Rideshare services like Uber, Lyft, and others have become ubiquitous across the United States for their convenience. These services have many benefits, such as ease of use for any location and providing a safe way home after a night out drinking. Unfortunately, accidents still do happen to people using services like Uber and Lyft, and sometimes these accidents are because of those companies or the driver’s negligence.
If you were in an Uber or Lyft accident around Decatur, AL, our lawyers can help. We can assist you with navigating insurance claims, interviewing witnesses, and collecting evidence so that you can have the best possible case to put before a judge.
Get in contact with Howe Law’s Uber and Lyft accident lawyers at (844) 876-4357 for a free case analysis.
Rideshare Insurance in Decatur, AL
Alabama is an “at-fault” insurance state. This means that the insurance policy of the party who caused the accident will need to pay for injuries to the other party. However, insurance policies will only pay out for things that they cover. It can be complicated to determine whether to file a claim with the rideshare service or the driver of the vehicle, but our Uber and Lyft accident lawyers are ready to help figure it out.
Ordinary insurance policies generally will not cover drivers while they are doing work for Uber or Lyft. A special type of automobile insurance called “rideshare insurance” is designed to cover these incidents. Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare services will only provide insurance for certain circumstances.
Lyft’s Rideshare Insurance
Lyft requires all their drivers to have auto insurance, but a personal policy will not cover the driver while they are working for Lyft. When the driver has an active ride selected or is completing a ride request with the passenger in the car, Lyft provides third-party liability insurance coverage.
Lyft also recommends that its drivers acquire personal rideshare insurance policies for extra coverage. However, the reality is that this supplemental insurance is required, even though the Lyft website merely “recommends” it.
Uber’s Rideshare Insurance
Like Lyft, Uber also provides third party liability insurance while their drivers are on the job and suggests that their drivers acquire personal rideshare insurance from a provider of their choice. Again, as in Lyft’s case, this “suggestion” is more of a requirement in practice.
Causes of Accidents Involving Uber or Lyft Drivers in Decatur, AL
The causes of Uber and Lyft accidents are very much the same as what causes other motor vehicle accidents. Things like drunk driving or tailgating can cause an Uber or Lyft driver to get in an accident. However, there are some causes of accidents that could be more likely for the driver of a ridesharing service.
Distracted Driving
Any driver can get distracted. However, drivers for ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft have extra options to get distracted that the ordinary motorist might not.
Uber and Lyft drivers tend to navigate using GPS apps on their phones. Sometimes, an Uber or Lyft driver might be in unfamiliar territory and become engrossed with their route instead of watching the road, which could cause an accident.
Additionally, a ride-sharing service driver might have a queue of clients they are going to drive to various destinations. If they get distracted and pay too much attention to notifications for other rides, they could get into an accident.
Aggressive Driving
Uber and Lyft drivers are paid based on the number of people they pick up and drop off on a given night. Therefore, the drivers are incentivized to get people to their destination as quickly as possible. On top of the desire to earn money from more trips, good reviews are valuable to Uber and Lyft drivers, and people who get to their destination promptly are more likely to give good reviews.
These factors pressure drivers into speeding to their destination to maximize profits and good reviews. Speeding and rash driving are common causes of accidents, so a rideshare driver who is trying to maximize the money for the night is more likely to get in an accident.
What to Do After an Uber or Lyft Accident in Decatur, AL
There are steps you should take right after an Uber or Lyft accident to maximize your chances of recovering damages. Taking these steps will give our lawyers more material to work with when building your case.
Collect Information About the Driver
Obtain the name, license plate, and insurance information of the driver as well as the name of the rideshare service they are working for. This will help to determine what parties should be held liable in your case.
If you were the passenger in an Uber or Lyft vehicle when your accident happened, do all of the above, but also take a screenshot of your driver’s information in the relevant app on your phone. It also might be a good idea to report the accident in the app if that is an option.
Seek Medical Attention
Get medical attention, even if you think you are not injured. The rush of adrenaline from a harrowing experience like a car accident can mask serious injuries until they wear off. Let medical responders attend to you and follow all their instructions.
Some injuries, like whiplash, may take days to manifest symptoms. If you feel pain or discomfort in the days following your accident, go to a medical professional and mention that you were in a car accident recently so they can properly diagnose any injuries.
It is especially important to get medical attention because, if you choose not to, opposing counsel could use that fact against you in court. Failure to get medical attention could hurt your case and reduce the damages you recover.
Call Our Decatur, AL Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyers Today
Our Uber and Lyft accident Lawyers at Howe Law are ready to take your call and provide free case analyses at (844) 876-4357.
