Most people who have smartphones and seek out convenience have used rideshare services more than a few times. Whether you are traveling, avoiding impaired driving after a night out, or simply want to avoid parking, rideshare services of all kinds can be efficient and helpful. That is until a rideshare driver causes an accident and you suffer serious injuries.
Injuries from rideshare crashes can disrupt your life in many ways, including resulting in costly medical bills, lost income, and even long-term disabilities. When rideshare drivers are negligent, the drivers and/or the corporations should be held liable for your losses. This is where The Ride App Attorneys come in.
The process of seeking compensation after a rideshare injury can be quite different from other car accidents, and we know how to handle every step of this process. If you are in the San Diego, San Jose, or Los Angeles areas, let us take over your claim so you can focus on your injuries and physical recovery with peace of mind. Contact us today.
When you need transportation but cannot or do not want to drive yourself, rideshare apps are highly convenient. The west coast has many options for rideshare companies, including:
While some of these companies try to distinguish themselves from others, they all inherently have the same business model. They conduct background and driving checks on applicants, who then can become independent contractors (for the time being). These contractor drivers set their own hours and decide when or when not to accept a fare. Drivers can travel all over a city, picking up and dropping off many passengers in a single shift.
We’ve all wished that our favorite restaurant delivered food at some point in time. Now, the list of delivery options has been significantly extended by companies like:
● DoorDash
● Uber Eats
● Grubhub
These drivers will pick up food you ordered online and deliver it right to your door, which is unquestionably convenient. However, in the meantime, these drivers can get into accidents while constantly traveling back and forth from restaurants to homes around the city.
When companies began providing electric scooters and bikes for people to rent and use for transportation around California cities, a lot of people jumped at the opportunity to have cheap and convenient transportation while enjoying the outdoors. You can see E-scooters and bikes everywhere you look in San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Jose, and they seem to bring enjoyment to many people.
However, when people rent these vehicles, they can get injured in accidents. These accidents might be the fault of the rental company, drivers, or other parties, but they often result in extensive losses for injured victims.
Contact us for a free case evaluation and discussion about your rights today. We help clients in and around the San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Jose areas.
VIEW MORE CASE RESULTSConfused about what to do after a crash involving a rideshare vehicle?
Prioritize everyone’s health and safety
Collect the necessary information
Don’t let anyone speak for you
Talk to witnesses
Inform your insurance agent—but be careful
Contact a rideshare accident lawyer
When Uber came on the scene in 2009, it revolutionized the transportation industry. Many other companies soon entered the market, expanding from simply giving rides to offering a wide range of transportation services. Any of these drivers can cause accidents, and our legal team regularly handles cases involving the following types of companies.
Car accidents often lead to injuries, which may be eligible for personal injury coverage depending on your personal auto policy, your rideshare company policy, whether you are driving a ride request at the time of the incident, and who is determined to be at fault.
Why do you need a lawyer who specifically knows how to handle rideshare claims? This is because rideshare claims can be significantly more complicated than other car accident cases. Different insurance companies might come into play, such as:
● The individual rideshare driver’s policy
● The rideshare company’s corporate policy, if the driver accepted a fare or had an active passenger
● A third-party driver’s policy if they contributed to or caused the accident
Knowing which claims to file is only the first step – then, you need to deal with the insurance adjusters. These companies have corporate insurers that are prepared to avoid or limit liability as much as possible, and they have many tactics they use.
Don’t risk getting a settlement that is less than you deserve. Seek help from the advocates you need in your rideshare case from The Ride App Attorneys.
Unlike other commercial drivers, rideshare drivers do not need special training or licenses to start driving and earning money. They must pass a background check and driving record check, and their vehicles must meet certain criteria for safety. For example, Uber should not hire someone with a history of sexual assault or driving under the influence (DUI). However, once drivers pass these checks, they generally don’t have to pass a driving exam or meet other requirements aside from having insurance coverage.
Rideshare accidents happen for all of the reasons that other car crashes might, though there are some additional risks when it comes to rideshare drivers:
Keep in mind that other drivers on the road might also crash into a rideshare vehicle, and the rideshare driver might not be the one to blame in every crash.
Generally speaking, if another driver hits you while they are on the job, you can hold their employer liable for your losses under the legal concept of vicarious liability. However, this is not as straightforward when it comes to Uber accidents. This is because rideshare drivers are still considered to be independent contractors and not employees. Companies are not vicariously liable for the harm caused by independent contractors.
However, if a rideshare driver has accepted a ride or has an active passenger, Uber must provide up to $1 million of insurance coverage for anyone injured by the driver. While this might not allow you to automatically sue Uber following your accident, you can seek recovery from its insurance in certain situations.
Rideshare drivers must have insurance – just like all other drivers in California. However, the law also requires Uber to provide insurance coverage in some situations, such as when a driver has a passenger. This means you might have to file insurance claims against the Uber driver, Uber itself, or both. The matter becomes even more complex if a third-party driver was also partially to blame, as their insurance will then also be involved.
Once you file one or more necessary claims, you then must provide evidence to support your claim and negotiate your settlement like any other type of claim. This can always be challenging, as insurers will aim to minimize your payment. You can have a long road ahead when you have multiple insurance companies fighting against your claims, and the right legal representation is essential.
No one is required to have an attorney to file claims after rideshare accidents, though doing so can have many benefits:
The rideshare attorneys at The Ride App Attorneys will evaluate the best course of action in your situation and handle every step of the process, so you do not have this unnecessary stress. Also, consultations are free, and you never pay fees unless you receive a settlement, so you have absolutely nothing to lose by consulting with our legal team about your options today. Contact our office for answers to your questions and more information.
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