You probably used a rideshare service at least once in your life. In recent years, services like Uber and Lyft have become extremely popular. At least 36% of the U.S. population reports using rideshare services at least once a month. What happens when you are involved in an accident as a rideshare passenger? What legal options can you pursue to receive compensation?
Consulting a rideshare accident lawyer is an essential step as it allows you to focus on recovery while you receive legal help in pursuing your claim.
How a Rideshare Accident Lawyer Can Help
Accidents are an unfortunate risk whenever you enter a car. Although rideshare services don’t report the number of non-fatal crashes per year, independent statistics reveal that there were 97 fatal Uber crashes between 2017 and 2018. If you have recently been in a rideshare accident, you may be dealing with some degree of injury, medical expenses, and some days off work.
Did you know that the rideshare service you used is required by law to pay you enough damages to cover your financial hit? A Platte rideshare accident lawyer will handle all the complex legal processes, including consulting with medical professionals to get an appraisal of your injuries, projected treatment costs, and negotiate with insurance providers.
You can handle a personal injury suit against a rideshare service on your own, but your chances of success increase when you have a lawyer by your side.
Laborde Earles injury was great for me they took care of me very fast and professional. If for any reason I need legal help they will be who I use.
ClientEstablishing Liability for a Rideshare Accident
Whether it’s a personal car or a rideshare service, the passengers of a vehicle are not usually held liable for accidents. Drivers control their cars, and they must drive carefully while observing traffic rules. However, passengers can be given partial responsibility in some rare cases if they engage in the following reckless behavior:
- Encouraging the driver to engage in reckless driving: This is especially common among teenage drivers, and it includes irresponsible activities like speeding and drag racing.
- Distracting the driver in any way: This can be by talking to them, arguing, hitting them, and performing any action that prevents them from focusing on driving.
- Interfering with the driver’s ability to operate the vehicle: For example, a passenger can pull the driver’s hands off the steering wheel, causing events that lead to an accident.
In such cases, a passenger could be partially liable for the crash and could be sued by other road users injured due to their recklessness. You would share liability with the driver, and your insurance provider may have to pay damages to the crash victims. If your lawyer proves that the driver’s recklessness or negligence led to the crash, you might receive the compensation you deserve.
Does Car Insurance Cover Rideshare Passengers?
Rideshare services like Lyft and Uber provide coverage for their passengers injured in car accidents. Regardless of whether the driver was liable, the company’s insurance provider must pay for the passenger’s medical treatment.
Uber provides third-party liability worth $1,000,000 to cover their drivers in case of an accident. This includes $25,000 in property damage per accident, $50,000 in bodily injury per individual, and $100,000 in bodily injury per accident. Lyft also provides $1,000,000 for third part liability to its drivers.
Note that you may lose the right to receive financial compensation if you agree to ride in a vehicle whose driver is known to be tired or intoxicated. If you know that the driver has a history of reckless driving and still chose to ride with them, you could undermine your ability to file a successful personal injury claim.
I thank God for Digger & David. I don’t know what we would have done if it hadn’t have been for them.
Rick Smith | ClientDamages You Can Claim for Car Accident Injuries
You’re probably wondering what kind of damages you could receive once you file a personal injury claim against a rideshare service. Ideally, the at-fault’s insurer should provide enough damages to cover all the losses resulting from the crash.
The common damages you can get include:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of consortium or companionship
- Wrongful death if the accident victim doesn’t survive the crash
Wrongful death damages may cover the cost of pre-death medical treatment, funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial contribution, the loss of services and support, and emotional distress of surviving family members. If the driver’s behavior was highly reckless or negligent, you might also receive punitive damages.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientWhat to Do After a Rideshare Accident in Ville Platte
Call the police and paramedics if you can. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may have to receive emergency treatment as soon as possible. Once you have been checked out thoroughly, ensure to follow your treatment plan. This serves two purposes–it ensures your injuries are treated quickly and increases your chances of getting fair compensation as it proves that your injuries were severe enough to warrant emergency treatment.
The next step would be to collect evidence of the crash to build your personal injury case. A Ville Platte rideshare accident lawyer could help. We will be better equipped to collect evidence of the crash and liaise with the police and medical professionals to get a better picture of the collision, subsequent injuries, and the cost of treatment.
Your lawyer will then negotiate with insurance providers or argue your case in court if necessary. Always correspond with the at-fault’s insurer and other people involved in the accident through your lawyer to protect your rights and your claim.
They treated us like no other people would. Whenever we needed something they were there for us. I put my trust in them and I don’t regret it.
ClientContact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers for a Free Case Review
Have you been injured in a rideshare accident in Ville Platte? You might get compensation from the driver’s insurance provider. However, the claim process is often complex and lengthy. Pursuing it alone while recuperating from injuries may be complicated.
Hiring Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers will allow you to focus on rest and recovery as we gather evidence and deal with police and insurance representatives. Call us today for a free consultation.
