What to Do If Injured in an Uber or Lyft Car Accident

When you use a rideshare app, you risk getting into a vehicle with a negligent driver. After all, you only have the driver’s name and rating, but that is as much as you know about the driver. So, what happens when you get into an accident while using a ridesharing app? Below, we discuss how these types of accidents are handled from the steps you can take directly after an accident to the legalities of the situation.

The dedicated Maryland car accident attorneys at Peter T. Nicholl Law Offices can help you with every aspect of your claim after being injured in a rideshare vehicle. We can discuss the insurance implications and other factors specific to your case.

Steps to Take After the Accident

If you are injured in an Uber or Lyft car accident, it is important that you take immediate steps to protect your claim by doing the following:

• Check for injuries
• Contact the police to make a report
• Write down the driver’s name, license number, vehicle information and insurance information of the rideshare driver and the driver of the other vehicle involved
• Write down the contact information of any eyewitnesses
• Take pictures of the accident scene, damage to the vehicles and your injuries
• Seek medical assistance for your injuries
• Contact an experienced personal injury lawyer for help with your claim

Rideshare accident cases are often complex and require in-depth knowledge of a skilled personal injury lawyer. A dedicated personal injury lawyer can handle all communication with insurance companies and work to negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf to cover the damages you have sustained. Having a legal advocate on your side can give you the chance to focus on your healing and recovery.

Can I Sue the Company?

When you are injured in a rideshare accident, you might think that you can sue Uber or Lyft. However, the drivers who work for these companies are considered independent contractors and not employees. This legal distance usually allows the rideshare company to deny all liability for the accident itself, as well as for any responsibility regarding the damages you have sustained. While you may be able to sue the driver in most cases, you will not have a valid claim against the rideshare company.

Do the Companies’ Insurance Policies Affect My Case?

In car accident cases, insurance policies are usually involved. Rideshare program drivers often have different types of coverage, depending where in the app’s transaction the accident occurred.

When the Driver Is Not Using the App

Uber, Lyft and other ridesharing companies require drivers to carry their own auto insurance coverage. If the driver does not have the app on at the time of the accident, the case will proceed much like a regular accident involving two vehicles. If the rideshare driver was at fault for the accident, you would contact his or her insurance company for compensation. If another driver was at fault, you would file the insurance claim against that driver.

Waiting for a Request

The first layer of coverage from the rideshare company occurs when the rideshare driver has activated the app and is driving and waiting for a request.

Lyft’s and Uber’s insurance policy for this stage of the transaction includes:

• Up to $50,000 per person in bodily injury liability
• Up to $100,000 per accident in bodily injury liability
• Up to $25,000 per accident for property damage

From Acceptance of the Ride to the Completion of the Ride

From the time that the driver accepts a ride request until he or she drops off the passenger, he or she are covered by liability and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage of up to $1 million per accident. However, this insurance usually does not apply until the at-fault driver’s insurance company denies the claim or if the driver does not have insurance or adequate coverage. However, if the other driver is at fault, that driver’s insurance policy is responsible for covering your expenses.

Call an Experienced Attorney for Help with Your Claim

If you were injured in a car accident while using a rideshare app, it is important to contact an experienced car accident lawyer from our team at Peter T. Nicholl Law Offices. Our skilled legal team will investigate your rideshare accident and fight for the compensation you need to cover your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

We work on a contingency fee basis, so you will not incur upfront fees and are only responsible for paying us if we successfully help you obtain a verdict or settlement.

Contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.