Rideshare accidents typically refer to a collision that involves a driver who is working for a service like Uber or Lyft.
Both of these platforms have protections in place to help injured drivers, pedestrians, and other parties seek compensation for any damages owed. Meanwhile, Georgia law also has legal protections in place to help you hold all negligent parties accountable. A personal injury attorney in Alpharetta can guide you through the legal process and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm has deep experience with holding rideshare companies accountable for the injuries their services cause. Reach out to our team today to schedule your first free, confidential case evaluation with no obligation.
Call (470) 323-8779 or contact us online to speak with a member of our team about your specific rideshare accident and find the best path forward toward financial restitution.
When Should I Reach Out to an Alpharetta Rideshare Attorney?
After a rideshare accident, you may be unsure of whether you should seek legal counsel. While not every minor incident will require an attorney, there are specific situations where consulting a rideshare accident lawyer can be to your advantage.
Let’s work through the following examples to decide whether or not you should consider reaching out to an attorney.
Minor Property Damage and No Obvious Injuries
Report via App: If the accident resulted in minimal property damage and no injuries and both parties are cooperative, you may be able to report the incident directly through the rideshare app. This method is typically all you need for incidents that result in minor vehicle scrapes, scratches, or fender benders when there are no disputes regarding the fault.
Of course, keep in mind that there is never any harm in consulting an attorney just to make sure that all your bases are covered — especially if there is any possibility that a small ache or pain could give way to a larger, underlying issue. The same goes for any damage to your property, especially in regard to the value depreciation that may come from reporting even the smallest accident.
Working with an attorney can increase the final size of your settlement, even in supposedly “minor” accidents. Our goal is to reduce the risk that you’ll leave money on the table and have to pay out-of-pocket for the full value of damages you’ll suffer now and into the future.
Moderate to Severe Injuries
Consult an Attorney: If you, the driver, or any passengers sustain moderate to severe injuries (such as broken bones, whiplash, head injuries, or any injuries that require hospitalization), it’s important to consult a rideshare accident lawyer as soon as possible. An attorney can help you make sure that you are able to secure fair compensation for any medical expenses or other damages caused by lost wages or pain and suffering.
Disputed Liability
Consult an Attorney: When there is any argument over who is at fault for the accident — you’ll want to reach out to a lawyer immediately.
Your attorney can help you gather the evidence you’ll need, as well as assess each party’s liability, before negotiating with any insurance companies involved. Additionally, even if you’re unsure of whether you need a lawyer, you should always assume that the other party is going to consult an attorney.
If they do, and you’re left to fend for yourself, the road ahead is only going to become more difficult.
Uninsured or Underinsured Rideshare Driver
Consult an Attorney: If the rideshare driver is uninsured (or underinsured), this will complicate matters. Similarly, when the rideshare company denies that their policy applies, the other insurers involved may also initially deny coverage. An attorney can help you explore all avenues for compensation, like investigating the accident to determine third-party involvement or researching relevant laws and policies that may assign liability to the rideshare company.
Having an attorney always helps level the playing field when you pursue a claim against the rideshare company’s insurance policy. Their legal teams are almost never going to give a fair settlement offer right off the bat.
You’ll want to make sure you have a knowledgeable and experienced attorney by your side when it comes time to negotiate.
More Complicated Legal Circumstances (or Processes)
Consult an Attorney: In any situation involving multiple parties, government entities, or issues of shared fault, the legal process is going to become much more complicated.
Luckily, our experienced rideshare attorneys have handled hundreds of cases like yours; our aim is to help you carve out the best path forward. We can help you navigate the complexities that come with speaking with multiple insurance companies or dealing with issues of comparative fault while ensuring your rights are protected.
We also don’t want you to miss out on any potential compensation you may be owed for the damages suffered, including the costs of future care.
The Legal Responsibilities of Rideshare Drivers
In Alpharetta, Uber and Lyft are the most popular rideshare platforms. Both companies outline specific expectations (and insurance requirements) for their drivers, but there are also several more general responsibilities that these contract workers must adhere to.
Any driver who fails to meet these expectations may be found to have exercised some degree of negligence, so it’s important to keep these responsibilities in mind when reviewing the nature of your accident.
Duty of Care
Both Uber and Lyft drivers owe a duty of care to their passengers and any other drivers on the road. This ‘duty’ includes sticking to safe driving practices, respecting traffic laws, and ensuring the basic safety and well-being of passengers during their ride.
Vehicle Safety
Rideshare drivers must keep their vehicles in a safe, roadworthy condition. As a result, they must pass regular maintenance checks to ensure all of their vehicle’s safety features are fully functional, and if anything is found to be malfunctioning, they must fix the issue before picking up their next passenger.
Background Checks
Uber and Lyft are required to conduct background checks on their drivers. This includes reviewing both the driver’s criminal history, as well as their accident history.
Drivers must pass these checks to be deemed eligible to operate on the platform.
Compliance With Local Regulations
Alpharetta, like many other cities, has specific regulations for its rideshare drivers. This typically includes licensing requirements, vehicle inspections, and compliance with local tax laws. Drivers must remain aware of these regulations and comply with them before hitting the road.
Reporting Incidents
In the event of an accident or incident during a ride, drivers are responsible for reporting the situation to the rideshare company (and, if necessary, any local authorities) immediately. They must cooperate with any subsequent investigations and supply any evidence requested.
Rideshare Insurance Requirements for Alpharetta Uber and Lyft Drivers
Both Uber and Lyft require drivers to meet the state’s minimum insurance requirements. That said, most drivers will also purchase additional coverage on top of their personal auto insurance policy because said personal policy will not cover any accident that occurs while they’re using the app.
Similarly, both Uber and Lyft will not offer the driver access to their company insurance while the driver’s app is off. During this time, the driver must use their own insurance policy to cover any accident that occurs.
From there, their insurance coverage will kick in at two different stages.
The first level will cover drivers who have the app turned on and are currently ‘available’ or waiting for a ride request. At this point, if a driver is involved in an accident — and cannot tap into their own personal auto policy — they will be able to access the following insurance coverage:
For Lyft:
- $50,000 per person for bodily injury
- $100,000 per accident for bodily injury
- $25,000 per accident for property damage
For Uber:
Third-party liability if your personal auto insurance doesn’t apply
- $75,000 in bodily injury per person
- $150,000 in bodily injury per accident
- $25,000 in property damage per accident
Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury
- $25,000 in bodily injury per person
- $50,000 in bodily injury per accident
- $50,000 death per person
- $100,000 death per accident
Personal Injury Protection
- $50,000 per insured person
At the next level, drivers will unlock even greater coverage. So when the app is turned on, and the driver is either en route to pick up their passengers — or in the process of driving the passengers on their trip — each rideshare platform offers the following coverage:
For Lyft:
- At least $1,000,000 for third-party auto liability
- At least $1,000,000 for first-party coverage
- This coverage may include uninsured motorist coverage, underinsured motorist coverage, PIP, MedPay, and/or Occupational Accident coverage
- If a driver obtains comprehensive and collision coverage on their personal auto policy, Lyft will maintain contingent comprehensive and collision coverage up to the actual cash value of the vehicle (with a $2,500 deductible)
For Uber
- $1,250,000 for third-party liability
- $1,250,000 for Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage
- $50,000 Personal Injury Protection per person
- Contingent comprehensive and collision
- If a driver obtains comprehensive and collision coverage on their personal auto policy, Uber will maintain contingent comprehensive and collision coverage up to the actual cash value of the vehicle (with a $2,500 deductible)
However, keep in mind that dealing with one of these rideshare companies’ insurance teams is going to be just as difficult, if not more, than dealing with a traditional insurance company. Having an attorney represent you increases your chances of a successful claim while reducing the stress and time involved in pursuing your claim.
Contact an Alpharetta Rideshare Law Firm Today
If you’ve been involved in a car accident with a rideshare driver, be sure to reach out to our team today. We can review all of the details that went into your specific situation to try to pinpoint the exact moment when the negligence occurred.
We can help you compile the evidence you’ll need to build the strongest claim possible, all while helping you do everything possible to maximize the potential size of your eventual settlement or court award. Best of all, we can even negotiate with any insurance companies on your behalf to ensure that your rights — and interests — are protected when the pressure sets in.
So, reach out to our team today. Call (470) 323-8779 or contact us online to speak with a member of our team about your specific rideshare accident and find the best path forward for your financial, medical, and personal future.
