Ridesharing is a popular way to get around cities when you don’t have a vehicle, but getting into one carries risks. If your rideshare driver gets into an accident, they could leave you with injuries that could put you out of work and into deep debt. Fortunately, there are insurance policies that could cover the costs of your accident.
Our personal injury lawyers in Conyers at John Foy & Associates can help you find the right party and the right insurance company to make a claim. If necessary, we will sue the responsible party in court to get you what you deserve.
Who Is Liable in My Rideshare Accident?
Since a rideshare driver works for a company, there are more possible parties that could be liable for your accident. In order to get compensation, we have to prove which party holds the most responsibility for your accident.
Like any auto accident, either driver could be the at-fault driver, along with parties like car manufacturers, part manufacturers, mechanics, agencies responsible for maintaining roadways, and more. The difference in a rideshare accident is when your driver is the at-fault party.
The two major rideshare companies, Uber and Lyft, have policies of up to $1 million to cover passenger injuries. However, these policies only kick in while you are a passenger on an official ride. Drivers also get extra coverage while waiting for rides as long as they are on the clock. Otherwise, you’ll have to go through the driver’s personal insurance.
How do I Prove Liability in My Accident?
Proving liability in any personal injury case rests on four principles of law. When all four are met, you can claim compensation. They are duty, breach, causation, and damages. Here’s what they are in brief:
- Duty – The duty of care is the responsibility the driver has to keep you safe on the ride. All drivers, rideshare or not, assume this duty for anyone on the roadway, including passengers. Showing you were in the vehicle would prove duty.
- Breach – This is the act of negligence that caused a breach in the duty of care. Put simply, it’s finding out who screwed up and how they screwed up to put you in a dangerous situation.
- Causation – We also have to show that the breach caused your injuries. A driver can be negligent without causing a crash, and you could have been injured for another reason. A prompt visit with a doctor after your crash can help prove causation.
- Damages – Finally, we have to show that you suffered financial losses or other non-economic damages because of your injury. When we add up the value of these, that’s the amount of compensation we fight for on your behalf.
In a car accident, the first three are usually easy to prove, especially in a rideshare situation. Odds are high that you had nothing to do with your accident, so you don’t have to worry about sharing responsibility. Thus, your case is mostly a matter of arguing over the damages, which your Conyers rideshare accident attorney can calculate.
What Insurance Policies do Uber and Lyft Carry?
Drivers of Uber and Lyft get special insurance coverage as part of their job, but since they can work at any time, the status of the driver’s app is proof that they are on the clock. Also, the value varies depending on whether there is an active passenger or if they are waiting for a ride.
If the driver is on the clock and waiting for a ride or driving toward one, they have the following coverage:
- Property damage – $25,000 per accident
- Bodily injury – $50,000 per person or $100,000 per accident
Once their passenger enters the car and the ride starts, the coverage jumps to one million dollars. Other rideshare companies may have different coverage. If your driver doesn’t work for Uber or Lyft, speak with John Foy & Associates, and we can find out the coverage details.
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Will I Need to Go to Court?
Nearly all accident cases are settled out of court, but until we take on your case, it’s hard to tell if you will need to go to court or not. What’s important is to find a lawyer like us who will both work for a settlement and prepare to go to court on your behalf.
If you do have to go to court, you’ll probably won’t have to show up in person. Our rideshare accident lawyers in Conyers will represent you while you recover from your accident. Throughout your entire case, we will keep you informed of the progress of your situation.
Find a Conyers Rideshare Accident Lawyer
It’s important to find a lawyer with experience in rideshare accidents if you get into a crash while riding one. It can be much different from a standard car accident! John Foy & Associates has helped many people in Conyers settle their Uber and Lyft accidents.
To get started on your case, call us or contact us through our website. We will schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with you. We look forward to representing you.
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