These days, if you need a taxi, you call a rideshare service, such as Uber or Lyft. Rideshare services are convenient. However, rideshare companies don’t train their drivers. Their drivers are just ordinary folks trying to make some extra income. If you were injured in an Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare accident, you should contact an Atlanta Uber and Lyft accident lawyer as soon as possible.
At Graham Scofield Injury Lawyers our Atlanta car accident lawyers have successfully represented many Uber and Lyft accident victims. We’ll deliver the best customer service and the greatest result. Our prior victories and our 5-star client reviews validate that promise.
Call us today at (404) 939-9470. Also, you may fill-out our online contact form to schedule a free case review with an Atlaanta Uber and Lyft accident lawyer. If you’ve got questions, we’ve got the answers.
Common Rideshare Accident Causes
Careless rideshare drivers often cause accidents. Some rideshare accidents are even fatal. For instance, in 2017-2018 there were 107 Uber accident fatalties.
Here are some common Uber and Lyft driver behaviors that cause accidents:
Uber and Lyft drivers accept ride requests through a mobile device app. That app pings them while they drive. When a rideshare driver hears the ping, they take their eyes off of the road and check their mobile device. Even a momentary side glance can cause an accident.
Uber and Lyft drivers are often sleep deprived. When they drive exhausted, they risk their passenger’s safety.
Rideshare drivers are compensated based on the number of fares they complete each night. Many of them drive quickly so that they can complete the fare and receive their next opportunity. Unfortunately, that behavior causes many car accidents.
Some Uber and Lyft drivers speed, tailgate, improperly change lanes, and make unsafe maneuvers. If you were injured by a reckless rideshare driver, you should call an Uber accident lawyer.
Uber and Lyft drivers cannot drive intoxicated. However, some of them consume alcohol and drugs in between rides. If you were injured in rideshare accident caused by an intoxicated driver, you should contact an Atlanta drunk driving accident lawyer.
Rideshare drivers that hurry through construction zones are much likelier to cause crashes.
Uber and Lyft drivers must safely maintain their vehicles. However, rideshare companies rarely check that the vehicles are safe. That causes many preventible accidents.
I Was Injured In An Uber/Lyft Accident
If you were injured as a rideshare passenger, call an Atlanta Uber and Lyft accident lawyer right away. Your lawyer will determine how the accident occurred. If the rideshare driver caused the collision, your lawyer will file an insurance claim with their insurer. If another driver caused the collision, your lawyer will file a claim with that driver’s liability insurer. You might also be able to file an uninsured or underinsured motorist claim with Uber or Lyft if the other driver didn’t have sufficient insurance coverage.
If you’ve got questions about what you should do after a car accident, contact an Atlanta car accident lawyer.
Compensation After an Uber Accident
If you were injured in an Uber or Lyft accident, we can help. Our team will determine how the collision occurred. Next, we’ll determine whether there’s insurance coverage. Then, if there is coverage, we’ll help you recover compensation.
You may recover the following damages:
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Medical costs
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Property damage
Can I Sue An Uber Or Lyft Driver If I Wasn’t A Passenger?
Yes. If a careless Uber or Lyft driver injured you, you can sue them, as well as Uber or Lyft if they’re:
- Carrying a customer.
- On their way to pick-up a customer.
- Or, if they’re waiting to accept a new customer.
The amount of available insurance coverage depends upon whether the rideshare driver was carrying a customer, or “on the clock,” but not carrying a customer. Uber and Lyft provide $1 million of liability insurance coverage if their driver injured you while the driver transported a customer.
If the Uber or Lyft driver injured you while they were “on the clock,” but not carrying a customer, Uber and Lyft only provide $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per injured victim with a total of $100,000 bodily injury coverage per accident no matter how many victims are injured.
The Uber or Lyft driver isn’t “on the clock” simply because they have a rideshare sign on their vehicle. Moreover, if it turns out that the driver wasn’t “on the clock,” Uber and Lyft won’t provide any coverage for your injuries. In that case, you can only sue the at-fault driver. Also, you can file an uninsured or underinsured motorist claim with your own insurer if that driver has insufficient coverage.
What If I’m Injured In a Taxi Cab?
Most taxi services only provide $25,000 bodily injury insurance coverage per car accident. Those taxi services think that they don’t have to play by the rules because they’re smaller operations than Uber and Lyft.
Indeed, for decades, taxi companies refused to cover any car accident injuries. They contend that their drivers are “independent contractors.” When Uber and Lyft launched, they thought they could just follow the taxi companies’ model. But, they soon learned that they couldn’t escape responsibility for harming the public.
Contact an Atlanta Uber Accident Lawyer for Help
If you were involved in a rideshare accident, you should call an Atlanta Uber and Lyft accident lawyer. Our Atlanta car accident lawyers represented many rideshare accident victims. Just give us a call. We’re here to help you.
Call us today at (404) 939-9470. Also, you may fill-out our online contact form to schedule a free case review.
