College Park, MD Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer

When Uber first stepped onto the scene in 2009, it radically changed how people acquired transportation. Prior to its introduction, people had a chance to get a cab that may or may not come their way or hire an expensive private driver if they did not want to drive themselves. Uber made it so anyone can get a quick ride with a few taps on their smartphone. Unfortunately, the revolutionary nature of Uber and other similar companies did not revolutionize driving safety. Drivers who work for Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare companies get into car accidents just like everyone else, and the results can be devastating to victims.

Fortunately, we can assist you after a crash involving an Uber/Lyft vehicle. Our attorneys know how to deal with these tricky cases, and we are ready to apply our professionalism, drive, and experience to help you with your claim.

Let our team of Uber accident lawyers look over your case by calling Rice, Murtha & Psoras at the number (410) 694-7291.

Insurance Coverage in an Uber or Lyft Accident Case in College Park, MD

The most complicated part of a lawsuit involving a company like Uber is the insurance scheme. It is not the same as other car accident cases where you deal with ordinary automotive insurance. Depending on the circumstances of your crash and other things unique to your case, you could be seeking damages or coverage from a number of different sources.

Contingent Collision Coverage

Uber and Lyft have what is known as contingent collision coverage for accidents involving their drivers. The coverage is $50,000 for accidents where there are no passengers in the rideshare vehicle and $1,000,000 for accidents where there is either a passenger currently in the rideshare vehicle or the driver is on the way to pick someone up. This coverage is meant to provide assistance when a driver’s own policy is not enough to handle the needs of the victim.

Commercial Driver’s Insurance

An extremely important area of coverage in rideshare accidents is commercial driver’s insurance (CDL). Regular automotive insurance will not cover instances where drivers use their vehicles for work purposes. For that reason, CDL exists to provide that coverage. Uber and Lyft require their drivers to have this coverage, but not everyone follows that rule. Either way, you should talk to our Uber and Lyft accident attorneys to determine the best course of action for you.

Alternatively, there is rideshare insurance, which is specifically tailored to people who work for rideshare companies. From the plaintiff’s point of view, this works the same as CDL, so it should not matter whether a driver who hit you has either rideshare insurance or CDL.

Regular Insurance

In instances where your Uber driver was acting responsibly but got struck by another driver, you can, of course, pursue coverage from their regular automotive insurance policies.

Who Should You Sue in a College Park, MD Uber/Lyft Accident Lawsuit?

It is of critical importance that you file your claim against the “right” parties. In the legal world, you can only get damages from parties that actually caused your injuries. Below, we will go into some potential defendants in your claim and why you may want to file against them.

Insurance Companies

Maryland uses an “at-fault” insurance scheme for motor vehicle accidents. This means that the insurance policy of the driver who caused the accident provides coverage for the injured parties. Naturally, insurance companies are not in the business of saying that their clients are at fault, so they may push back against that assertion. When that happens, you will have to take them and their client to court so that you can prove liability and force them to provide coverage.

Drivers

Of course, you should almost certainly include the driver of the vehicles involved in your claim. Not only should you sue the rideshare driver, but depending on your circumstances, you may also want to sue other drivers involved in the accident if there is evidence that they were negligent.

Do Not Sue Uber or Lyft

This may seem counterintuitive, but you cannot take Uber or Lyft to court if one of their drivers hits you. This is because they do not employ their drivers – they are independent contractors. The law only allows you to hold businesses liable for the negligent actions of their employees. As contractors, drivers are not employees, and their actions do not impart liability onto rideshare companies.

When Should You File a Lawsuit After an Uber/Lyft Collision in College Park, MD

You should file your claim as soon as you can. Laws called statutes of limitation exist which set a time limit for how long you have to bring a rideshare accident lawsuit. In Maryland, you have three years from the time you are injured to file your case pursuant to Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. Art., § 5-101. As soon as that time runs out, you can no longer file a claim or collect damages.

There are some limited circumstances that can extend this period. For example, if you are under 18 when injured, the statutory period does not start until you turn 18. However, these circumstances are rare and will not apply to everyone.

Three years may initially appear to be quite a long time, but the reality is that three years is shorter than you think. Once you take into account the planning and investigation process, as well as your own recovery from injuries, that time can run out quickly. Thus, it is imperative that you talk to our Uber accident attorneys right away.

Chat with Our College Park, MD Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyers Right Now

To discuss your case with our team of Uber and Lyft accident attorneys, call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at the number (410) 694-7291.