Ridesharing is more popular than ever. While this is great for the environment, car accidents involving rideshare vehicles can be more complicated than one would initially think. For example, do you know when a rideshare company will provide insurance for their drivers and when they won’t? How does this affect you if you are involved in a collision with a rideshare vehicle? Here is what to do if you are involved in an Uber/Lyft accident.
Rideshare Accidents
Rideshare injury claims fall under four primary categories. They are:
- A rideshare driver is injured while interacting with a passenger
- A passenger is injured during the ride
- Passengers in another vehicle are injured in a crash with a rideshare vehicle
- The driver of another vehicle is injured in a collision with a rideshare vehicle
Any seasoned car accident lawyer can attest to the observation that many lawsuits have been filed accusing rideshare drivers of negligence because they were involved in a collision while using the rideshare app to coordinate a new pickup/drop-off.
Rideshare Drivers and Liability
Rideshare drivers are considered independent contractors, not employees. This gives rideshare companies a bit of wiggle room when it comes to providing their drivers with workers’ compensation insurance. However, the state of California has made it a requirement for rideshare companies to provide insurance for their drivers.
California state law mandates that rideshare-related insurance activates as soon as the driver initiates the rideshare app. This means that the driver is subject to their own insurance and personal liability stipulations whenever they are not acting in the capacity of a rideshare driver.
Handling a Rideshare Accident as a Passenger
If you were a passenger in a rideshare vehicle involved in a collision, you would handle it as you would any other vehicular crash. This is also true if you are the driver of another vehicle that collides with a rideshare car. Rideshare companies track all of their drivers’ geolocations in real-time, so they will have comprehensive data related to the driver’s location leading up to and during the accident.
Despite the above, you will still want to gather the following information from the driver to bolster your claim:
- First and last name
- Contact information
- License plate information
- Insurance information
- Vehicle registration information
Additionally, if there are witnesses to the accident, make sure to collect their information, too. You will also want to take photos of all vehicles and the surrounding area, as they could be helpful in the future.
Hire a Qualified Car Accident Lawyer
If you have been involved in a collision involving a rideshare vehicle, the most important step is hiring a qualified car accident lawyer. If you are in the Southern California area, Steinberg Injury Lawyers are ready to hear your case. Our team specializes in car and truck accidents, including those involving Lyft/Uber vehicles. If you have been involved in an accident, every moment is crucial. So give us a call and schedule your evaluation today.
