Have you ever experienced an Uber or Lyft ride that made you feel unsafe? Rideshare drivers can be engaged in dangerous driving for several reasons. Some drivers are overworked, sleep deprived or speeding around unfamiliar areas. Sometimes the vehicles themselves may have safety issues.
Statistics show that rideshare accidents do happen and should be a concern to the public. In a US Safety report, Uber announced that in 2019-2020, 101 fatalities occurred due to Uber-related crashes. Lyft also revealed that between 2017 and 2019, 105 fatalities occurred due to Lyft-related accidents. Fatalities are not the only type of injuries that happen in rideshare accidents. Drivers are likely reporting major injuries from accidents to these companies as well, with the companies neglecting to report these cases.
The majority of rideshare accidents involve third party victims including pedestrians and other motorists. However, drivers and riders are injured during rides as well.
Drivers can pursue a rideshare lawsuit if they were involved in an accident while driving for Uber and Lyft. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, a driver may be able to recover monetary compensation. Drivers are often compensated for lost income, medical bills, property damage and punitive damages.
Uber and Lyft are required to carry commercial auto insurance to protect rideshare accident victims. Here is what an rideshare driver needs to know in terms of insurance coverage if an Uber or Lyft accident occurs:
Lyft and Uber drivers should consider purchasing rideshare coverage for their personal car insurance policies. They also have the option of purchasing additional coverage from the rideshare company.
If you have been in an accident, an Uber or Lyft lawyer will advise you regarding insurance policies and claims. The process is often complicated and rideshare companies will put their interests before yours, making it important to work with a professional who regularly negotiates with rideshare companies.
If you have been hurt as a passenger in a rideshare accident, you may seek compensation for your losses from rideshare accidents. You are entitled to make a claim if it was your Uber or Lyft driver or another driver that caused the accident. Filing an Uber or Lyft lawsuit may result in compensation for pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost earnings, loss of future earning and other losses. You may also have a right to seek compensation from both parties.
Uber has a mandatory insurance policy that protects all victims of accidents that occur when the Uber driver has the app open on their phone. You could possibly be compensated up to $1 million for your injuries and financial losses if the Uber driver is proven to be at fault for the accident. You may be compensated for the majority of your financial losses by Uber or Lyft’s insurance policy, and additionally compensated from another party’s insurance company as well.
The 1-million-dollar insurance policy that both Uber and Lyft carry also covers victims who are not in the vehicle. This applies to pedestrians and other motorists. If the driver has the app open, the victim could seek compensation from Uber or Lyft.
Uber’s insurance policy will not provide insurance coverage if the app is not open and active on the driver’s mobile device. In this case, Uber’s insurance will not compensate victims’ medical expenses or other financial losses. This also applies to Lyft. In this situation, the victim may seek compensation from the driver’s personal auto insurance policy. You may still get the compensation from your own insurance policy. Another option is to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Once you have reported an accident to Uber or Lyft, you may be met with an unacceptable response. Ultimately, such companies want to deny liability and have another insurance company cover costs. The rideshare companies may practice poor communication, hoping that you will drop your claim. This can make the process of recovering damages after an Uber accident strenuous and time consuming. Hiring an Uber or Lyft accident lawyer increases your leverage for negotiating compensation.
If you are the victim of a rideshare accident you should immediately consult a lawyer. Timeframes in which you can file your lawsuit, called statutes of limitations, vary state by state. Typically, rideshare attorneys provide a free consultation with no obligations. It is wise to consider all your options and maximize what you are owed rideshare companies. The rideshare lawyer that you choose should have experience handling rideshare claims.
There are many injuries that can occur during rideshare services. Victims have resources to help them recover damages related to these injuries. Select an injury below to learn more.
It is to your advantage to consult with The Meneo Law Group about your case before speaking with a rideshare company or an insurance adjuster. An Uber or Lyft accident victim can depend on a thorough analysis of the claim and excellent legal representation. At The Meneo Law Group our attorneys and legal assistants show concern for your well-being and legal rights. We listen to our clients and are flexible in meeting their needs.
It is our aim to provide rideshare accident victims the most effective legal representation for their individual claims. The Meneo Law Group partners with Uber and Lyft lawyers around the country to build a team of attorneys representing victims’ rights. We remain committed to providing justice and compensation to rideshare accident victims.
By filing a rideshare lawsuit with The Meneo Law Group, you are ensuring that you have the appropriate representation to hold rideshare insurance companies accountable and get the compensation you deserve.
Lyft, Inc. Lyft Community Safety Report. October 2021. https://assets.ctfassets.net/q8mvene1wzq4/4jxkFTH5YCQK8T96STULMd/4269e14dbcb8578ff64da45df08b8147/Community_Safety_Report.pdf
Uber Technologies, Inc. 2017-2018 US Safety Report. December 2019. https://www.uber-assets.com/image/upload/v1575580686/Documents/Safety/UberUSSafetyReport_201718_FullReport.pdf?uclick_id=9f46f58e-0255-4212-920e-ae8c4cb0a251
Uber Technologies, Inc. 2019-2020 US Safety Report. June 2022. https://uber.app.box.com/s/vkx4zgwy6sxx2t2618520xt35rix022h?uclick_id=9f46f58e-0255-4212-920e-ae8c4cb0a251
If you prefer to speak with us directly regarding your incident, please call The Meneo Law Group at 1-866-371-8506 1-866-371-8506 or send us a confidential email.