Ridesharing is one of the most unique and innovative inventions we have today. Many people enjoy the convenience of it. All you have to do is press a few buttons on your phone and a driver picks you up and drops you off to wherever you have to go. It’s a great alternative to taxis. When the unexpected happens you have to be prepared. Getting in an accident in an Uber/Lyft is new and scary. What are you supposed to do? Who’s liable? Who do you report to? One thing you have to take in account is that Uber/Lyft drivers do not have formal training like taxi drivers. Just about anyone can become a driver for these ridesharing companies. More and more rideshare accidents are happening everyday. This is a very complex issue and you want to make sure you have the right people on your side when filing a claim.
Get Information
The first thing you need to be concerned with is getting all the information you can. Make sure you get all the specifics of the accident that you can get. This includes the time of the day the accident occurred, the location of the accident, and the road conditions. You must also get all the information you can about your Uber/Lyft driver. Get their name, address, and phone number. You will also need to get the information about the other driver(s) involved in the accident, meaning their name, phone number, and address as well. Also try to get information about your Uber/Lyft driver’s insurance. Take down all the vehicle information too. This includes the make, model, and license plate number. Get the names, phone, numbers, and addresses of any witnesses at the scene. That will definitely help your case as well as taking plenty of pictures to provide evidence. The more information you have the better. It’ll be easier when you come to court.
Filing a Claim Against Uber/Lyft
If you decide to file an injury claim against Lyft, then you have to understand the terms in which you can do that. You can do this when you are a passenger in the Uber/Lyft and you are the one injured. This is regardless of who caused the accident. You can also file a claim if you are in rideshare and injured or if you are a driver hit by rideshare driver where they are at fault. Typically in this scenario, rideshare company should be able to compensate you for your injuries. The last case is when you are a rideshare driver and you’re hurt in a crash that is someone else’s fault. If that driver has low coverage insurance or no insurance at all, then you could file a claim with your company’s uninsured/underinsured motorist policy.
Who is liable?
Uber/Lyft considers their drivers independent contractors. This means when you’re injured in a car accident, you can directly sue them as well. Utah requires Uber/Lyft to have insurance policies that cover up to $1 million in damages. They also may deny liability under certain circumstances. If you can’t get compensation from Uber/Lyft’s insurance company then you will have to prove at fault negligence from the driver.
When you get into an accident in an Uber/Lyft it can be scary and confusing. It’s such a new technology and you may not know the laws surrounding it. We take these cases very seriously. You want someone who can handle your case and is an expert in the field. At Jardine Law Office our Uber Accident Attorney Salt Lake City will fight for you to get proper compensation. Schedule a free consultation today using this contact form or call us at 801-350-3506 for a free case evaluation.