Temple Hills, MD Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer

In this day and age, yellow taxi cabs have largely been supplanted by rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft. These companies provide an incredibly convenient method of transportation at your fingertips. You can get where you need to go quickly and have an instant designated driver after a fun night out. Unfortunately, drivers for these companies are no less prone to crashing or otherwise getting into accidents than anyone else. These accidents often leave victims seriously injured and burdened with expensive medical bills and a lengthy recovery.

Fortunately, our lawyers know how to handle these kinds of accidents and can assist you with your legal needs. We can collect evidence, talk to insurance companies and other parties, and fight for you in a court of law so you can get the compensation you need.

Our team of Uber accident lawyers is standing by to assist you when you call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291.

Suing Rideshare Companies in an Uber/Lyft Crash Case

After you are injured in a crash involving an Uber or Lyft vehicle, your first instinct very well may be to file a lawsuit against the relevant rideshare company. Unfortunately, that is not a good decision, as your case will likely be sent back. Here is why:

The law allows plaintiffs to sue parties that have actually caused their injuries. In a run-of-the-mill car accident case, this would likely end with the driver. However, the law also allows plaintiffs to sue employers for things their employees do under certain circumstances.

The catch here is that Uber drivers are not directly employed by Uber. Rideshare drivers are not employees. They are classified as independent contractors. Accordingly, Uber, Lyft, and other companies cannot be held liable for the actions of a negligent driver. Instead, you should work with our Uber and Lyft accident attorneys to figure out the right targets for your legal claim.

Understanding Insurance in Uber/Lyft Accident Cases

A large part of any Uber/Lyft accident claim will be dealing with insurance companies to make sure that you get the financial coverage you need. Insurance policies involving these companies, however, can be quite complicated. There are some important things you need to know to understand how to interact with insurance companies in these cases.

Regular Insurance

Like every driver on the road, Uber and Lyft drivers are required to have standard automotive insurance. However, that is not enough. Regular insurance policies do not cover rideshare drivers while they are actively working for a rideshare company.

Commercial Insurance

Since regular insurance will not cover Uber/Lyft crashes, these drivers need special commercial driver policies. Many drivers who use their vehicle to earn a living use this insurance – not just rideshare drivers. As an example, food delivery people also have commercial driver’s insurance to cover things that happen on the job.

Rideshare Insurance

Rideshare insurance is an alternative to generic commercial driver’s insurance that is specifically tailored to the needs of rideshare drivers. As far as a plaintiff is concerned, this is functionally similar to Commercial driver’s insurance.

Contingent Coverage

Rideshare companies offer contingent coverage in the event that a driver’s commercial or rideshare insurance policy is not enough to cover expenses. This coverage applies when the rideshare driver is active in their company’s application but no passengers are present in their vehicle.

Primary Coverage

Uber and Lyft provide coverage of $1 million for accidents where passengers are currently in the rideshare vehicle or when the driver is en route to pick someone up. Usually, this is the first coverage that our Uber/Lyft accident lawyers look to have cover a client’s injuries.

Uninsured Drivers in Uber/Lyft Accidents

If the rideshare driver does not have insurance, the driver can be sued directly and be forced to pay damages by the court. Do not worry about whether the driver can meet your financial needs, as there are ways of making sure that you get the compensation you need after a rideshare accident.

What Should I Do After an Uber or Lyft Accident

There are some important steps you should take right after a motor vehicle collision involving a rideshare vehicle. Doing even some of these things can help to improve your case later down the line.

Medical Attention

It is most important that you get the medical care you need after a car crash. Let first responders do whatever they need to do to ensure your health and safety. Follow all of their instructions. Additionally, it is probably a good idea to get checked out by a medical professional in the days following your crash, as some injuries, such as whiplash, may take some time to develop and will not be obvious right after the accident.

Collect Evidence

Get as much information as possible about the accident. Take videos and photos of the area around the accident as well as the vehicles, and document any details that may even be slightly relevant. Talk to eyewitnesses and record their statements and recollections. Finally, be sure to get the name, insurance information, license plate number, and rideshare company of any drivers involved in the collision.

Talk to a Lawyer

You need to speak to an attorney as soon as possible after an accident. Not only does it get the ball rolling on your claim faster, but under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. Art., § 5-101, you only have three years after you are injured in a crash to file your claim, so you must do everything in your power to contact an attorney before that point.

Chat with a Temple Hills, MD Uber and Lyft Accident Attorney Now

Rice, Murtha & Psoras’s Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can give free case analysis when you call us at (410) 694-7291.