If you’ve been involved in a car accident before, you’re probably familiar with the steps to take afterward in order to protect your rights. Determining fault in these accidents will typically be very clear-cut, and you will likely have a good understanding as to who should be held liable for the damages. However, handling a ridesharing accident caused by a negligent Uber or Lyft driver is a whole different story.
Understanding Ridesharing Accidents
In ridesharing accidents the legal situation can vary greatly, and determining liability is typically everything but simple. This is because depending on the jurisdiction, the ridesharing driver may be seen as either an employee of their parent ridesharing company (Uber, Lyft, etc.) or as an independent contractor.
In addition to this, there are many parties who may be held liable for damages in your rideshare accident, including:
- Your ridesharing driver
- The employing company (Uber, Lyft, etc.)
- Another driver
- Another passenger who distracted the driver
- Pedestrians
Ridesharing Insurance Explained
As seen above, there are many blurry lines when it comes to determining liability in an Uber or Lyft accident. Because of this, Uber has split its insurance into 3 different sections based on what part of the ride their drivers are in.
These 3 phases are:
- Phase 1: This is the waiting period. During this time, the ridesharing driver is awaiting a request from their mobile app. The drivers are covered under Uber’s insurance for liability to another party if they are found to be at fault for the accident. The coverage during this time is:
- $25,000 in property damage liability per accident
- $50,000 in injury liability per person
- $100,000 in total liability per accident
- Phase 2: During this time, the driver has received (and accepted) the ride request, and is now en route to pick them up. During this time window, the driver is covered by:
- Contingent collision and comprehensive coverage for the driver’s vehicle
- $1 Million in total liability
- $1 Million in uninsured or underinsured motorist injury liability
- Phase 3: This phase begins once the driver has picked up their passenger. At this time, the same coverage from Phase 2 applies, however, the passenger is also granted the same coverage, meaning:
- $1 Million in total liability
- $1 Million in uninsured or underinsured motorist injury liability
Steps Immediately Following Your Ridesharing Accident
Like other accidents, there are certain things that must be done in order for you to be eligible to pursue compensation for your damages. After a ridesharing accident it’s important to do the following:
- Call 911 if there have been injuries to yourself, the driver, or other passengers in the vehicle.
- Take photographs of the vehicle
- Gather information from your driver (name, license plate, address, contact info.)
- Collect statements from witnesses
- Record your thoughts and statements about the accident in order to keep track of the details
It’s important to take these steps in order to protect your rights, however, there are many moving parts that must be addressed in order to get to the bottom of your accident— and help you receive the compensation you deserve.
This is where working with an experienced New Orleans rideshare accident attorney will prove to be the biggest benefit to your case. At Chopin Law Firm, our team of trusted New Orleans personal injury attorneys has been helping those injured due to other’s negligence pursue the compensation they deserve for over 50 years. We understand the lasting impact that getting into an accident can have on your life, and we want to be there to ensure you have the best chance possible at seeking the compensation you need and deserve to return to your prior lifestyle.
Call us today (504) 475-2429 to speak with our team and schedule your free case review. We will be able to answer any questions you have along with providing you with a plan moving forward.
