Uber and Lyft are convenient, but figuring out your rights when you are involved in an accident with a rideshare vehicle can be complicated. Seek advice from an experienced local attorney if you were hurt in an Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare company accident in Iberville Parish.
The good news is that these companies provide commercial insurance policies, so you could have the opportunity to receive compensation adequate to cover your injuries. The bad news is that the coverage rules are complicated, and your ability to recover fair payments may depend on factors outside of your control. Insurance companies also aggressively defend against these types of claims. To ensure you recover what you are entitled to, work with an experienced auto accident attorney in Plaquemine from the start of your claim.
Why Rideshare Drivers Cause Accidents
Rideshare drivers are not professional drivers in the true sense. They do not need a special driver’s license, and they drive their own cars. The regulatory oversight for rideshare services is less stringent than for limousine or taxi drivers.
Rideshare drivers are independent contractors, and many of them work multiple jobs. A rideshare driver might be more likely to get into an accident due to fatigue. Rideshare drivers do business through an app, which means they must frequently check their phones. The need to be continuously plugged in could lead to distraction and cause a wreck.
A Plaquemine attorney could investigate the circumstances of a rideshare accident to determine whether driver negligence, road conditions, or a combination of events caused the crash. This determination is critical when someone seeks compensation for injuries they experienced in a wreck involving Uber or Lyft.
Insurance Coverage Depends on the Rideshare Driver’s Status
Because rideshare drivers are independent contractors, the rideshare companies are not their employers. As such, the laws that make an employer responsible for the negligent acts of an employee do not apply to rideshare drivers.
Uber, Lyft, and other companies provide drivers with supplemental insurance that applies under very specific circumstances. The availability of that coverage depends on the driver’s status when the accident occurred.
Driver Not Logged In
When a rideshare driver has not logged into the app, they have the same status as any other driver on the road. If they are at fault in an accident, their personal insurance covers the losses of anyone hurt in the wreck. The minimum liability coverage in Louisiana is $15,000 for bodily injuries to one person, $30,000 per incident for bodily injury to multiple people, and $25,000 for property damage.
If the wreck caused significant injuries and the driver has the minimum coverage, it is unlikely to provide sufficient funds to cover an injured person’s losses. Although a driver is personally liable for losses their insurance does not cover, rideshare drivers often have minimal personal assets. A Plaquemine rideshare accident attorney could investigate the incident to determine whether other sources of coverage might be available.
Driver Has Accepted a Fare
When a rideshare driver causes a crash with paying passengers in the vehicle, the rideshare companies could provide $1,000,000 in liability coverage. This coverage applies to any incident that occurs between the moment the driver accepts the fare and the moment the passenger exits the vehicle.
Work With a Plaquemine Attorney After a Rideshare Accident
Rideshare services offer many conveniences, but they do not make it easy to collect compensation after an accident. You could benefit from the help of a legal professional when pursuing financial payments from an at-fault driver or company.
When you need to file a claim for an Uber/Lyft/rideshare accident in Iberville Parish, contact Tomeny | Best. Our attorneys could gather the evidence you need to prove your claim and ensure you tap every source of coverage available. Call today.
