Stonecrest
Rideshare Accident Lawyer

Rideshares like Uber or Lyft are very popular in Georgia and throughout the country. However, accidents do happen, and when a contracted driver gets into a crash, it can be hard to tell who is liable. A personal injury lawyer in Stonecrest can help you understand your claim and how you can get compensation.

Read more about rideshare accidents and what your options are for compensation. When you’re ready to talk to someone about your case, you can reach us at John Foy & Associates for a free consultation 24/7.

Can a Rider Sue Uber or Lyft?

Ridesharing is helpful for many people. However, there are several potential problems with these services. If a rideshare company has an organizational problem that led to your accident, they could be liable for your damages.

Poor Screening and Training

The requirements to become an Uber or Lyft driver are pretty loose. If someone has a driver’s license and a new enough vehicle, they can likely become a driver.

Unlike companies with employees, ridesharing companies don’t need to train drivers. This can put motorists on the road without proper experience. Passengers should consider these risks when using ridesharing services.

After an accident, it’s tough to sue Uber or Lyft. However, the company could be at fault if they didn’t screen a driver properly. Talk to a Stonecrest rideshare accident attorney if you believe the company was careless in your crash.

Problems With Rideshare Claims

You can probably see from above that rideshare insurance is complicated. There might be several policies at play after an accident. If you were injured in a crash, the insurance coverage options are confusing.

Insurance companies will also look for ways to pay as little as possible. The insurer might try to avoid paying at all. You will need to know your rights before filing one or more claims.

An experienced personal injury attorney can help you make sense of your options. Your lawyer can also communicate with the insurance companies for you. You won’t have to worry about accepting less than you deserve.

How Insurance Covers Ridesharing Accidents

Insurance is more complicated with ridesharing accidents versus other crashes:

• When one driver hits another, the first driver is legally responsible. The injured driver can file a claim with the first driver’s insurance company.
• When a ridesharing driver is at fault, one of several insurance policies could apply.

The way a ridesharing accident happens determines the insurance coverage. While Uber and Lyft do have insurance for drivers, it doesn’t always apply.

For example, here is how Lyft’s insurance policies work:

Driver Is Offline

All drivers must carry their own auto insurance. The amount must at least meet the state’s minimums.

In Georgia, the minimum coverage is:

• Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
• Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident

The driver’s own insurance applies if they are not “on the clock.” In other words, the driver is offline and not using the app to accept rides.

Coverage will depend on the driver’s policy. If the driver only has minimum coverage, that will limit what you can recover for your damages.

Driver Is Available

If the driver causes an accident while available in the app, but they haven’t accepted a ride yet, insurance is more complicated.

First, the driver’s own insurance will apply. But the insurance company might not cover an accident that involves ridesharing. If the driver’s insurer won’t pay, the ridesharing company’s insurance applies.

Lyft and Uber provide third-party insurance for this situation:

• Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
• Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident

You might need to determine which company will cover your accident. If you’re not sure, contact a personal injury attorney.

Driver Is Picking Up or Carrying a Passenger

If a driver is on the way to get a passenger or has a passenger, Uber and Lyft provide their full coverage.

Both companies offer a $1 million policy for drivers. However, that doesn’t mean you will have full access to that amount. The insurance company will fight to protect its money, so you can probably expect a lowball offer.

A rideshare accident attorney can protect your rights. By showing how much your damages are and why you’re owed compensation, your lawyer can protect your rights as a rideshare rider. You can learn more about what our team can do at a free initial consultation.

What to Do After a Rideshare Accident

You can start protecting your rights after a ridesharing accident. Here are some steps that will help you build an injury claim after the crash.

Address Your Injuries

Your well-being is the most important after an Uber or Lyft accident. If you have severe or life-threatening injuries, call 911 for an ambulance. Don’t wait to get medical attention. Also, help anyone else with serious injuries get treatment at the scene too.

If you don’t need an ambulance, see a doctor as soon as possible after leaving the scene. Waiting too long to get treatment will hurt your case.

The insurance company will look for proof of your injuries. If the adjuster sees you waited too long to get treatment, they will doubt your injuries. Waiting to get help can significantly reduce your compensation options.

Document the Scene

Call the police after the accident. You are legally required to report any accident with:

• Physical injuries
• Deaths
• At least $500 in property damage

Officers should create an accident report, which is crucial for your injury claim. A crash report is the first official document of your accident. You will need to get a copy of this report for your records.

Besides calling the police, you can document the scene by:

• Taking pictures of your injuries and vehicle damage
• Photographing the entire accident scene
• Getting contact information for witnesses

Gather whatever evidence you can from the scene. The more you can record, the better it will be for your case.

If you’re not sure what to do, contact a rideshare accident lawyer in Stonecrest. Your attorney can start gathering the most robust evidence from your crash.

Contact a Lawyer

An experienced lawyer can help with all the above steps and more. They can also protect your rights if the insurance company tries to take advantage of you.

Damages from an Uber or Lyft Accident

After a ridesharing accident, you have rights. However, these crashes are different from other accidents. You will need to know where to file a legal claim.

Before filing your claim, you’ll need to know your damages. Personal injury damages are any losses from your accident. You might have damages like:

• Doctor and hospital bills
• Emergency medical care
• Medication costs
• Future medical treatment
• Pain and suffering
• Lost income
• Loss of future income

Unfortunately, some car accidents result in death. If you lost a loved one, you could have a wrongful death claim.

Wrongful Death Damages

Wrongful death claims can include damages like:

• Medical bills from the loved one’s last injuries
• Pain and suffering the loved one experienced before death
• Loss of income the loved one would have earned
• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of companionship

You should not have to pay for an accident you didn’t cause. Uber and Lyft accidents are no exception. If you or a loved one were a victim, you have legal rights. A Stonecrest rideshare accident attorney can help you recover compensation for all your damages, both past and future.

Talk to a Rideshare Accident Attorney in Stonecrest Today

Ridesharing accidents are often complicated and confusing. But you don’t have to handle yours alone. A Stonecrest rideshare accident lawyer from John Foy & Associates can handle the legal details while you focus on healing. Our team does not collect a fee unless we win you compensation.

To get a FREE initial consultation, call us or contact us online. Our attorneys are available to talk with you 24 hours a day.