As the popularity of ridesharing services continues to soar, so does the likelihood of accidents occurring. Navigating the complexities of these incidents can be challenging, with varying factors such as liability, insurance coverage, and compensation for each case. It’s essential to reach out for a legal consultation with an Uber Accident Lawyer if you find yourself in an accident involving a rideshare company to ensure that you receive the compensation that meets your needs.
Let’s discuss statistics involving rideshare accidents, the legal complexities involved, insurance coverage that’s offered, and the safety measures rideshare companies are implementing to avoid future accidents.
Table of Contents
The Rise of Rideshare Accidents: Understanding Uber and Lyft’s Impact
A Statistical Overview of Uber and Lyft Accidents
These statistics were drawn from data in 2019-2020.
- 101 individual motor vehicle fatalities occurred across 91 fatal Uber-related crashes
- This accounts for approximately 0.000005% of total trips or one in 20,000,000 trips
- 32% of fatalities involved at least one vehicle that was speeding
- 91% were third-party drivers
- 23% of fatalities involved an alcohol-impaired driver
- 100% were third-party drivers
- 15% of fatalities involved a driver driving the wrong way
- 100% were third-party drivers
- 13% of occupant fatalities involved an unbuckled third-party driver
- 15% of occupant fatalities involved an unbuckled rider using the Uber platform
- 42% of fatalities were vulnerable road users
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Tackling Legal Complexities in Rideshare Accidents
Dealing With Insurance in Uber and Lyft Accidents
The insurance coverage for Uber and Lyft accidents will depend on at what point in the process you are in your ride.
If your Uber app is off, the driver’s personal auto insurance is the primary coverage
If the app is on and waiting for a ride request, Uber provides limited liability coverage. This coverage can include third-party liability if the driver’s personal insurance does not apply.
The moment that the ride is accepted to the passenger drop off, Uber provides substantially more coverage.
This includes:
- Third-Party Liability: Coverage that can be paid out for damages to any third party in the event of an accident for which the driver is at fault. This includes bodily injuries and property damage to others.
- Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury: In some regions, Uber also provides coverage for the driver and passengers if an accident occurs with an uninsured or underinsured driver.
- Contingent Collision and Comprehensive Coverage: This can apply to repair or replace the driver’s vehicle in case of an accident, theft, or other types of damage. It’s typically contingent on the driver also having personal collision and comprehensive coverage.
Why Timely Legal Consultation is Crucial
The laws surrounding rideshare accidents can be complex and difficult to navigate. Each case is unique, involving variables like the seriousness of injuries, property damage, lost income, medical expenses, and the impact on overall quality of life.
Reaching out to an attorney with expertise in ride-share accidents right away is essential. Having an attorney in your corner from the very beginning will ensure that you receive the compensation that you deserve.
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Your Rights as a Rideshare Passenger or Driver
Essential Steps After an Uber or Lyft Accident
Directly after an Uber or Lyft accident, follow these steps:
- Call 911
- Take screenshots of your Uber or Lyft app if you were a passenger in the vehicle
- Seek medical treatment as soon as possible, even if you don’t feel hurt
- Document the damage at the accident scene
- Collect the contact information of the other driver or drivers involved in the accident
- If there are any witnesses in the area, ask them for their contact information as well
- Contact an attorney as soon as possible
Compensation Insights in Rideshare Accidents
Understanding Compensation in Rideshare Accidents
Generally, settlements can range anywhere from a few thousand to several hundred thousand dollars, with the most severe cases potentially reaching into the millions. The amount of the settlement will depend on a variety of factors.
Medical Costs
The more serious your injuries are, the more expensive your medical bills will be. You can pursue the full cost of your medical bills, as well as future medical bills, in your case.
Lost Wages
You are entitled to compensation for lost wages if your injuries from the accident prevented you from going to work or will prevent you from going to work in the future.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering compensation is more subjective and a little more complicated to pursue. It will be based on the type of injuries you sustained during the accident and how they affected your life.
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Rideshare Companies and Accident Liability
Uber and Lyft’s Legal Responsibilities
When an accident happens involving Uber or Lyft, the driver is typically the one who assumes the liability. Damages can be collected from the $1.5 million insurance policy which the law requires the rideshare company to provide to the Lyft or Uber driver.
Uber or Lyft themselves could be found liable if the company acted negligently in how they screen drivers or use their apps. A case could be made against them based on negligent hiring, negligent training, or negligent supervision of their driver.
Promoting Safety in the Rideshare Industry
Safety Initiatives for Uber and Lyft
Uber and Lyft have implemented new initiatives for the safety of their drivers and passengers.
- All drivers are background-checked before their first trip.
- If you call 911 from the Uber app, the app displays your live location and trip details so they can be shared with the emergency dispatcher.
- RideCheck is built in to help detect if a trip goes unusually off-course or if a possible crash has occurred.
- Uber support is available 27 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer any questions or concerns you have.
The Future of Ridesharing: Trends and Predictions
The ridesharing industry is constantly growing and evolving. Revenue is expected to show an annual growth rate of 6.83%, reaching around $165.60 billion in 2024. With these trends, it’s projected that the marketing volume will reach $215.7 billion by 2028.
Contact an Uber Accident Lawyer at Naqvi Injury Law Today
Accidents involving Uber and Lyft are more complicated and benefit greatly from legal assistance that has expertise in the area.
If you find yourself involved in an accident like this, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team of knowledgeable attorneys at Naqvi Injury Law. We are made up of lawyers ranked in the “top one percent” by The National Association of Distinguished Council, guaranteeing our commitment to providing the expert legal assistance you need to be awarded the compensation you deserve.
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