Uber and Lyft have completely changed the travel game, with more and more Americans using rideshare to get around for vacation, work, and basic errands.
While taking an Uber or Lyft is convenient, studies have shown that ridesharing services have increased traffic congestion and reduced public transportation. This increase in automobile usage has contributed to a rise in accidents, injuries, and deaths over the last several years.
No matter the situation, a traumatic accident is always stressful and heartbreaking. If you’ve been harmed in an Uber or Lyft accident, contact our ridesharing accident lawyers to discuss the details of your case, free of charge.
Common Types of Rideshare Accidents
Accidents can happen anywhere and anytime. Reckless behavior or lack of focus by a driver can increase the odds of a crash happening.
Hit and Run Accidents - Hit and run accidents happen when a driver flees the scene after colliding with a vehicle or object. Unless there is video or photographic evidence, it is often difficult to find the person responsible.
Rear-End Accidents - This is the most common type of accident among all drivers. The impact of two vehicles colliding front to back can cause significant damages and injuries, like whiplash, to the Uber or Lyft driver and passenger.
Single Car Accident - It is strange to think of an accident only involving one vehicle but this type of accident is more frequent than you think. An Uber or Lyft vehicle may collide with a fixed object such as a tree or building, causing considerable damage and injuries. The single car accident may be caused by a mechanical failure; the driver losing control due to impairment, dangerous weather conditions, or a medical emergency; road rage; or a number of other issues.
T-Bone Accident - Also known as side-impact collisions, T-bone accidents happen when the front of one vehicle crashes into the side of another vehicle (forming the shape of the letter “T”). This type of crash occurs most often at intersections or parking lots. Uber or Lyft drivers may make an illegal U-turn or speed through a light in order to reach a passenger’s destination faster. Doing so puts their vehicle at risk of crashing into another vehicle or being T-boned.
What to Do After a Rideshare Accident
Like any other accident, you will want to stay as calm as reasonably possible and collect the information of all drivers involved in the wreck. If you are unable to do it yourself, ask a passenger, friend, or witness for help.
- Record the Uber or Lyft driver’s name, phone number, license information, rideshare app information, and personal auto insurance information.
- If possible, take pictures of the interior and exterior damage of the car, the license plates of the cars involved, your injuries, and the surrounding area.
- Wait for emergency personnel to arrive and provide a statement to police about what happened before, during, and after the wreck — if you are injured, make sure to tell the police and first responders.
- If you aren’t taken by ambulance, seek medical attention immediately after the accident. Not only can this improve your recovery, it also indicates to the insurance company that the wreck was serious.
- Report the basic facts of the rideshare accident to the insurance company and Uber or Lyft.
- Talk to a rideshare accident attorney as soon as possible so that you understand all your rights and benefits.
Do not sign anything or give a statement to Uber, Lyft, or the insurance company before speaking with a lawyer. You may accidentally say something to ruin your case or agree to a settlement that does not cover all of your medical costs.
Who Is Liable for the Rideshare Accident?
The answer is a bit complicated. If you were injured in a Lyft or Uber accident, the different parties that may be liable after an accident include the rideshare driver, the rideshare company, or other drivers involved in the crash. Which party is ultimately held responsible for the crash depends on several factors.
The driver wasn’t logged into the ridesharing app…
If the rideshare driver injures another person in an accident but they are not logged into the ridesharing app, Uber and Lyft do not provide insurance coverage. Instead, the driver may be held legally responsible for damages.
The driver is logged into the ridesharing app but hasn’t accepted the ride request yet…
Uber and Lyft offer coverage if their driver was responsible for injuring someone in a crash, with a bodily injury limit of $50,000 per person, a per-accident limit of $100,000, and up to $25,000 for property damage. If another driver is found at-fault, that driver’s insurance company may be responsible for coverage instead.
The driver is logged into the ridesharing app and has accepted the ride request…
If the Uber or Lyft driver is on their way to pick up a passenger and injures someone in a crash, both ridesharing companies have $1 million set aside for coverage for bodily injury and other damages suffered by the victim.
The driver has accepted a ride request and is transporting a passenger…
Uber and Lyft provide accident liability coverage up to $1 million along with limited coverage for property damage and uninsured motorist coverage.
Rideshare Accident Statistics
An increasing number of rideshare accidents occur at drop-off and pick-up locations. These may involve other vehicles, stationary objects, or pedestrians. Here are some statistics for Uber, Lyft, and rideshare accidents as a whole:
- About a third of Americans have used a ridesharing app, which is double the amount who used them in 2015.
- Uber accounts for 7 out of 10 rideshare trips, with more than a quarter of ridesharers hitching a lift monthly.
- Uber takes the lion’s share of profits and trips, with a jaw-dropping 93 million active users per month. Lyft, meanwhile, boasts a healthy 18 million active monthly users.
- People who use ridesharing apps are more likely to live in urban areas, be 18-29 years old, have graduated college, and make more than $75,000 in annual income.
- 90% of Uber crashes occur in urban areas.
- Research shows that rideshare services have led to a 3% increase in traffic-related fatalities over the past decade.
Get Compensation After a Rideshare Accident and Injury
If you or a family member have suffered severe injuries in a Lyft or Uber accident within the past two years (either as a driver or passenger), you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim. Filing a claim allows you to demand the insurance company cover expensive medical costs and other pain and suffering damages caused by the crash.
Don’t wait for the negligent driver or the insurance company to act — hire an aggressive personal injury attorney to take on the billion-dollar companies and their legal team on your behalf.
Recovering damages from a rideshare accident is difficult, so it’s essential to have strong legal representation. Gary Martin Hays & Associates have represented countless victims injured in Uber and Lyft accidents. Our attorneys are some of the best in the Atlanta area. We personally manage your claim, conduct in-depth investigations, assess liability, and explore all compensation possibilities.
The sooner you start the personal injury claim process for your rideshare accident and injury, the sooner you can recover and heal. Contact us to find out how we can assist you.
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