Uber and Lyft’s services have become important fixtures in many peoples’ lives, but the drivers these companies use might not always be the safest drivers. If you were hit by an Uber or Lyft driver or you were injured as a passenger in a rideshare vehicle, then you could be entitled to compensation for the resulting injuries.
However, getting that compensation on your own might not be a simple task, and our attorneys will fight to get you compensation to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Insurance companies and Uber and Lyft themselves will often fight liability, and getting compensation might even mean going to court.
Call Howe Law’s Uber and Lyft accident lawyers today for a free review of your case by dialing (844) 876-4357.
Suing Uber/Lyft for Accidents in Stonecrest, GA
When a company causes accidents and injuries, you should be able to hold it responsible. People often sue trucking companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and even stores for injuries that are ultimately caused by the individual people who work for those companies. You might think that the same kind of rules should apply to these companies, but these companies often take steps to cut off liability and protect themselves from lawsuits.
One of the main ways they do this is by hiring drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. Rules that allow you to sue an employer for an employee’s negligence on the job typically do not apply to independent contractors. Like with many other “gig economy” jobs, Rideshare drivers are not employees, which means that the company is not legally responsible for the drivers in most cases. Instead, drivers are treated like they are their own company or self-employed, so our Uber and Lyft accident attorneys can only sue them as individuals for accidents. Even so, the drivers can still be held responsible for a crash just like any other driver can, and they should have insurance to cover the accidents they cause.
There are a few exceptions to this rule. First, Uber and Lyft might be held responsible for negligent hiring or retention if they have a driver that they should have known would be a danger to others. They are supposed to use diligent screening processes that look for criminal records, driving violations, and other issues with the driver. Second, Uber and Lyft might not be able to face vicarious liability in court for their drivers’ mistakes, but they do provide insurance coverage that might cover your accident.
Filing Insurance Claims for Uber and Lyft Crashes in Stonecrest, GA
When a driver hits you, their insurance should cover your accident and injuries. This is how Georgia auto insurance works, given that Georgia is a “fault” or “tort” state for car insurance as opposed to a “no-fault” state where the driver’s own insurance covers their injuries no matter who caused the accident. Uber and Lyft drivers should not only have their individual driver’s insurance, but they should also carry enhanced commercial driver’s insurance or rideshare driver’s insurance to cover the increased driving they do compared to everyday commuters.
The driver’s personal insurance should be the primary insurance to cover the accident for victims hit by an Uber/Lyft driver when they are off duty. This treats them like any other driver on the road. If they were working when they hit you, then their rideshare insurance should kick in to potentially cover higher damages.
However, both rideshare companies provide additional insurance that can supplement the driver’s coverage if the accident happens while they are on duty but before they have selected any rides. This additional coverage usually pays up to $50,000 per accident.
If there was a rider in the car or the driver was going pick up a rider, then both rideshare companies supply a special $1,000,000 policy that should cover as the primary insurance. This essentially works like a no-fault insurance policy and covers the riders, the driver, and any other injured parties. So even if you cannot sue Uber or Lyft, you might still be able to get money from their insurance policy if you got injured.
Suing Other Parties for Uber and Lyft Accidents in Stonecrest, GA
If you were hurt as a passenger in an Uber or Lyft accident, then chances are the Uber driver is not actually the one who was at fault. It is quite possible that another driver in another car was the one who caused the crash, and your driver might have been totally innocent or might have only contributed to the accident rather than being the sole at-fault driver. When this happens, your injury case might be more complex because there might be another driver – or drivers – to hold responsible.
In Georgia car accident cases, you can hold multiple drivers at fault. In a two-car crash, if both drivers’ actions contributed to the accident, then victims can get their fair share of compensation from each driver. In cases where passengers are injured, this could even mean getting 50% of the damages from each driver if the court finds they were equally at fault.
When you are an Uber or Lyft accident victim, the company’s insurance might cover your costs first and foremost, but you might need additional damages beyond the policy limit covered by the other driver. Our attorneys can help you determine which drivers shared fault and which drivers should also be defendants in your lawsuit or insurance claims.
Call Our Uber + Lyft Accident Attorneys in Stonecrest, GA Today
Call (844) 876-4357 today for a free case evaluation with our Uber and Lyft accident attorneys at Howe Law.
