Rideshare services are more popular than ever before in Columbus. They’re convenient and affordable, offering more flexibility than other transportation options. However, a rideshare vehicle can cause accidents like any vehicle on the road.
You need a ride-sharing accident lawyer if you’ve been hurt in a ride-sharing vehicle collision. At Oliver Law Office, we can fight for the compensation you deserve for the injuries, property damage, and other losses you’ve suffered.
The complication appears when pinpointing the insurance that needs to cover the losses. In most cases, the answer is whether the rideshare app was on or off when the accident occurred.
All drivers must have insurance, including those working for a rideshare company. However, most private policies exclude coverage for accidents while performing commercial activities. Because of this, companies like Uber or Lyft provide additional coverage.
Whether the driver’s private insurance or the rideshare company’s insurance is liable depends on whether the accident occurred while the app was on. The driver was traveling to pick up, carry, or drop passengers off.
If they were, then rideshare insurance would be the one that has to be paid. Otherwise, it’s the personal insurance that’s liable. Because of these complexities, it’s crucial to consult a rideshare driver attorney in Columbus, Ohio. An experienced lawyer can evaluate the details of your accident and determine who is liable.
As with other kinds of vehicular accidents, there can be various reasons why rideshare collisions occur.
Distracted driving involves doing anything simultaneously with driving, such as texting, speaking with passengers, and changing the radio stations. Someone distracted behind the wheel will not be able to respond quickly enough to hazards on the road.
Using drugs while driving is equally dangerous. Stimulants can make drivers more reckless and aggressive, while depressive drugs can have similar effects to alcohol. Even prescription medications can be hazardous if they affect cognition or make the driver drowsy.
Someone who engages in reckless driving knows their actions could cause accidents but proceeds anyway. Reckless driving includes racing other vehicles, running stop signs and red lights, and speeding. These kinds of behaviors can lead to severe accidents that cause catastrophic injuries.
Someone who makes a living working for a rideshare company may want to get as many passengers as possible throughout the day. This means that the faster they drop someone off, the sooner they can get another customer. Thinking in that manner can lead to speeding.
When a vehicle is speeding, the driver might be unable to stop to avoid a collision. If something changes on the road or a hazard appears, they’ll have a tiny window to hit the brakes. That, combined with the damage a speeding car can do, can result in serious accidents.
Spending hours driving, especially at night, can lead to drowsiness. Fatigued drivers are distracted and cannot react quickly enough to changes on the road.
You then have to show that the driver’s actions led to your injuries and that you can be compensated for them. If, for example, you only received a bruise as a result of the crash and you didn’t get medical care for it, you can’t file a claim.
Fortunately, your Uber or Lyft accident lawyer can help you gather evidence and support your claim every step of the way. For instance, your lawyer may gather police reports and medical records to show the other person was to blame. They can also turn to medical experts for their testimonies.
Negotiating with insurance companies is never easy, but it can be challenging if a rideshare company’s insurance is at play. You don’t want to go through this process alone. You might accept a lower settlement than you deserve for your suffering. But with a lawyer on your side, you can take your case to court if negotiations fail.
Economic losses include medical expenses covering any treatments you’ve received for your injuries. If you need ongoing medical care, you can also get coverage for those expenses.
Often, rideshare accident injuries prevent victims from going to work. This results in a loss of income, for which you also have the right to compensation. In instances when the injuries are so severe that they don’t allow you to return to work in the same capacity or at all, you can claim loss of earning potential.
Non-economic losses include intangible losses like pain and suffering. These damages seek to compensate you for your emotional and physical distress. If you’re unable to live your life as you did before the accident, you may also claim loss of enjoyment of life. For people who’ve lost a loved one in the accident, claiming loss of consortium is possible.
You don’t have to go through the claims process alone after a rideshare accident that wasn’t your fault. When you turn to the determined team at Oliver Law Office, you can trust that your accident attorney will provide unmatched communication and a commitment to your unique needs throughout the process.
