Who is Responsible for a Car Accident Involving a Rideshare Company?
Who Is Responsible For A Car Accident Involving A Rideshare Company?
Driving courses teach new motorists how to operate a vehicle safely and within the rules of the road. While a safe transition from point A to point B happens most of the time, many drivers and their passengers will get into an accident at some point.
Determining responsibility for a car accident is one of the most important issues after a crash, and this matter can become even more complicated when a rideshare company, such as Uber or Lyft, has a vehicle involved in the accident.
Many people are exploring what it takes to become a rideshare driver. Unfortunately, this means that there will be responsible and irresponsible drivers.
With more people utilizing rideshare vehicles in the Nashville area and across the country, questions of rideshare liability are becoming more common in car accident lawsuits. Is the Uber or Lyft driver fully responsible, or does the rideshare company hold some of the blame? Is the accident the fault of the other driver?
If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident with a rideshare vehicle, you need an experienced Tennessee personal injury attorney to represent your interests. Contact us today at Mitch Grissim & Associates to schedule a free consultation of your case.
Driver Liability
In most vehicle accident cases around Nashville, the driver of one or more vehicles is usually at fault for the crash. If a person strikes a rideshare car and injures people, they are the at-fault driver for the accident. Liability would work like any other accident, and that driver’s liability insurance company would get involved.
However, the issue can be more confusing if rideshare drivers strike another vehicle. Questions of whether the Lyft or Uber driver was on the clock or was driving a passenger can all add to the complexity of this type of car accident. While rideshare companies mandate that their independent contractors maintain their car insurance policies, they also maintain an insurance policy that injured victims may access.
Major rideshare companies also place other legal responsibilities on their drivers for the safety of passengers. For example, a driver can’t drop a passenger in a dangerous location such as a busy intersection or darkened street with no lights. These requirements add another layer of complexity to the driver’s responsibility in a personal injury case.
Rideshare Company Liability Policies
The business model of rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft maintains insurance policies of up to one million dollars per accident when driver coverage is missing or is insufficient to cover the damages of people injured in an accident.
For instance, if a rideshare driver is on the clock but without a passenger and causes an accident, their personal auto insurance covers damages up to the policy limit. The rideshare company’s policy will kick in only if the personal limited coverage is not enough.
Uber and Lyft can protect themselves in the event of most accidents because of these policies, but they also support their drivers in the event of a Lyft or Uber crash.
However, if the driver is carrying a passenger during the crash, the rideshare company’s policy may cover damages if the passenger is injured in the accident.
Injury victims may also receive insurance coverage from rideshare companies if the at-fault drivers in an accident are uninsured or underinsured, regardless of whether they worked for the company or were driving another car. An experienced Tennessee car accident attorney can help you sort out the complex liability issues if you were in a rideshare crash.
Why Does Liability Matter in a Rideshare Driver Accident?
Liability matters for car accidents involving an Uber or Lyft driver because it will help determine whether or not you are eligible for compensation after the fact. Personal injury lawyers from our law firm can help you file a claim for recovering damages for any financial ramifications from injuries you have suffered due to rideshare accidents.
What Compensation is Available?
You can obtain a payout after a rideshare accident for a few categories of damages. A few examples are lost wages due to an inability to work, medical expenses resulting from bodily injury, emotional distress, and punitive damages.
The level of compensation you can obtain varies, depending on factors like the driver’s personal insurance policy, bodily injury coverage, what parties will be held liable, and more. Our law offices can help determine your chances of receiving a payout from your claim. We also offer a free evaluation of your case upfront to answer any questions and discuss the legal process.
Battling the Insurance Company and Rideshare Companies
Your claim is against a party with vast resources. They will likely have teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters who will do what is necessary to avoid a large payout to victims if an Uber or Lyft accident occurs.
You could also be going up against Uber and Lyft drivers, claiming not to be accountable for the car accident case.
For these reasons, working with an attorney from our law offices becomes extremely important for your claim. They can work out insurance details, discuss if you want to sue Uber or Lyft, and determine if liability coverage will be enough to cover the payout. A lawyer will also compile evidence such as the police report and eyewitness accounts.
Liability matters because these companies may attempt to deflect it away from themselves and their drivers to avoid large payouts.
Holding the Uber or Lyft Drivers Accountable for Their Actions
When someone makes a ride request, and the driver accepts, they agree to keep the passenger safe. Lyft or Uber drivers must be careful not to cause accidents while they have a passenger. These drivers are duty-bound to protect their passengers’ safety.
Therefore, when rideshare drivers actively transport passengers during an accident and are found at fault for the collision, the safety requirement will help hold them accountable for their mistakes or poor decisions. This is especially true if these accidents cause injuries to their passengers.
Although they are independent contractors, Lyft or Uber drivers still represent the rideshare service. Therefore, holding rideshare drivers accountable ensures that poor drivers cannot continuously put their passengers in danger and put their companies at risk.
Accidents caused by Uber or Lyft drivers need to be addressed to make these rideshare services safer for future passengers and to enforce stricter regulations.
We Can Help You
You expect a safe ride to your destination when you take a rideshare vehicle. If an accident occurs because of your driver, the company they work for should be held accountable for your injuries. You can pursue maximum compensation when a rideshare driver gets into an accident while transporting you. A Lyft or Uber car accident is most likely not your doing, and you need someone to defend your rights.
That is where we come in. Our team will dedicate themselves to proving that you deserve a fair settlement for the financial, physical, and emotional ramifications you have suffered after the incident. Our top priorities for your case will be holding the various parties accountable, obtaining the highest possible payout, and protecting your information.
Contact Us Today!
If you or a loved one has been injured while traveling in a rideshare car, contact the Nashville car accident attorneys at Mitch Grissim & Associates today for a free consultation.
We handle all types of personal injury cases, including car accidents, boating accidents, medical malpractice, and construction accidents. For all your injury needs, work with the legal representation that can get you the results you seek.
Resources
What Causes Rollover Accidents?
June 27, 2022
