a collision caused by the rideshare driver
- Pedestrians or bicyclists injured in crashes caused by the Uber or Lyft driver
Uber and Lyft also provide contingency coverage during other parts of the cycle. The driver’s own insurance policy is the primary coverage during this time. However, if their insurer refuses or the driver is uninsured, the rideshare company’s policy will kick in. This effectively ensures coverage is available any time a rideshare driver logs into the app to work.
How These Policies Work
Rideshare drivers use the Uber or Lyft app to identify riders who need a ride. They then accept the rider, go to pick them up, and take them to their destination. Once they drop them off, the cycle begins again. The primary liability coverage varies during this cycle as follows:
- Off the app: The driver’s own insurance coverage applies.
- Signed on without a rider: The driver’s insurance is primary, but the company provides contingency coverage.
- Matched with a rider: The rideshare company provides at least $1 million in liability coverage.
- A rider is in the car: Uber or Lyft has a policy in place to provide at least $1 million in coverage.
- Once the ride ends: The driver’s insurance is the primary coverage with a contingency provided by the rideshare company.
Our attorneys are familiar with rideshare accident cases. We can help you determine which policy was active when your collision occurred and file a claim on your behalf.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 537-8185
It Can Be Difficult to Sue a Rideshare Company Following a Collision
Rideshare companies do not classify their drivers as employees. Instead, they are independent contractors, which allows Uber and Lyft to avoid legal action in most accident cases. As a result, they are generally not vicariously liable for their driver’s actions the way many trucking companies that employ drivers are.
This makes it difficult to sue the rideshare company for most collisions and injuries. Thankfully, most of these cases settle via negotiations with the insurer. If you need to file a lawsuit, you will most likely sue the individual driver and not the company.
What Damages Can I Recover in My Uber or Lyft Accident Claim?
You may be able to recover compensation for your accident-related expenses and losses by filing an insurance claim. With documentation of your damages, your recovery could include:
- Medical treatment for your injuries
- Future care and management costs
- Lost wages and other income
- Reduced ability to earn in the future
- Property damages and car repairs
- Additional related expenses with receipts
- Pain and suffering damages
- Other intangible losses
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Working with an Attorney to Seek a Financial Recovery in Your Case
You may want to consult with our personal injury law firm before agreeing to a settlement with the insurer. Our team can review the circumstances of the case and ensure you do not settle for less than your case is worth. When you reach out to our team shortly after your crash, we can manage the entire process for you. We will take care of:
- Protecting your rights
- Determining where in the cycle the driver was when the crash occurred
- Identifying the insurance policy covering you at the time
- Collecting evidence to prove negligence and liability
- Filing your claim
- Negotiating with the insurer for a just settlement
Our team represents traffic accident victims based on contingency. Therefore, you will not need to pay any upfront attorney’s fees to get started with your claim.
Note that you may have as little as one year to take legal action in your case. Each state has its own deadlines, which can vary, depending on the circumstances. The sooner we get started, the more time we will have to construct your case.
Morris Bart, LLC, May Be Able to Help with Your Rideshare Injury Case
You can speak with the team from the Morris Bart law firm about your Uber or Lyft accident and injuries today for free. We provide complimentary consultations for rideshare collision victims in Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi.
Dial (800) 537-8185 now to learn more about your legal options for pursuing financial recovery.
Questions?Call (800) 537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.