When you get in an Uber, Lyft, or any other rideshare vehicle, you’re putting your trust in someone else’s hands. That means, if you’re injured because of another driver’s actions, they could be liable to pay for your damages. A personal injury lawyer in Stockbridge can help you recover compensation.
Read more about rideshare accidents in Georgia and the options that passengers and drivers who were affected by negligence have. When you’re ready to talk to someone about your claim, don’t hesitate to get in touch with John Foy & Associates for a free initial consultation.
At-Fault Parties in a Rideshare Accident
Rideshare accidents, in concept, go down just like any other car accident. In many cases, an at-fault driver (or multiple drivers) causes a crash through negligence. That means they weren’t paying attention to the road, they were speeding, or they were taking some other reckless action that led to an accident.
However, in a rideshare accident case, there are factors that could complicate the question of fault. That’s because of the added dimension of the rideshare driver being an employee (technically a contracted worker) of a company. That means you could be able to hold Uber, Lyft, or another company liable for your damages.
At-fault parties in a rideshare accident could include:
- The rideshare driver
- The rideshare company
- Another driver
- A mechanic or car manufacturer
Just because a certain party is at fault doesn’t mean they will be personally responsible for paying your damages. In most cases, an insurance company will actually be handling your compensation, even if you decide to take action against a rideshare company.
You’ll most likely want to hire a Stockbridge rideshare accident lawyer who knows how to negotiate with the insurance company and the other party. There will be people who try to reduce your compensation by tricking you or using your words against you. An attorney can keep that from happening.
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Rideshare Passenger Rights
If you were injured while you were in an Uber, Lyft, or another rideshare vehicle, you could be eligible for compensation. However, the party responsible for paying you could depend on what happened at the time of the accident and what the driver was doing.
Both Uber and Lyft provide differing levels of liability insurance to their drivers depending on what their status is in the app. Uber’s liability coverage applies only when a driver is using the app–they offer $1,000,000 in liability coverage during a trip or while picking up a passenger.
Lyft’s insurance coverage is similar, and they also offer $1,000,000 in third-party coverage when a passenger is in the car. Insurance coverage doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get all that money when you’re in a rideshare accident, though.
Rights to Compensation
Rideshare passengers have the right to collect compensation equal to the economic and non-economic damages that they suffered as a result of an at-fault party’s negligence. If the rideshare driver was at fault, their personal insurance or the rideshare company’s insurance will most likely go towards your compensatory damages.
The best way to protect your rights and maximize your compensation is by hiring a rideshare accident attorney. A lawyer will be able to calculate the full extent of your damages to show just how much you’re owed.
Can I Sue Uber or Lyft for a Rideshare Accident?
After a car accident, you should be able to hold every at-fault party accountable. In a normal crash, that might just be one or two drivers who acted recklessly. However, in a rideshare accident, there could be an extra party that you could pursue compensation from: the company that put you in that car in the first place.
Not every rideshare accident victim is able to sue a company like Uber or Lyft. Often, the blame is solely on the driver of the car, and the company’s insurance simply provides them an option to pay for your damages. Rideshare drivers are legally considered independent contractors.
However, in certain cases, victims can hold a rideshare company accountable for a driver’s actions. That can occur when the company should have known that the driver was unlicensed, irresponsible, or dangerous. If you and your lawyer can prove that the rideshare company violated its own hiring policies, they could be liable for your damages.
Suing a rideshare company isn’t easy, though. Lawsuits take a long time and the company may have high-powered lawyers. That’s why it’s important to hire an experienced rideshare accident lawyer in Stockbridge. A skilled attorney will know how to gather the evidence necessary for proving your claim.
Talk to a Rideshare Accident Attorney in Stockbridge for Free
Whether you were injured while riding in an Uber or Lyft or a rideshare driver crashed into you, you don’t deserve to pay for the consequences of someone else’s mistake. A Stockbridge rideshare accident lawyer from John Foy & Associates can help you recover compensation for your ordeal.
For your FREE initial consultation, call us or contact us online today. Our attorneys are on call to talk to you 24/7.
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