With the increasing popularity of rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft, the likelihood of car accidents involving these vehicles increases as well. It is important to examine all the factors that could be considered when seeking claims for damages in one of these accidents in order for the victim to receive their full potential of compensation for any injuries they might have.
As mentioned, accidents involving rideshare services can vary depending on the context in which they occur. There are typically four types of accidents that can occur involving rideshare services:
- Accident involving injured passenger
- Accident involving injured driver
- Accident with injured third party (active driver)
- Accident with injured third party (inactive driver)
The activity versus inactivity of the driver is referring to if they were actually completing a rideshare at the time of the accident or if they were merely on duty but between rideshares.
Filing for personal injury claims against rideshare companies can sometimes be difficult because rideshare drivers are usually classified as independent contractors, meaning that they make their own hours, provide their own equipment, and lack some of the same benefits that regular employees receive. However, Uber and Lyft do have insurance policies for their drivers that can cover certain incidents as long as the responsible driver was on the clock at the time of the incident. These cases can be handled very differently depending on the details of the case so it is recommended that if you are in an accident of this kind you get in contact with a personal injury attorney to find out how you can get compensated for any damages you may have sustained. Contact us online or by phone at 267-457-5570 to schedule a complimentary consultation today.