In recent years, rideshare services have become a go-to option for many people looking to quickly get from point A to B. Whether running everyday errands or commuting from the workplace, these fast, convenient transportation solutions are ideal transportation options.
In fact, the most popular rideshare service completed 7.6 billion trips worldwide in 2022 alone.
With that many trips, there are bound to be rideshare accidents as there are with any type of driving. However, when you’re involved in a rideshare accident, knowing exactly who is liable for damages can become confusing.
Can the other driver be liable? What about your own driver — are they possibly liable for any injuries you may have sustained? What about the rideshare company themselves — are they responsible for damages in any way?
These are all questions many people who have been involved in a rideshare accident commonly ask.Below, we’ll look at how rideshare accidents are resolved and who may be held liable for damages sustained by passengers.
How Do Rideshare Accidents Work?
In the case of a Lyft or Uber accident involving a rideshare driver and passenger, the initial investigation by the police is similar to any auto accident.
If there are injuries, the police will try to determine the facts and circumstances that led up to the accident which can point to who was at fault in their initial report.
Depending on the outcome, this can mean one party is fully at fault, or it may show a combination of actions by both drivers that may have contributed to the accident.
This is also why it’s essential to make sure the police are called if you are in a rideshare-related accident. A formal police report will help your attorney decide which party is liable for your damages.
Rideshare Driver
In possible Uber car accidents or Lyft accidents, the rideshare driver may be the one who is ultimately responsible for the accident, and therefore, their insurance will be used to cover any injuries or other damages you suffered.
The rideshare driver may be at fault if they were speeding or otherwise driving unsafely at the time of the accident. Impairment could be any reason the rideshare driver may be at fault. If they were intoxicated or otherwise impaired by illegal or prescription drugs, this could put them at fault.
Finally, some states have limits on how many hours a driver can be behind the wheel while driving commercially. If a driver exceeded this limit, it may make them liable for an accident.
Other Driver
It may also be that the other driver was fully or partially at fault. In these cases, your lawyer would likely seek damages from that driver’s insurance. If it was a commercial vehicle, they may also seek damages from the company operating or contracting the commercial vehicle at the time.
Rideshare Company
Rideshare drivers are required to carry their own insurance with certain minimum coverages as well as other stipulations depending on the state they operate in. However, the rideshare companies also offer further insurance coverage on top of this personal coverage carried by the drivers.
This additional coverage by rideshare companies is often up to an extra $1 million.
So, does Uber cover accidents? The answer is yes, in some cases.
It’s possible in some cases that the rideshare driver and the rideshare company may share responsibility for the accident. In these cases, your lawyer will decide whether to file a claim against both the driver and the rideshare company or just one.
It’s important to note that rideshare accidents are often far more complex than an accident between two private parties. However, this complexity doesn’t mean that you should avoid trying to seek compensation.
You are entitled to receive compensation for any injuries sustained in the rideshare accident, but also for any additional issues common with auto accidents.
This can include lost wages, pain and suffering claims, and other expenses related to your injuries or recovery.
Rideshare Accidents are Complex
Accidents in an Uber or accidents with a Lyft driver are relatively new occurrences, at least legally speaking. They often involve a rideshare company, a private party working part-time in a commercial capacity, and another party, which may be operating a private or commercial vehicle.
To complicate matters further, the laws in some states have yet to fully catch up with this new reality, making navigating the process and resolution of a rideshare accident that much more difficult.
Accidents in Lyfts and Ubers also can involve several different levels of insurance coverage by all parties involved, but because of this, seeking substantial damages for your injuries is very possible despite being a complex process.
For this to happen, though, you have to follow a few steps in the event that you are involved in a rideshare accident. We’ll explain those steps in the next section.
Have you been in a rideshare accident and need help with pre-settlement funding? Oasis is here to help!
What to Do After a Rideshare Accident
If you’ve been involved in a Lyft driver accident or an Uber driver accident, it’s essential to follow a few key steps immediately afterward and in the days and weeks that follow.
This will ensure you can receive the maximum amount of damages you are entitled to for any injuries you sustained.
Immediately After the Accident
Make sure the accident is reported to the police immediately before anyone leaves the scene.
Without a police report, determining who is at fault can be more difficult for your lawyer. It may also be challenging to determine other factors, such as impairment or negligence by either party.
If the Other Driver Flees the Scene
If the other driver flees the scene after the accident and is at fault, this may seem like it would make recovering damages impossible. But rideshare drivers are required to carry extra insurance coverage to deal with this and other scenarios.
These include:
- Non-insured or underinsured insurance
- No-fault PIP (personal injury protection)
Report Any Injuries and Seek Medical Attention
If you are injured in any way, communicate those injuries with police or others on the scene. You should also seek medical care immediately.
If the police or other first responders on the scene offer or suggest transportation to an emergency room, do so.
Follow all medical advice while being treated, which includes all follow-up visits and consultations after your initial treatment.
Although seeking immediate medical care is the best option, it is sometimes the case where the full extent of an injury is not felt until days later.
So even if you thought you were not injured initially, if subsequent pain or injuries present themselves, make sure to have them evaluated as soon as possible.
Contact a Qualified Attorney
When your medical condition is stable enough, contact a lawyer specializing in auto accidents, preferably rideshare accidents. This is the first and most important step when seeking damages in rideshare accidents.
Also, be sure to refrain from signing any agreements or accepting any offers from other insurance companies related to the accident before connecting with a lawyer.
Once you have contacted a lawyer, all contact with the other parties should be through your attorney. This is because the responsible parties and their insurance companies may push back strongly against your claims.
They may try to minimize the severity of your injuries or offer little in the way of compensation. Having an attorney who can negotiate or initiate a lawsuit for your claims will ensure you get the total amount you are entitled to.
Receiving Your Damages or Settlement
If you have been injured in a rideshare accident, you likely are experiencing financial hardships. Losing wages, medical bills, and other expenses can add up quickly.
Unfortunately, the settlement process can take some time to fully resolve and for you to receive your money.
However, many victims of rideshare accidents may qualify for pre-settlement funding. This financial service can allow an accident victim to receive funds before their final settlement is paid out.
This can be a massive relief to those already struggling with hardships and difficulties due to their injuries. Often, it can be a much-needed lifeline through a challenging and trying time.
It is important to note that this type of financial service is not legal representation nor a replacement for legal representation. Instead, it is a unique and trusted financial service that helps accident victims access settlement funds sooner.
Rideshare Accidents and Settlements
Those who have been injured in a rideshare accident often face mounting medical bills and other expenses that can weigh heavily on their mind.
But there is help in pre-settlement funding that provides a unique way for qualified victims to access funds while their personal injury claims are pending.
Oasis Financial has helped countless injury victims access the tools and financial help they need while they navigate the complicated personal injury litigation process. This can be due to a rideshare accident or any other personal injury case.
Contact Oasis Financial today to learn how our services can help you secure the help you need as you wait for a resolution to your personal injury claim.
The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. No attorney-client or confidential relationship is or will be formed by use of the site. Readers of this website should contact their attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular legal matter. No reader, user, or browser of this site should act or refrain from acting on the basis of information on this site without first seeking legal advice from counsel in the relevant jurisdiction.
Oasis provides pre-settlement funding, also known as consumer litigation funding, to its customers through different products depending on their state of residence or cause of action. Many consumers will be provided pre-settlement funding in the form of a purchase agreement, which assigns a portion of the pending proceeds from their legal claim. Other consumers, such as those in SC and CO will be offered a funding in the form of a pre-settlement loan, sometimes referred to as a lawsuit loan. These transactions have important differences, therefore, consumers should carefully review and be aware of the type of transaction that is offered to them by any funding company.