If you’re injured in a rideshare crash, you have legal options. An award-winning Missouri rideshare lawyer who specializes in Lyft and Uber accidents can help determine liability, handle insurance claims, and ensure you receive fair compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.
Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft provide liability coverage up to $1 million during active rides. However, coverage varies depending on the driver’s status at the time of the accident. It’s crucial to consult a personal injury attorney to navigate these complexities.
Ridesharing has brought about a major change in transportation by providing convenience, availability, and affordability. But that means more of them are on the road, and more crashes involve those cars.
Rideshare crashes are more complex than you might think, so if someone is injured, there are important legal angles to remember. In this post, we take a look at steps towards compensation and, afterward, navigate the legal landscape with such incidents.
Understanding Liability in Rideshare Accidents
Figuring out who is at fault for an accident involving a rideshare driver can be tricky. In contrast with taxi services, ridesharing companies classify their drivers as independent contractors. This classification often makes it hard for claimants to get compensated.
Liability can depend on the specific parties involved, such as the driver, the ride-share company, other motorists, or even the manufacturers of defective vehicles. A look into each incident’s details is necessary to clarify who is to blame.
Insurance Policies and Coverage
On the other hand, rideshare companies provide different insurance depending on whether the driver is considered on-duty at the time of the accident. A typical set of these policies includes three distinct phases: when the app is off, when the app is on but the driver has not yet accepted a ride, and when a driver is actively engaging in a ride. You will have separate coverage levels for each stage. If they get hurt while on the ride, higher insurance limits will usually come into play, providing better rider coverage.
Collecting Information After an Accident
Gathering evidence begins immediately after a rideshare crash occurs. Follow this by photographing the scene for evidence: vehicle damage, road conditions, and even the visible injuries. The contact details of witnesses can ensure important testimonies are kept down the line. Getting medical attention as soon as possible is not just for their well-being, but also creates documentation that may aid in a claim. It is important to maintain records of every medical visit, treatment, and expense associated with any serious injury.
Seeking Legal Assistance
Getting around the legal process should be easier with the help of the experts, unless you fail to get such assistance after a rideshare accident. A rideshare personal injury lawyer can make a claim much stronger. They understand the complications and can share advice on the best path forward. Legal professionals are essential in securing fair compensation, from negotiating with insurance companies to advocating in court.
Compensation Methods You Should Know
People involved in rideshare accidents can claim several types of compensation. Economic losses can easily be measured in dollar amounts, like medical bills, loss of income, and property damage. Non-economic damages compensate for non-monetary harm, such as pain and suffering and emotional distress. Punitive damages may be warranted if the circumstances involved gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing. Grasping these categories is important because they can affect the potential compensation an individual might receive.
Steps to Filing a Claim
Before anything else, you need to inform the rideshare company and your insurance companies of the accident. It always helps to bolster and build the case by providing all relevant information, such as the date, time, location, and overall incident details. An attorney will ensure that any required paperwork and documentation are completed, accurate, and done on time. A negotiation for a settlement may be conducted, or move forward to the courts if necessary as well.
The Role of State Laws
How rideshare accident claims develop largely depends on the laws of the state in which they took place. Differences in the laws for insurance, liability, and limits on compensation need to be accounted for. Some states also have limits on non-economic damages, or contain contributory negligence laws that bar compensation based on percentage share of fault. Grasping those legal nuances in your jurisdiction is also necessary for a claim to be successful.
Conclusion
If you suffer an injury in a rideshare crash, it is time to look into your legal options. Knowing who is liable, collecting evidence, and retaining an experienced lawyer can make all the difference. As daunting as it can feel, going through the proper procedure always means that victims will be compensated. Through these tips, they can deal with the complexities of rideshare accident claims so that they can get justice and compensation for all damages.