Rideshare transportation services have all but taken over taxi services. Instead of waiting for a taxi to drive by and wondering whether you’ll be noticeable enough to stop them, you can now use your smartphone to ping an Uber or Lyft and get home in a cheaper, more convenient way. Although rideshare services have many benefits, they still have many risks, just as other cars.
If you’ve been injured as a passenger in an Uber or Lyft, you may have grounds for a car collision lawsuit. A San Diego car accident lawyer from The Kindley Firm, APC, can investigate your wreck and determine whether the rideshare company’s insurance policy will cover your damages. If you have trouble recovering a settlement, we’ll help you pursue legal action.
Liability Coverage Provided by Uber and Lyft
Both Uber and Lyft provide extensive liability coverage for drivers and passengers. Rideshare drivers need to obtain their own car insurance policies for when they aren’t using these services. However, when they’re using Uber or Lyft, the company will cover them regardless of whether a passenger is in the vehicle.
When a driver is using the app and is waiting or is en route to pick up a passenger, Uber and Lyft provide a maximum of $50,000 per person injured in an accident; $100,000 maximum injury liability per accident; and $25,000 property damage liability. When a driver has a passenger in the vehicle, Uber and Lyft extend their total liability coverage to $1 million.
Although Uber specifies that this coverage applies when the Uber driver is at fault for the accident, Lyft’s policy isn’t as clear. If you have trouble recovering a settlement from Uber or Lyft for your damages, you may need assistance from a car accident lawyer in San Diego.
What Should You Do When the Colliding Driver Caused the Wreck?
It’s possible that Uber or Lyft won’t cover your injuries if the colliding driver or a government entity is at fault for the collision. They may tell you to sue the at-fault party to recover a settlement for your damages. In this case, you must prove negligence occurred by gathering evidence such as witness testimonies, photographs, the police report, and medical records.
Hopefully, your driver can stand as a witness in your case. As a passenger, the blame won’t fall on you, but using evidence to support your case can help pinpoint who’s liable.
Maximizing Your Settlement as the Rideshare Passenger
Once you can name a defendant in your car accident lawsuit, you can increase your injury settlement by accounting for all your damages. It’s likely that your injuries have caused you to miss work during recovery, which can result in lost wages. You can claim this lost income in addition to medical expenses. You can also claim non-financial losses such as pain and suffering and emotional distress.
Consult a San Diego Car Accident Attorney
Being injured as a passenger in a rideshare accident can be more complex than a typical car accident case because you weren’t an active participant in the wreck. You may not have seen how the wreck occurred, so it’s important to have an experienced attorney investigate your case.
If you’re ready to fight for what you deserve, contact a San Diego car accident lawyer from The Kindley Firm, APC and discuss your case in greater detail. To schedule a free consultation, call us at 619-550-1313 or fill out the contact form below.
