Injured in an Uber or Lyft vehicle? Know Your Rights

If you have been injured in an accident involving an Uber, Lyft or any other rideshare vehicle, you have certain rights – regardless of whether you were a passenger, driver or the occupant of another vehicle that was struck by a rideshare vehicle. Rideshare companies provide transportation services to consumers by contracting with drivers who use their personal vehicles to carry passengers. This service is provided through a smartphone app.

The popularity of rideshare vehicles has surged in recent years because they are not just quick and convenient, but also inexpensive. However, rideshares come with their share of problems and complexities. If you or a loved one has been injured in a rideshare accident, it is important that you know and understand your rights.

You Won’t Lose Access to Rideshare Services if You Make a Claim

It is fairly common for a rideshare driver or passenger to become concerned about bringing a claim against the company. You may rely on these services to get to and from work or if you are a driver, you may be concerned about your ability to continue making an income. If you bring an injury claim under the insurance policy from Uber, Lyft or any other rideshare company, you cannot be penalized for it. Pursuing a claim and retaining a personal injury lawyer to represent you will not cause you to be penalized.

What Can You Do to Protect Your Rights?

Whether you are a passenger in a rideshare vehicle or have been struck by a rideshare vehicle, there are a number of steps you can take after an accident to protect your rights:

• Make sure everyone is safe, if possible. Check on others to see if they were injured. If anyone needs medical attention right away, call 911.
• Be sure to document the accident. Take photographs of the accident scene, the vehicles involved, their license plates, etc. Exchange information with your rideshare driver and the driver of the other vehicle. Don’t forget to get a screenshot of your rideshare app as proof that the accident occurred when you were in the vehicle.
• Look for eyewitnesses. See if anyone else saw the accident. Ask for this person’s name and contact information. Eyewitness testimony can help corroborate your account of what happened.
• Report the accident according to the rideshare app’s rules. Go through the app’s guidelines to properly report the accident. It is also important that you do this as soon as possible. Long delays in reporting could potentially jeopardize your claim.
• Get medical attention, treatment and care for your injuries. Injuries could get worse if they are not promptly treated. In addition to putting you on the road to recovery, doing so will also help ensure that your injuries and the treatment you received for those injuries are properly documented.

What Damages May I Recover in an Uber or Lyft Accident?

Under the law you may be able to secure compensation for the following losses:

Medical expenses: This includes past and future expenses relating to medical costs, hospitalization, rehabilitation, therapy, cost of ongoing treatment, future surgeries and so on.

Lost income: You may be able to seek compensation for wages or benefits lost as a result of being unable to work due to your injuries. You may also be able to seek compensation for loss of future income due to long-term disabilities and permanent diminished earning capacity or loss of earning capacity.

Pain and suffering: Also known as non-economic damages, victims of Uber or Lyft accident can seek damages relating to physical pain and emotional distress as well.

Punitive damages: These types of damages are typically awarded in cases where the negligence or wrongdoing is considered outrageous or egregious. These damages are different than compensatory damages, which are intended specifically to compensate injured victims for specific losses.

Your Right to Compensation

Uber, Lyft and other rideshare companies are required under the law to possess $1 million in insurance coverage for injuries to passengers caused by their drivers or by other at-fault motorists who are uninsured or undersinsured. However, that does not necessarily mean that you will automatically receive the maximum compensation allowed under the law if you attempt to negotiate your claim on your own.

Insurance companies are adept at denying or minimizing the value of a claim. You need an experienced, resourceful and knowledgeable car accident lawyer on your side who will be able to evaluate the value of your claim with accuracy. Insurance companies will try to get away with paying you the bare minimum. So, you need a passionate advocate on your side who will fight hard to protect your rights and to help you secure maximum compensation for your losses.

How We Can Help You

The experienced Providence Car Accident Lawyers at d’Oliveira & Associates have a long and successful track record of upholding the rights of car accident victims and their families. We understand the complexities and nuances of dealing with rideshare companies and will put our resources, knowledge and experience to work for you. Call us at 401-831-8600 to find out how we can help you.