The ridesharing era is well underway. According to recent surveys, the number of Americans who use ridesharing (or carpooling) services has dramatically increased from just five years ago. Additionally, ride-hailing companies, such as Uber or Lyft, offer convenient and less expensive options for passengers, who can order a ride with a simple tap of a finger on their cell phones. So it’s no surprise that ridesharing and ride-hailing services have become increasingly popular in recent years.
Even though most passengers arrive safely to their destinations, accidents happen. It’s important to remember that ridesharing and ride-hailing companies are no exception, no matter how safely the driver operates the vehicle. That’s when you need a Tampa car accident attorney like Dan Zohar. Here he offers answers to common questions about personal injury settlement cases involving rideshare companies.
Table of Contents:
- Who pays if you have been in a rideshare company car accident?
- What if the ridesharing or ride-hailing company car driver was not at fault?
- What if the ridesharing or ride-hailing company car driver caused the accident?
- What type of coverage is included in a ridesharing or ride-hailing car accident?
- What if you’ve been injured in a ridesharing or ride-hailing company car accident?
Who pays if you have been in a rideshare company car accident?
As with any other type of car accident, an accident involving a ridesharing car means you need to prove two things. First, you need to prove liability. As a passenger, you are less than likely to have caused the accident, but you still need to prove who was at fault. Then, you need to be able to prove damages and injuries. Personal injury attorney Dan Zohar can help you navigate these tricky issues.
What if the ridesharing or ride-hailing company car driver was not at fault?
Drivers are required to carry insurance, which means you can file a claim against the driver at fault. However, some drivers decide to ignore this rule. Still, if that happens, not all is lost. Ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft have uninsured and under insured insurance policies protecting their passengers even if a third party caused the accident.
What if the ridesharing or ride-hailing company car driver caused the accident?
If the driver caused the accident, you should file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver. Unless the driver has a commercial policy, the insurance company will turn down the claim, because a personal auto insurance policy does not cover situations where the driver is involved in commercial operations, such as driving passengers for a fee. The good news is that the most popular ridesharing and ride-hailing services offer liability insurance to their drivers. This insurance covers expenses after the driver’s carrier denies the claim.
What type of coverage is included in a ridesharing or ride-hailing car accident?
The amount of coverage in a ridesharing or ride-hailing company car accident can go up to $1 million, but according to insurance company websites, that figure varies depending on the “coverage period.” These periods involve the driver’s pick-up status. If the driver is not logged into the ridesharing app, no coverage will be offered. If the driver is logged in but has not accepted a ride offer, the coverage may go up to $50,000 per person. If the driver is logged in, has accepted the ride, and is on the way to the pick-up location, then the coverage could go up to $1 million. The last period includes coverage of $1 million and is applicable when the customer is in the vehicle.
What if you’ve been injured in a ridesharing or ride-hailing company car accident?
The first step is to ask all people involved for their contact information and write down or take pictures of their insurance details. If there were witnesses nearby, be sure to get their contact details as well. Then, before leaving, take photos of the scene of the accident, any damages, and of vehicles from different angles. You should also call the police to ensure that you are provided with an official police report, which can be used to prove liability.
Consult an experienced Tampa personal injury attorney.
Getting fair compensation, especially when corporations with large legal teams are involved, can be a challenge if you do not practice law. This is why having a personal injury attorney by your side is vital to increasing your chance of winning a case. Tampa attorney Dan Zohar has been practicing law for more than 30 years and has won hundreds of car accident cases. If you’ve been injured in any type of car accident, call to schedule a free consultation: (813) 935-9448.