Living in Carrollton, we are accustomed to using ridesharing services to help us get to our destinations. However, if you are injured during a rideshare accident, deciding how best to proceed can be challenging. Even worse, the rideshare company or insurance companies are giving you a difficult time as you are trying to recover from your injuries.
John Foy & Associates is The Strong Arm you need when you or your loved one has been in a situation with a rideshare company. To speak with a qualified Carrollton personal injury lawyer, call our office at your earliest convenience.
How Often Are Ridesharing Services Used?
The ridesharing industry has become a $61 billion industry within the last decade. Statistics reveal that nearly 25% of the American population uses a ridesharing service at least once a month. Because of popular demand for these ridesharing services, it is only inevitable that an accident is bound to happen.
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Who Is Most at Risk of Being Injured in an Uber or Lyft Accident?
Rideshare accidents can injure passengers, drivers, other drivers who are not in the rideshare program, and pedestrians.
Passengers of Uber and Lyft Vehicles
If you are the passenger during a rideshare trip, it can be terrifying to be involved in a rideshare accident. You are placing a certain amount of trust in your driver that they can transport you to your destination safely. Whether the rideshare accident is the fault of your driver or not, that trust is broken.
Uber and Lyft Drivers
If you are a driver with a particular rideshare company, there is a specific risk you take while driving under the rideshare app. If you are involved in a rideshare accident, Uber or Lyft may include an insurance policy that covers your passenger but does not provide coverage for you. Even more alarming, your passenger may attempt to hold you liable for their injuries through your personal auto insurance policy.
Other Motorists Not Driving for a Rideshare Service
Drivers in a rideshare program share the road with other motorists. However, that does not mean that these drivers can ignore all traffic rules and regulations. You can be at risk of colliding with a rideshare driver driving recklessly and may not know who to hold liable for the rideshare accident.
The rideshare driver may also attempt to accuse you of being the at-fault driver of the accident to avoid being terminated from the Uber or Lyft program.
Pedestrians Crossing the Street or Walking on a Sidewalk
You can also be the victim of a rideshare accident if you are struck by a rideshare driver while walking or bicycling. Rideshare drivers may be so focused on picking up or dropping off that they may fail to notice you or your loved one crossing an intersection or walking within a popular area. You have the right of way as a pedestrian, and rideshare drivers violate your right when they injure you because of their negligent actions.
How to Hold Rideshare Companies Liable for Car Accidents
At John Foy & Associates, our rideshare accident lawyers in Carrollton believe that rideshare companies should be held liable for your injuries in an accident. Regardless of whether you are an injured passenger, rideshare driver, pedestrian, or not even involved in the rideshare program, the rideshare company owes you a specific duty of care. Our Carrollton rideshare accident attorneys are capable of holding rideshare companies liable in several ways:
Determining Liability in a Rideshare Accident
We understand how important it is to determine the liability of a rideshare accident. Rideshare companies attempt to avoid liability for their drivers’ actions by classifying them as independent contractors instead of employees. However, rideshare companies can still be held liable if their drivers were logged into the app and a passenger was in the process of being dropped off.
Determining Negligence in a Rideshare Accident
Another way our Carrollton Rideshare accident lawyers can hold rideshare companies liable is by establishing negligence on the company’s part. To establish negligence, you must prove that the rideshare company owed a duty of care to its customers, and the duty of care was breached. This form of negligence can range from failing to properly investigate a driver’s background check to failing to terminate a dangerous driver after several violations.
Holding Rideshare Drivers Accountable for Car Accidents
It is easy to determine whether the rideshare driver is liable for an accident, unlike determining if Uber or Lyft were responsible. Typically, we can access electronic records from the rideshare app to determine whether the driver was logged in at the time of the accident.
If the driver was logged in at the time of the accident with a passenger in their vehicle, the driver and the rideshare company could be held liable for your injuries.
If the driver was not logged in or logged in without a passenger in their vehicle, the rideshare company could not be held responsible for the driver’s accident.
How Other Drivers Can Be Held Liable for a Rideshare Accident
If another driver has injured you during a rideshare accident, you can hold that driver liable once they have been found at fault. The other driver’s auto insurance policy can cover any compensation you pursue through legal matters. Uber or Lyft might also have the option of third-party insurance coverage, where you can seek compensation from the rideshare company after being injured by a third-party driver.
Speak to a Rideshare Accident Attorney in Carrollton for Free
We know rideshare accidents can be painful and stressful. We also know that you or your loved one do not want to take on a legal battle as you are trying to heal. Don’t let the legal side of a rideshare accident keep you up at night.
At John Foy & Associates, our Carrollton rideshare accident lawyers are more than capable of taking the reins and guiding you through the claim process. Call our office, or submit our contact form to schedule a consultation with a Carrollton rideshare accident lawyer about your injuries.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
