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Uber and Lyft Accident Causes
According to researchers at the Becker Friedman Institute, app-based ridesharing services have accounted for a 3 percent annual increase in traffic-related fatalities since their introduction in 2011. That equates to roughly 987 deaths each year.
These accidents could be for a number of reasons including distracted driving, bad weather, malfunctioning parts, and driving under the influence, but one common reason might be speeding. Uber and Lyft drivers are paid by how many rides they give during a shift; put simply, the more riders they service, the more money they are paid, which is why they may be in a rush to move from one ride to the next. This can cause them to not adhere strictly to the rules of the road even when they are responsible for the lives of the people in their backseat.
Our firm investigates and represents clients for property damage, injuries, and wrongful death as a result of a ridesharing accident. We are here to help in a variety of cases, including:
- Accidents in which you are the passenger in a ridesharing vehicle
- Accidents in which a ridesharing vehicle hits your own vehicle while you’re parked or driving
- Accidents in which a ridesharing vehicle hits you (as a non-riding pedestrian, cyclist, etc.)
Whether you are a passenger in the backseat of an Uber or an innocent pedestrian on the side of the street, your wellbeing is important to us at The Hayden Law Firm. You deserve to be treated with compassion and respect after an accident. Let us help.
Ridesharing Accident Liability
These types of accidents are difficult to navigate because there can often be more than one party held responsible. Depending on the nature of the collision and the severity of your injuries, a St. Louis personal injury lawyer at The Hayden Law Firm may need to negotiate with multiple insurance agencies and even work with ridesharing companies directly to secure fair compensation.
Here are some of the parties that could be liable for your injuries:
- The rideshare driver – When the driver was negligent in their duty of care to providing you with safe transportation, a compensation claim may be sought through the personal insurance coverage of the Uber or Lyft driver.
- The rideshare company – In some cases, the ridesharing companies may be held liable to pay for the negligent actions of their drivers. However, many rideshare companies try to avoid liability for accidents by claiming that the drivers are not employees, but rather, independent contractors. Nonetheless, a committed Uber and Lyft accident lawyer in St. Louis, MO, may argue on the shared liability of the company if and when the personal insurance coverage of the driver proves insufficient.
- Any other at-fault drivers – An example of this is if you were the passenger in an Uber or Lyft and another driver caused an accident that resulted in your bodily injury, you may be able to seek a compensation claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
Insurance Coverage for Ridesharing Accidents
When an Uber or Lyft driver is responsible for the accident, you most likely will need to file a claim with the driver’s insurance company first. In many cases, that claim might be denied by the insurance company because the driver was using the vehicle for commercial purposes. Your next step after this might be to pursue compensation directly from the ridesharing company.
Insurance policies for rideshare companies such as Lyft and Uber are complex and only apply if the app is turned on when the accident occurred. In short, because the driver had accepted a ride, the ridesharing company may be liable to cover up to $1 million in damages.
Both Lyft and Uber provide coverage for accidents in which:
- The app is turned on, the driver has accepted a ride, and the passenger is in the vehicle:
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- Up to $1 million in liability coverage
- Some limited coverage for property damage
- Possibly uninsured motorist coverage
- The app is turned on but the driver has not yet accepted a ride:
- Up to $50,000 in bodily injury coverage per person
- Up to $100,000 in total bodily injury coverage per accident
- $25,000 in property damage coverage
- The app is turned on and the driver has accepted a ride but has not yet picked up the passenger:
- Up to $1 million in liability coverage
A personal injury lawyer in St. Louis, MO, will not only help you determine whether Uber or Lyft should be held responsible, but we will also go head-to-head against the biggest insurance companies on your behalf. Amanda Hayden brings compassion and dedication, even in the toughest legal negotiations.
