Who is Responsible if I’m Hurt in a Rideshare Accident?

 

Ridesharing has become a convenient and widely popular way for many Americans to get around. However, as a rideshare passenger, you agree to relinquish control of the vehicle and entrust your personal safety to a stranger. This situation can put you at risk for bodily and financial harm should an accident occur.

Whether you are a passenger or a motorist, if you are involved in an accident involving a popular rideshare company like Uber or Lyft, you may be left wondering who is liable for covering your damage and injuries. Here are some options for determining who is responsible if you are hurt in a rideshare accident.

Rideshare Accidents as a Passenger

If you are injured while riding as a passenger in a rideshare vehicle, you have a couple of coverage options for any injuries or damages you sustain.

Rideshare passenger coverage

If you are insured, your personal carrier may cover or supplement the treatment of your injuries.

Rideshare driver coverage

you may be covered under rideshare drivers’ personal auto policies should they be found at fault for an accident.

Rideshare company coverage

As a passenger, once you step inside the rideshare vehicle you are typically covered by the rideshare company’s liability car insurance policy. However, in order to protect themselves in the event of an accident, rideshare companies intentionally classify their drivers as independent contractors instead of employees. This helps them deny responsibility for their drivers’ actions and defend themselves against personal injury liability.

Rideshare Accidents as a Motorist

If you’re a non-negligent driver in an accident caused by a rideshare driver, their company (whether Uber or Lyft) will have substantial liability car insurance coverage that can be extended to cover you, your passengers, or any passengers in the rideshare vehicle.

While they can be held financially responsible for any injuries or damages caused, such large rideshare corporations often retain fierce legal counsel in order to avoid liability. They will often claim their driver was “offline” and therefore not acting as an independent contractor at the time of the accident, or they will attempt to shift the blame for the accident on to you.

That’s why you’ll need competent and experienced representation to protect yourself from liability, prove you were not at fault, and ensure you get awarded the compensation you deserve from a rideshare accident.

Rideshare Accident Representation

If you were involved in an automobile accident with a rideshare driver or were a rideshare passenger and suffered an injury, the personal injury professionals at Lanzotti & Rau can help you collect fair compensation. For more information or to schedule a complimentary consultation, contact us today at 573-335-9300.