If an Uber or Lyft driver caused your traffic accident, you may be able to recover compensation by taking the right steps following your crash. The difference in these cases is that determining which insurance policy was in effect when the collision occurred is often more difficult. If the rideshare driver was responsible, three different policies might cover your damages:
- The driver’s personal auto liability insurance
- The rideshare company’s contingent coverage
- The rideshare’s primary liability policy that covers up to $1 million
What Should I Do Immediately Following a Collision?
The scene of a collision caused by a rideshare driver is often much like the scene of any other traffic accident. If your injuries allow, begin gathering evidence to support your claim. Examples of steps you can take include getting information from all involved drivers and witnesses, making notes about what happened, and taking pictures.
If possible, you should determine if the rideshare driver matched with a rider or had a rider in their car at the time of the collision. This detail is critical in determining the primary insurance policy under which you will file.
The Importance of Medical Assessment and Care
Your priority after any collision must be your health and well-being. If paramedics respond to your crash, allow them to look at you. You should go to the emergency department if they recommend it. The ambulance ride and emergency evaluation could be recoverable expenses in your insurance claim.
If you do not receive emergency department care, consider seeing your doctor or another physician for an evaluation following the accident. You want to ensure you do not have any severe injuries, address minor scrapes and lacerations, and document your condition.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 537-8185
Rideshare Drivers Have Insurance Coverage to Pay for Your Damages
Once you leave the crash scene and your pain subsides, your focus should move to the insurance claim and holding the at-fault driver responsible. The insurance coverage for rideshare drivers is complex and depends on where in the cycle they were when they hit you. Coverage for your expenses and losses could come from:
- The driver’s own liability policy if they were not on the app or not matched with a rider
- The rideshare service’s contingent policy if they were on the app, but their insurer will not accept the claim
- The liability policy provided by the rideshare company if the driver was going to pick up a rider or had a rider in the vehicle when the collision occurred
Uber and Lyft provide significant liability policies for parts of the rideshare driver’s cycle. As such, it is important to know what the driver was doing when the accident occurred. If the driver had a rider in the car or was on the way to pick up a rider, up to $1 million in coverage for your damages may be available.
You May Benefit from Letting an Attorney Navigate Your Case
You may want to hire legal representation to help with your accident involving a rideshare driver. Our team could handle your claim while you focus on healing and getting your life back.
Our law firm deals with Uber and Lyft accidents, so we know how to navigate the insurance coverage and pursue damages on behalf of accident victims. We also know what evidence is necessary to document the harm you suffered and what steps to take to secure a fair and just settlement.
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Act Quickly to Recover Compensation for Your Uber or Lyft Accident
As a part of building a case, our team will investigate what happened to you and identify the recoverable damages you suffered. This could include:
- Financial losses
- Past and current expenses
- Intangible losses
- Future costs
Examples of some common expenses and losses experienced by victims of traffic accidents include:
- Medical bills
- Future medical treatment and care costs
- Lost wages and benefits
- Diminished ability to earn
- Vehicle repairs and other property damages
- Loss of services
- Additional expenses paid
- Pain and suffering
To secure a negotiated settlement, it’s crucial to act quickly. We must gather support for your claim, file it, and negotiate a fair agreement before the deadline to file a lawsuit runs out. Otherwise, you could lose leverage in your case and miss out on recovering damages at all. The state’s statute of limitations sets deadlines in these cases, which could be as short as one year from the accident.
Speak with Our Team at Morris Bart, LLC About Your Case
Our team members are available to assess your case and help you understand how we may be able to help. These consultations are always free, and we handle rideshare accident cases on a contingency basis.
Connect with us today to discuss your legal options after an Uber or Lyft accident. Our lawyers serve accident victims in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. You can reach the Morris Bart law firm today by calling (800) 537-8185.
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to find a Morris Bart office near you.