Uber and Lyft have become common and trusted forms of transportation in Macon. Unfortunately, accidents involving an Uber or Lyft driver can be incredibly complex.
However, a skilled Macon Uber and Lyft accident lawyer can help you determine your options to recover compensation. In most cases, Uber and Lyft cannot be held directly liable for accidents caused by their rideshare drivers since they are considered independent contractors. Fortunately, Uber and Lyft offer insurance coverage for accidents involving their drivers that tend to be much higher than standard car insurance. You can also file a lawsuit against the negligent party to recover damages if insurance is insufficient or unavailable.
If you were injured because of an Uber or Lyft driver’s negligence, our experienced Macon Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can help you determine the best course of action in your case. For a free case review, call Howe Law at (844) 876-4357.
Holding Uber and Lyft Liable for an Accident in Macon
Unfortunately, suing Uber or Lyft for an accident caused by one of their rideshare drivers will not be possible in most cases. Uber and Lyft drivers are considered independent contractors, which do not have the same status as typical employees. In most personal injury cases involving an employee on the clock, their employer can usually be held liable for their employee’s negligence. However, Uber and Lyft only provide the technology for approved drivers to use and do not technically exercise direct control over rideshare drivers since they can work at any time they choose and stop at any point. Thus, in most cases, Uber and Lyft cannot be held liable for a victim’s injuries.
Uber or Lyft could be held liable if it can be proved that they were negligent in the hiring process or they failed to cancel an unsafe driver’s access to their app, which is rare. While suing Uber or Lyft is usually not an option, many paths to compensation remain. Uber and Lyft are each required to maintain insurance policies for accidents involving their rideshare drivers, which have high limits to cover a victim’s injuries. Our Macon Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can review your case to help you determine what recovery options are available.
The Process to Recover Compensation After a Macon Uber and Lyft Accident
Recovering compensation after being injured in an Uber or Lyft accident can be a difficult process to navigate considering the insurance rules involved. Rideshare companies in Georgia are required to carry a certain amount of insurance coverage but accessing those benefits will depend on the rideshare driver’s status when the accident occurred. Fortunately, Uber and Lyft insurance will be available for most of the scenarios described, only at adjusted amounts depending on the circumstances.
Uber and Lyft Drivers with a Passenger or Picking Up a Passenger
Suppose you were an Uber or Lyft passenger when the accident occurred, or the rideshare driver was carrying a passenger or accepted a ride request on the app. In that case, the maximum amount of Uber or Lyft insurance coverage will be available. For accidents involving active or accepted passengers, Uber and Lyft offer $1,000,000 in liability coverage for injuries, death, and property damage. In addition, they also provide $1,000,000 in underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage. This type of Uber and Lyft insurance coverage kicks in after the rideshare driver accepts a request on the app and lasts until the driver completes the ride request.
Uber and Lyft Drivers Without a Passenger But Logged Onto the App
If a rideshare driver is logged onto the app but has yet to accept a ride, they are still considered on duty. Still, the amount of insurance coverage available will be less than those involving passengers. Uber and Lyft provide up to $50,000 per person per accident and $100,000 per accident for victims injured in an accident with an on-duty driver without a passenger. This tends to happen when a rideshare driver cruises around, waiting for a ride request. Uber and Lyft will also cover up to $25,000 per accident for property damage that results.
Off-Duty Uber and Lyft Drivers
Uber and Lyft’s insurance is unavailable if the accident occurs while a rideshare driver is off duty. In this situation, you could file a claim against the negligent driver’s insurance for damages, and your insurance for additional damages, if necessary. However, Georgia is an at-fault state, meaning you can sue a negligent driver to recover compensation without filing for insurance or if the driver’s insurance coverage was insufficient to cover your injuries.
Filing a Lawsuit for Damages
Filing a lawsuit against a negligent driver is often the best option to recover the full damages that you are entitled to when Uber or Lyft’s insurance will not provide coverage. A lawsuit can help show the other side that you are serious about your case. Most insurance companies would rather settle a case than risk losing at trial and are more likely to offer a fair settlement amount when legal counsel backs you. Our Macon Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can review the circumstances of your case to help determine the best options to recover compensation for your injuries.
The Time Limit to File an Uber and Lyft Accident Lawsuit in Macon
Every state has a time limit for filing a personal injury lawsuit known as the statute of limitations. In Georgia, O.C.G.A.§ 9-3-33 provides Uber and Lyft accident victims two years to file a lawsuit in Macon. While this might seem like a long time, it can pass deceptively fast. In most cases, if you do not file your lawsuit within two years of the date of the accident, you will be barred from recovering compensation from the court. Our Macon Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can help you identify the statute of limitations in your case and ensure that you do not miss out on the vital compensation you need.
Our Macon Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyers Can Help
If you were injured in an Uber or Lyft accident, our experienced Macon Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can help you by providing you with a free assessment of your case. Contact Howe Law today at (844) 876-4357.
