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Opoli fashions itself as a little bit of something for everyone who is looking for a way around San Diego. The company claims to be part rideshare company and part delivery service. The company markets itself as a luxury airport transportation service and a competitor to Uber and Lyft. In fact, Opoli claims that it got into the rideshare business as the company that would “do it right” after watching Uber and Lyft struggle.
Opoli markets itself as a customer-friendly rideshare service that gives passengers more control over their ride. They started business with the premise that passengers could negotiate ride prices. The company says that it is putting power into the hands of its customers. In the meantime, Opoli collects a 5% administrative fee for billings on its app.
One way that Opoli is the same as any other rideshare company is how it classifies its drivers. Opoli calls its drivers independent contractors, meaning they are not employees of the company. Opoli wants to give itself a level of protection in case their negligent drivers cause any accidents. Then, the company has one level of separation between itself and the drivers that would keep an injured passenger or driver from suing Opoli.
While rideshare companies introduce some level of convenience for customers and save them money from taxi rides, it comes at a cost. Studies have shown that the prevalence of rideshare drivers on the road has led to an increase in accidents. Cities like San Diego have hundreds of these drivers on the streets trying to eke out a living with rideshare companies trying to compete on price. This increases the competition among drivers and causes a number of risk factors for accidents, including:
Rideshare accident claims are confusing. This benefits rideshare apps like Opoli because it gives them an advantage in the claims process. Since the company is never on the line at all, they can pretty much establish a system stacked against the claimant and leave it to the insurance company. In the meantime, Opoli continues to profit off of each and every ride while denying any responsibility for accidents. All in all, it is a pretty good deal for Opoli. They put drivers right out onto the road without paying the price when they cause accidents.
While Opoli has insulated itself from lawsuits, it does not mean that you forfeit the right to financial compensation if someone else is at fault for your injuries. Opoli does have an insurance policy to cover accidents. The level of coverage depends on the stage of the rideshares process that the driver was in at the time of the accident.
The highest level of coverage comes between the time that the driver has accepted a ride request on the app and when the passenger exits the vehicle safely. At that point, there is a $1 million insurance policy in place. This is enough to cover most rideshare accident claims. There is a lower level of coverage if the driver is riding around with the app on but has not accepted a ride yet.
However, before you even get to the point of filing a claim, you need to know who was responsible for the accident. Both other drivers on the road and passengers have the ability to file claims against Opoli’s policy. If you are an injured passenger, the insurance of whatever car is responsible for the accident must pay the claim. The good news is that Opoli’s policy can cover any damages beyond the policy limit if the other driver was at fault.
The maze that a claimant must navigate and the presence of an insurance company is why legal help is a must in a rideshare accident case. The system is not designed to get money into people’s hands easily and quickly. Instead, it is meant to wear them down and get them to settle for less than they legally deserve. Insurance companies make money when they pay less in claims, and Opoli makes money when the premiums that the company pays stay lower.
While it may be possible in the future to sue Opoli directly, you need to deal with today’s reality, and that means that you must work with Opoli’s commercial insurance policy to recover your damages. Before you even file a claim, you should know exactly what you are entitled to under the law.
Here is some of what you could be compensated for in a rideshare accident:
Note that your Opoli accident settlement covers both what you have suffered in the past and what you will experience in the future. This is why it is important to make sure that you get everything that you deserve. Otherwise, you may find yourself in a situation where you cannot yet work, but your settlement did not compensate you.
This is why you need an attorney to represent you in the Opoli claims process. Your rideshare accident attorney would do the following:
Settling with the insurance company is a process. You can expect that it will not happen overnight, and it may take multiple rounds of offers and counteroffers to reach a figure that is acceptable to you. Where you can breathe a little easier is in knowing that the odds are against your case going to trial. Most rideshare accident claims will eventually settle, but companies like Opoli do not make it easy for you. It would be even harder if you were trying to navigate the process on your own without an attorney.
While the days following a rideshare accident can be difficult ones, you should still be focused on your legal claim. Here is what you should do after the accident:
It is very important to begin work on your claim as soon as possible after the accident. First, evidence can be lost over time as recollections fade and vehicles are repaired. Second, California law imposes a two-year time limit after your injuries for filing personal injury claims. Finally, the longer that you wait, the more time it will take to get your money.
The process takes some time, and it could even take years to reach a settlement agreement. The most important thing is to get a start on your claim, knowing that you may need to negotiate.
If you or a loved one have been injured in an Opoli crash, contact The Ride App Attorneys for help. We will take the time to learn about your case and explain your legal options to you before we help you take firm legal action to protect your legal rights. Don’t let the maze created by companies like Opoli keep you from getting the money that you deserve for your accident. Call us today at 866-641-0497 or contact us online to learn how we can help you. The call won’t cost you anything, and you do not need to pay us anything unless you win.
Tenny Mirzayan is the best out there. She handled our car accident case, and destroyed the other side. Farmers Insurance offered us $0, and she got us deep into the six figures. She did not let us get pushed around. Thank you!!!
-Lyle T.
