RIDESHARE ACCIDENT LAWYER

Anytime you experience an auto accident, you can take a sequence of actions to protect your right to compensation and get the medical help you need. In the event of a rideshare accident, follow these simple steps:

• Take deep breaths and stay calm. Car accidents are stressful and scary. If you panic and start moving around before checking your body for injuries, you could cause more physical damage. Instead, remain calm and assess your body for any sign of injury before moving.
• Call for emergency assistance. If you or anyone else on the scene needs immediate medical attention, call 911 and wait for the ambulance to arrive.
• Report the accident to the police. If you need to contact 911, the police will arrive with first responders. If you did not need emergency assistance, call the local non-emergency number to report the accident and have officers dispatched. If no one suffered an injury, the police may not come to the scene, but you should still report it online or in person.

• Take photographs of the accident. Use your phone or a camera to capture everything you see at and around the crash scene. If you have visible injuries, document those as well. Take a video if you can, and include the surrounding area, including any stoplights or road signs.
• Gather everyone’s information. Write down the name and contact information of everyone involved. If you see any eyewitnesses, talk to them about what they saw and ask for their names and phone numbers. The drivers should exchange insurance and driver’s license information as well.
• See a doctor as soon as possible. No matter how well you feel, you could still suffer injuries. In addition, you may experience latent symptoms because of the adrenaline rush, which is why you need to have a complete medical examination right away.
• Contact a ridesharing accident lawyer. You can call an attorney as soon as the accident happens or anytime after if you need advice about the next steps. 

If collecting photographs and information at the scene was not possible, you can still seek compensation. With the help of a rideshare accident attorney, you will have the help you need to build a case to support your claim.

Whether you are the passenger in a ridesharing vehicle or the driver of the other vehicle, you should not be held responsible for the damages from a car accident caused by another party. As a passenger, you bear no responsibility for the accident, and if you suffer injuries during the ride, you should receive compensation from the ridesharing company’s insurance.

Similarly, if you are the other driver in a car accident with a rideshare vehicle, you would contact the company about filing a claim. However, which insurance pays depends on whether the rideshare driver was on duty at the time of the collision. When the other driver is at fault, the rideshare driver and any injured passengers they have at the time will file claims with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. In a no-fault state, everyone would file claims under their personal injury protection insurance unless the damages are significant enough to warrant a lawsuit.

Rideshare companies typically offer coverage to their drivers under certain circumstances. The amounts depend on the state and the company. Additionally, all rideshare companies stipulate exactly when their insurance coverage takes effect. For example, look at the coverage offered by Lyft and Uber, the two largest ridesharing companies in the U.S.

Lyft and Uber Insurance Policies

Lyft and Uber both provide liability coverage for drivers when the app is on. However, the driver’s personal insurance policy applies when the app is off. Additionally, having the app on is different from having a passenger. When the app is on and waiting for a ride request, Lyft and Uber provide the following protection:

• $25,000 for damaged property per accident
• $50,000 for bodily injury per person
• $100,00 for bodily injury in total per accident

When the driver picks up a passenger or is in the process of a ride, they have the following coverage:

• Comprehensive and collision coverage with a $2,500 deductible
• $1,000,000 in liability coverage
• Uninsured/underinsured motorists coverage for bodily injury

These are the basic levels of coverage offered by both companies. However, because states mandate driver insurance requirements, Lyft and Uber provide additional coverage in certain states.

To file a lawsuit and pursue compensation in a personal injury case, you must prove that you suffered damages due to someone else’s negligence. Compensatory damages refer to the losses you incurred from the accident and are further divided into economic and non-economic losses. Additionally, you may receive punitive damages under infrequent circumstances.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are the specific losses with tangible evidence. For example, you may receive compensation for the following:

• The total current and future medical bills, including your prescription medications, ambulance costs, and visits to in-patient and out-patient care
• The total lost wages from time off due to your injury or recovery
• Any lost potential earning caused by a loss of earning capacity if your injury permanently restricts your ability to work
• Cost of any medical equipment or caregiver services
• Childcare costs if you supply the primary childcare services
• Cost to repair or replace any property damaged during the accident
• Cost of necessary transportation 

With the help of a ridesharing accident lawyer, you can prove your claim by providing medical bills, receipts, repair estimates, and any other documentation proving these losses.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are distinguishable from economic damages because they are more subjective. Examples include:

• Mental and emotional pain and anguish
• Pain and suffering caused by physical injuries
• Loss of reputation
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of your ability to enjoy hobbies or engage in events and other activities as you did before the accident
• Disfigurement, including amputation
• Permanent or temporary disability

Non-economic damages from a car accident or personal injury case often require a deeper understanding of the law and precedent. A rideshare accident attorney can help you value your case more accurately.

Punitive Damages

To receive punitive damages, you must prove that the other driver acted with complete disregard for your safety and the safety of other drivers. This may include driving recklessly, speeding excessively, or driving under the influence. The purpose of punitive damages is not to replace your financial losses but to punish the other driver for their behavior.

No matter how you’re involved in a rideshare accident, you may benefit from retaining legal representation. These accidents typically present more challenges than those involving private automobiles, sometimes leaving injured victims wondering how they can recover the compensation they deserve.

Whether liable insurance companies attempt to deny your claim or offer unreasonably low settlement amounts, anyone in a Michigan car accident should consult the Mike Morse Law Firm. During your free case evaluation, we will review the facts of your case and tell you how we can assist you.

The Accident Cause

As with any kind of car crash, many factors can contribute to causing rideshare accidents. The rideshare driver, another vehicle driver, pedestrians or road conditions may all bear a degree of responsibility. Investigations into the cause of rideshare accidents are crucial because they will show why the crash happened and which parties are liable for paying damages.

Because rideshare cars are commercial vehicles while providing services to customers, multiple parties may be liable if they cause an accident, including:

• The driver
• The rideshare company
• The vehicle’s owner
• Vehicle or parts manufacturers
• Maintenance companies

However, rideshare drivers are typically independent contractors instead of employees. This designation can limit whom you can hold responsible for your injuries. You can alleviate the stress of wading through the resulting confusion by hiring an experienced attorney.

Malfunctioning traffic signals, government-owned vehicles and poorly maintained roads cause some rideshare accidents. If a government agency is behind the cause of your accident, your claim becomes more complex.

These claims are subject to strict deadlines, requirements and protocols. Hiring a competent rideshare accident lawyer who understands how to make claims against government agencies can ensure that you don’t lose your right to compensation.

Rideshare App Status

Although ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft provide insurance to their drivers and passengers, the coverage at a given time depends on the driver’s status:

• Off duty
• Available and waiting for an assignment
• On the way to pick up passengers
• Actively picking up or transporting passengers

If the driver’s status at the time of an accident isn’t clear or comes into question, determining whose insurance policy is responsible for paying damages becomes challenging.

Multiple Insurance Company Involvement

The more insurance companies involved in accident claims, the more complex these claims may become. In a rideshare accident, multiple insurance companies may be involved, including:

• The PIP carrier for each person
• The company providing Uber, Lyft or other rideshare insurance
• Other involved driver’s companies

None of these companies wants to pay benefits and will likely argue amongst themselves over which company is ultimately responsible. Your lawyer will work to assign fault and recover compensation.

Disclosure

Most car insurance companies require policyholders to report it if they use their vehicles for commercial purposes, such as ridesharing. If these drivers don’t disclose this information and cause an accident, their insurance carrier may deny valid claims.

Rideshare drivers and passengers, pedestrians and occupants of other vehicles involved in accidents may find themselves in a challenging situation trying to obtain compensation for their damages.