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495+In the past, when people were involved in a taxi accident, the rules about who you could sue were relatively clear. The rise of Uber and Lyft has changed that. Now, the rules about rideshare accidents are complex, and you need a San Bernardino Uber and Lyft accident attorney who understands this specific area of the law.
You Recover from the Negligent Party or Parties
What has not changed is the rule for who is responsible for the accident. In your case, you would need to show that the rideshare driver was negligent. They are not automatically responsible just because you are in an accident in their car. Instead, it is the driver who was negligent who is responsible. If the other driver does not have insurance, the rideshare company’s policy kicks in. This makes the decision about who to sue less clear-cut. Liability is more apparent when you are a driver in a crash with an Uber or Lyft car.
The rideshare companies try to be clever to limit their own liability in the event of a crash. Taxi drivers are employees of a company, and you could file a lawsuit against the taxi company. Uber and Lyft force a burdensome arrangement on their drivers, making them independent contractors. This helps protect the rideshare companies and increase their own bottom line at the expense of everyone else.
Coverage for a Rideshare Accident
There are different levels of coverage for Uber and Lyft accidents:
- The driver is in a rideshare car without the app turned on (their own insurance applies)
- The driver had the app turned on and had not yet accepted a ride
- The driver accepted the ride or has a passenger in the car
The coverage is highest in the third scenario. The rideshare companies must maintain $1 million insurance policies for this type of instance. That should be enough to cover many auto accident injuries. If the policy is not enough, it would be the driver as opposed to the company who is responsible for the excess damages.
Even the rideshare companies themselves describe their insurance coverage rules as complicated. Once you establish the coverage level, you still need to deal with the insurance company. Insuring Uber and Lyft is big business. Claims volumes are very high, and the company is trying to keep as much of the high premiums as it can without having to pay it all out in claims. This is their profit, and they want as much of it as possible.
This is why you need a determined attorney who makes their client’s cause their own. This is exactly what we do at The JLF Firm. We will not rest until we have done everything that we can to secure you the best compensation for your rideshare accident injuries.
Experienced San Bernardino Uber and Lyft Accident Attorneys
Call San Bernardino personal injury attorneys at The JLF Firm today at 888-341-3071 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation to discuss your rideshare accident case. There is no risk to you, and you owe us nothing unless we help you recover financially for your injuries.
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