Ridesharing with companies like Uber and Lyft has become an increasingly popular mode of transportation, but it comes with its own set of risks. Accidents involving ridesharing companies can arise from car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, and pedestrian accidents, and can result in severe injuries, including spine and brain injuries.
Ride-share companies, like Uber and Lyft, are classified in California as “transportation network companies” that “provide prearranged transportation services for compensation using an online-enabled application or platform (such as smartphone apps) to connect drivers using their personal vehicles with passengers.” Unlike public buses and traditional tax-cab companies, rider-share drivers are classified as independent contractors rather than employees of Uber and Lyft. This makes the question of liability even more difficult.
Due to these complexities, it is important to contact Shaaban & Biedgoly if you or a loved one has been injured in an Uber/Lyft/rideshare accident in Folsom or Orange County.
Is Uber or Lyft Liable?
Uber and Lyft provide auto insurance to their drivers for accidents they are involved in while driving for Uber/Lyft. However, whether those policies will apply to provide compensation to those injured in a rideshare accident in Folsom or Orange County will depend on the status of the driver at the time of the accident. Uber and Lyft have provided the following “periods” to determine the extent of coverage available:
- Driver offline: The driver’s own personal auto insurance will apply, not Uber or Lyft.
- Driver online and available to accept rides: Uber and Lyft provide limited insurance coverage, including $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, as well as $25,000 for property damage.
- Driver has accepted a ride/en route to a ride/has a passenger in the vehicle: Uber and Lyft provide comprehensive insurance coverage, including $1,000,000 for property damage and injuries arising from an accident.
What To Do After A Rideshare Accident
- Call emergency services: You want to make sure you contact the police to prepare an accident report, along with medical services to provide medical care to yourself and anyone else who might need it at the scene.
- Gather information: Gather all contact and insurance information from the Uber/Lyft driver, any other driver or party involved in the accident, as well as all potential witnesses.
- Seek medical care: Make sure you seek medical care as soon as possible. Insurance companies will use any amount of time between the accident and your medical care to attempt to discredit your injuries and damages.
- Take pictures: Make sure you document the scene of the accident, the vehicles involved, and your injuries. You will also want clear and detailed pictures of the Uber/Lyft that your attorney will be able to evaluate for your case.
- Contact Shaaban & Biedgoly: Dealing with the aftermath of an Uber/Lyft/rideshare accident in Folsom or Orange County can be extremely complex. The sooner you contact Shaaban & Biedgoly for your free case evaluation and consultation, the sooner we can seek the maximum compensation for your injuries and damages