Ridesharing Accidents How Sets Them Apart From Conventional Accidents?

If you have been injured in a ridesharing accident, the unusual circumstances surrounding accident liability can lead to even more stress and uncertainty than a more ordinary accident. To cut through the confusion, here are several key ways that ridesharing accidents differ from a more typical car accident claim.

Ridesharing Companies Have a Liability Policy

Uber or Lyft drivers are not actually “Uber driver” or “Lyft drivers” at all, at least not from a legal perspective. These drivers are not employees of the company, as the terms Uber driver and Lyft driver imply. Rather, they are independent contractors.

In a typical accident, the at-fault driver’s insurance policy is the first place to look for compensation ordinarily, but in ridesharing accidents the first place to turn is often the ridesharing company’s policy.

If you were injured as a passenger of these companies, know that both Uber and Lyft offer $1 million in liability coverage for accidents that occur during the course of a trip when your driver is at-fault.

Ridesharing Companies Are in the Technology Provider Sector

While most people think of Uber or Lyft as transportation services, these companies avoid treating drivers as employees by defining themselves as technology providers. This is the key reason why ridesharing drivers can be legally viewed as independent contractors.

If You Are Struck by a Ridesharing Driver, When the Accident Occurred Mattered

Suppose you are struck by an Uber driver who is off the clock, offline, and is heading home for the evening. In such a scenario, you would not be able to pursue compensation based on the company’s $1 million in liability coverage. Instead, compensation will be pursued through the driver’s personal auto insurance like a more traditional accident.

And, in addition to the “on trip” liability coverage, Uber also has “contingent liability coverage” in place for drivers who get into an accident while in “Online” mode but have not started a trip. Contingent liability coverage provides the following:

• $50,000 Injury
• $100,000 Injury Total
• $25,000 for Property Damage

In short, the details of your ridesharing accident often matter a great deal when it comes to the legal compensation you will receive.

Knowing Your Legal Rights After an Accident

After a rideshare accident, you have the legal right to:

• Collect insurance policies of all drivers involved, including the ridesharing driver
• Obtain any policies held by the company
• Issue a preservation of evidence letter that, depending on the state, may legally require the driver and rideshare company to preserve all data related to the accident

Seek the Help of a Ridesharing Accident Lawyer

If you are the victim of a ridesharing accident, you may find that trying to reach out to the ridesharing company after an accident is incredibly difficult. Do not let the difficulty of speaking to a real person at the ridesharing company dissuade or discourage you.

Instead, seek the legal counsel of a personal injuries attorney at The Ledger Law Firm who will pursue the legal compensation you deserve by holding any and all responsible parties accountable for their actions.

Contact us online for a legal consultation to discuss your claim and legal compensation that may be owed to you.