Ridesharing companies such as Lyft and Uber have become indispensable to many Americans who appreciate the convenience of door to door transportation using a simple app on their phones. However, as the number of ridesharing vehicles increase across the nation, there is an increased risk of accidents involving rideshare drivers. If you are involved in an accident involving a rideshare vehicle – whether you are a passenger, another motorist, a pedestrian or bicyclist – it is important to seek immediate help from an experienced car accident lawyer.
There are many unique factors that can contribute to an accident involving ridesharing services. Perhaps the most obvious is that fact that many drivers depend on GPS navigation to get customers from point A to point B, which may cause unnecessary distractions. Even driving in unfamiliar settings can and does result in accidents let alone the distraction of looking to a screen to find your way. Beyond distractions, drivers may not be fit to drive if companies fail to train their drivers or hire inexperienced drivers, or drivers simply do not follow the rules of the road for lack of supervision. Add to that poorly maintained vehicles, and the risk of accidents only increases.
Determining Liability in an Rideshare Accident
Rideshare companies are able to shield themselves from liability using a business model where drivers are not directly employed by companies such as Uber and Lyft, but are, instead, considered independent contractors. However, rideshare companies have come under stricter regulations and increased scrutiny over safety which may translate into some liability in court on top of the drivers insurance coverage if someone is injured in a rideshare accident.
To prove that a rideshare driver is at fault in an accident – that his or her negligence resulted in an accident – injury victims and their attorneys must prove that the driver of the rideshare vehicle owed a duty of care, that the at fault driver breached that duty of care by operating negligently, and that the victim was injured and therefore suffered damages as a result of the breach of duty of care. Compensation will be pursued through the drivers insurance policy and, where the insurance policy falls short, damages may be pursued from the rideshare company depending on the circumstances.
Contact Our Quad Cities Rideshare Car Accident Attorneys for Help Today
When you are injured in a car accident involving a rideshare driver, it is important to work with an experienced car accident attorney to determine not only what insurance is available to you but the damages you are eligible to receive including, but not limited to, payment for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering. Contact the car accident attorneys of McDonald, Woodward & Carlson PC for help at 563-355-6478.