Because of the convenient transportation options that rideshare companies provide, Uber and Lyft are here to stay. However, their increasing popularity has also resulted in an increased amount of accidents involving Uber and Lyft drivers.
If you have been injured as a passenger or other driver in an Uber or Lyft accident, you will typically have a few options to recover compensation for your injuries. Uber and Lyft are required to carry high insurance policies for accidents involving their drivers. However, what options are available in your case will depend on the driver’s status at the time of the accident.
Call Howe Law today at (844) 876-4357 for a free review of your case with our Uber and Lyft accident attorneys.
How to Recover Compensation After an Uber and Lyft Accident Harrison, GA
For car insurance purposes, Georgia operates under an at-fault system. This means that if you are injured in an accident, you can seek compensation from the driver who caused the collision. If you were involved in a ride-sharing accident, the Uber or Lyft driver could be at fault. In many cases, victims will have several insurance options to recover damages that our Uber and Lyft accident attorneys can help you navigate through. However, complex rules govern the insurance process, making it necessary to file a lawsuit in some cases.
Filing Insurance Claims
In such cases, you can start the recovery process by submitting a claim to the driver’s personal car insurance. Additionally, ride-share drivers are required to have commercial insurance, which might be enough to cover your injuries. However, if your accident involves multiple cars, things may be more complex. Fortunately, Georgia’s at-fault laws permit victims to seek compensation from any driver who contributed to their injuries. In such cases, it is advisable to file a lawsuit against the responsible parties so that the issue of fault can be properly investigated. If these insurance policies do not fully cover your damages, however, Uber and Lyft provide additional insurance options based on whether the driver was on duty when the accident occurred.
In the event that a ride-share driver’s insurance falls short of covering your injury expenses, Uber or Lyft offers additional insurance to compensate for the remaining damages. Whether Uber and Lyft insurance options are available in your case depends on the ride-share driver’s status at the time of the accident. For example, if the driver was logged into the app but still waiting to connect with a passenger when they caused an accident, Uber or Lyft’s insurance typically covers up to $50,000 for each injured person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. However, these insurance options are typically available only after the victim’s own insurance has been depleted from treatment.
If the accident occurred while a driver was transporting a passenger or on their way to pick up one, Uber and Lyft offer up to $1,000,000 in insurance coverage. Insurance claims are challenging enough when only two typical drivers are involved. When they involve an Uber or Lyft driver, they can be overwhelmingly complex. In some situations, filing a lawsuit will be the best way to hold the liable parties responsible.
Filing a Lawsuit
When severe injuries or other factors are involved, insurance might not be sufficient to cover a victim’s substantial damages. If your insurance options were exhausted before your treatment concluded or you rejected a low settlement offer, filing a lawsuit will be necessary to obtain the compensation you deserve.
As mentioned, Georgia is an at-fault state, so victims can recover damages from the responsible party by filing a lawsuit in Harrison. You can pursue this option even if you did not file an insurance claim prior to filing your lawsuit. This is often the most effective way to recover damages beyond your financial losses, like compensation for physical pain and emotional distress your injuries have caused.
However, ride-share companies like Uber and Lyft cannot usually be held liable for the negligence of their drivers. This is because Uber and Lyft drivers do not work directly for those companies but are “independent contractors.” This classification is convenient for Uber and Lyft because it shields them from being named in a lawsuit unless a victim can present evidence that Uber or Lyft also acted negligently in causing an accident. For instance, if Uber and Lyft contracted with a driver they knew or should have known had a history of dangerous driving, they could be held liable for keeping the driver on their payroll.
What Not to Do After an Uber and Lyft Accident in Harrison, GA
There are many important steps to getting compensated after an Uber or Lyft accident in Harrison, but also some pitfalls to avoid. Perhaps most importantly, never admit fault during the recovery process, as it could prevent you from recovering anything from your injuries. Also, do not wait too long to get medical care since this will open the door to lower the compensation you are offered.
Admit Fault
While it is natural to want to answer questions regarding your accident, you should never admit fault at any point in the process. Admitting fault can be problematic because it will likely affect your ability to recover compensation if you take the blame for the accident. Determining liability in an Uber or Lyft accident is often challenging, so you could be admitting fault when you are, in fact, not responsible.
If you were the other driver in a rideshare accident, the other driver’s insurance might want to speak with you. However, you should consult our attorneys before making any statements to the opposing side. Even if you do not admit fault, some statements you make could be construed as taking responsibility. Insurance adjusters are skilled at making you feel like they are your best friend, but their questions are often designed to get you to make statements that can be used against you in settlement negotiations.
Wait Too Long to Get Medical Care
If you are hurt in an accident with an Uber or Lyft driver, you should seek medical treatment immediately after the accident. If you do not get medical care within the first few hours after an accident, getting compensation for your injuries can be much more difficult. Insurance companies will often use this as a reason to lower the settlement amount offered by arguing that your injuries must not have been that serious if you waited to get treatment. They can also argue that you did nothing to mitigate your damages during that time and, thus, should not recover what you are demanding in damages.
Our Harrison, GA Uber and Lyft Accident Attorneys Can Help
For a free assessment of your case with our dedicated Uber and Lyft accident lawyers, contact Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 today.
