I was injured in a rideshare accident. What now?
The convenience of ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft have taken over the transportation world in the past five years. These companies drive people all around town, to their jobs, to bars, and everywhere in between. But if you’re in an accident while in an Uber or Lyft or while driving for a rideshare company, how does it compare to a regular personal vehicle car accident?
In a recently released report from Uber, they stated that they took an average of 3.1 million trips every day in the United States in 2017 and 2018, for a total of 2.3 billion trips. However, it’s also stated that there were 97 fatal crashes with 107 total deaths in 2017 and 2018.
What’s odd is that they chose not to mention how many non-fatal car crashes occurred. How many people didn’t die but “only” had a paralyzing spinal injury or traumatic brain injury?
With these companies having so many drivers on the roads at all times, they’re bound to get into an accident at some point. But what happens if you get into a car accident with an Uber or Lyft driver? Is it the same as getting into an accident with a regular driver?
If you need further information about your Uber or Lyft accident, you can contact the experienced personal injury lawyers at Sand Law in Minneapolis.
What is a Ridesharing Company?
A ridesharing company is like a taxi service except the ride comes from a regular person using their own car. From a phone app, you can call a ride for you and your friends. The driver will then pick you up and take you wherever you need to go. But because the person is using their own car and because the driver doesn’t technically work for the rideshare company, getting into an accident while in an Uber or Lyft can be a bit more complicated than getting into an accident with a regular driver.
In some cases, you may be filing your lawsuit against the driver alone, or the company that they work for. It all depends on the type of accident you were involved in and whether or not the driver was “online” at the time. “Online” refers to whether or not the driver has the app on, is waiting to accept a passenger, or is currently transporting a passenger.
Different Types of Ridesharing Accidents
There are many different cases in which an accident could occur with a ridesharing driver.
You could be the passenger of the Uber/Lyft and your driver could have gotten into an accident. If the Uber/Lyft driver was at fault for the accident, you may be able to receive compensation from Uber/Lyft.
If the other driver was at fault, you may need to file your lawsuit against them. It depends on the circumstances.
Another scenario could involve you being hit by a rideshare driver. If the Uber/Lyft driver is at fault for the accident, you would take legal action against that driver. Uber/Lyft may or may not be involved depending on the driver’s online status and whether or not there was a passenger in their car.
Another type of accident would involve you being a pedestrian or bicyclist and you get hit by a rideshare driver. In this case you would need to seek compensation from the driver’s personal insurance or from the rideshare company depending on whether they were online or not.
Finally, you may need an injury attorney if you were a driver of a rideshare and you were hit by a negligent driver. In this case, you may or may not be able to get Uber or Lyft to help cover your damages.
Like all big companies, profits often lead the conversation, so if you are struggling to get compensation after being involved in a rideshare car accident, contact an experienced personal injury attorney.
How Does Insurance Work for Ridesharing Drivers?
Uber and Lyft function in very similar ways. There are a few different scenarios in which an accident can occur.
In the first scenario, the ridesharing driver has their app offline. This means that they are not currently picking anyone up or waiting to pick someone up. They are not working at this time. If you were to get into an accident with a ridesharing driver who has their app offline, you would deal with that person’s own insurance, and Uber and Lyft would likely not be involved at all.
However, if the app is online and there isn’t a passenger in the car, the employee is technically still on the clock. Uber’s insurance would cover $50,000 in bodily injury per person, $100,000 in bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 in property damage per accident.
If there’s a passenger in the Uber at the time, Uber’s insurance would then cover $1,000,000 in third-party liability, any uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury, as well as comprehensive and collision compensation up to the cash value of the car.
It’s important to remember that Uber/Lyft insurance is supplementary, as they still require their drivers to have their own insurance. In most cases, Uber’s insurance will only apply if the driver doesn’t have enough insurance coverage.
What Compensation Can I Receive?
After an accident it’s easy to feel helpless like there aren’t many options, or even like you’re drowning in debt from medical bills and other costs. We’re here to tell you that that’s not the case. With an experienced attorney, you can recover damages for your injuries.
[Explanation of Damages in Minnesota]
Medical bills are usually one of the biggest things that victims of accidents are worried about, but you can receive compensation for your medical bills, including hospital visits, doctor’s appointments, therapy, surgery costs, ambulance costs, and any other medical bills that are related to the injuries that you sustained during the accident. You can also receive compensation for any wages you may have lost while you were out of work, and even any wages you may continue to lose.
You can also receive compensation for loss of earning capacity. If your injury prevents you from being able to complete the job you used to be able to do, you can receive compensation for that. Pain and suffering is another big one that you can receive compensation for. This number will depend on how your accident has affected your life and how it will continue to affect your life in the future.
How do I contact an attorney if I was injured in an Uber or Lyft accident?
Because accidents with Uber/Lyft drivers can be a bit more complicated than a regular car accident, hiring an attorney is your best bet. An attorney will help to ensure that you get the compensation that you deserve. They’ll communicate with insurance companies and investigate your accident on your behalf, giving you the time that you deserve to relax and receive treatment for your injuries.
The attorneys at Sand Law have years of experience working on ridesharing accident cases, and we’re ready and willing to help you take on your case. For more information, or a free case evaluation, please contact us online or at 651-291-7263.