Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft make it easier for people to get around, but with millions of rides provided each day, car accidents are bound to happen. What to do after a collision may be confusing for injured rideshare passengers or drivers of the other vehicles involved. If you have been injured in a rideshare accident, contact our Phoenix rideshare accident lawyers.
If you suffered any type of sexual assault while using these services, we also have Phoenix Uber sexual assault lawyers that can help you through this difficult time. We can guide you through the claims process and help you obtain the compensation you need.
Rideshare accidents can cause drivers, passengers, and bystanders to sustain serious and life-threatening injuries, such as:
A rideshare accident is different from a typical car accident, in that liability isn’t always clear. Normally, the at-fault driver is responsible for any damages. However, that can change depending on if they were considered to be working at the time they caused the accident. If so, their employer is liable.
Both Uber and Lyft require drivers to have their own personal insurance policy and will provide coverage themselves only under certain conditions:
Uber provides coverage for their drivers, as follows:
Driver Has Accepted a Ride or Until Passenger is Dropped Off: Uber’s commercial insurance coverage applies, which includes up to $1 million per accident for property damage and bodily injury, and another $1 million if the other driver is uninsured or underinsured.
Lyft has very similar insurance policies to Uber, and they apply in the following scenarios:
If you are driving when involved in an accident with an Uber or Lyft driver who has a client in their vehicle, you may be entitled to compensation from both their personal auto insurance and the rideshare company. However, these cases can certainly be more complicated and challenging when it comes to liability since rideshare companies typically consider drivers to be independent contractors, rather than employees. Therefore, companies like Uber and Lyft may be quicker to deny responsibility in an injury claim.
If you are inside of a rideshare vehicle and another driver caused the crash, then the case will likely be handled much like any other vehicle accident. The at-fault driver will be responsible for paying your expenses. However, accidents involving rideshare vehicles will have additional insurance complexities.
Rideshare services have different levels of insurance available depending on the situation. If the rideshare driver is not responsible for the crash, the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier will be primarily responsible for covering the expenses. However, both Uber and Lyft do have supplemental insurance policies that will be available in the event the claim is denied by the other insurance carrier or if the insurance limits are exhausted.
If the rideshare driver was responsible for causing the crash, then Uber and Lyft have $1 million insurance policies that are supposed to kick in and cover every party involved. Sifting through this complex insurance process should be handled by a skilled attorney who has your back.
Below, we take a closer look at the insurance requirements and policies of both major rideshare companies.
There may be various types of compensation available to individuals injured in an accident involving a rideshare vehicle in Phoenix. Regardless of whether or not victims recover compensation through an insurance settlement or a personal injury lawsuit, they should be entitled to various types of economic and non-economic damages.
The total amount of compensation available to a rideshare accident victim in Phoenix and throughout Arizona will vary depending on the facts and circumstances related to each particular crash. The factors that influence the total compensation amount include the severity of the crash, total medical expenses, property damage losses, how long it takes for the victim to recover, and the level of the victim’s pain and suffering.
If you are riding inside of an Uber or Lyft vehicle that is involved in an accident, there are various steps that you can take maximum compensation:
Our personal injury attorneys in Phoenix have extensive experience representing clients who have been in ridesharing accidents in Arizona. Dealing with the aftermath of a collision can be scary, expensive, and time-consuming. Let us help you get through this situation as easily and painlessly as possible. We can start with a free case evaluation and help you decide which steps to take next, call (602) 726-0747 or reach us online today.