Justice Through Compensation

A skilled lawyer will protect your rights if you are injured in a ridesharing accident. Ridesharing companies like Uber or Lift are modernizing the way people get around. As a result, more car accidents can occur due to the lack of professionally trained drivers on the road. The car service costs a fraction of what traditional taxis cost because the drivers, in most cases, are not professionals. If you were hurt in an Uber or Lyft vehicle, do not hesitate to get in touch with an experienced Uber and Lyft lawyer at Justice Through Compensation. We provide legal advice and aggressive representation when pursuing maximum compensation for our clients.

Typically, unlike taxi drivers, ridesharing drivers are contractors, not employees. Most of the time, the contractor can submit the necessary documents through an app to begin driving. It is possible that ride-sharing drivers are hired without proper background checks. And, unlike licensed cab companies that are fully insured in the event of an accident, sometimes drivers are underinsured.

Personal auto insurance policies may contain a clause when the insured is driving for compensation. Therefore, the driver’s personal insurance coverage may not cover your medical expenses or lost income from the accident.

As a result, incidents with “ridesharing” passengers being harmed or seriously injured occur more frequently. It is important to know and protect your rights if you become injured as a ride-sharing passenger. Ridesharing is a relatively new industry, which means it is insufficiently regulated. The laws to regulate these companies are still being formed. Insurance companies are still figuring out the rules to pay out for injuries in the event a car accident occurs.

If you have been injured in an Uber or Lyft accident, get in contact with an Uber and Lyft lawyer at Justice Through Compensation immediately to see if you are entitled to receive maximum compensation for your injuries.

The first step in recovering compensation for injuries sustained in a Lyft or Uber accident is to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer who can help you recover the maximum amount possible. Unlike other attorneys who will push you to settle quickly, our attorney fights for his clients’ rights and stands up against much larger insurance companies, fighting to get you what you deserve.

If you are involved in an Uber or Lyft accident, you should take the same steps you would take after any car accident:

• Seek medical help if you are injured or hurt. Call 911 so an ambulance can come and provide medical attention.
• Protect your own safety, including by moving out of traffic if possible. If you are sure you are okay and can move, make certain the driver and anyone else in the vehicle are all right, and then exit the vehicle. Help anyone involved get to the side of the road before calling the authorities.
• Call the police so you can later obtain a police report.
• Remain at the scene and exchange insurance and contact information with those involved.
• Report the incident to your insurance company.

In addition, you should collect evidence at the scene of the accident:

• Take good photographs of the accident scene and all the damages to the vehicles involved.
• Collect the names and contact information of witnesses, officers, and medical personal. If you cannot do so because you need medical attention, you may ask someone else to gather this information for you.
• If you can, try to find out the driver’s status on the app at the time of the accident. Did the rideshare driver have the app on or off? Was the driver waiting for a ride request or actively picking up or carrying riders at the time of the accident? Uber and Lyft’s insurance coverage kicks in when drivers are active on the apps. Coverage limits vary during different phases of rides.
• If you were an Uber driver and you accepted a ride request and were on your way to pick up a passenger at the time of the incident, you should take a screenshot to prove that you were on the way to pick up a passenger.

After the incident, order a copy of the police report if the police responded to the scene.

You must also contact the rideshare company involved and inform them of the accident.

If you’ve been hit by an Uber driver, you can report the accident on Uber’s Safety page. You’ll want to complete the “Third Party Incident Notice.” If you’ve been hit by a Lyft driver, you can report the accident on Lyft’s Help page.

Keep in mind that reporting an accident to Uber or Lyft is like talking to an insurance adjuster after an accident. Be careful what you say. Report only basic facts about the accident: where, when, the type of accident, the vehicles involved, and the identity of witnesses. Don’t give a detailed description of your injuries. Other than the initial report, don’t talk to Uber/Lyft or their insurance agents without a lawyer present. You can elaborate about the accident and your injuries when you send a demand letter after you’ve had time to investigate and talk to a lawyer. Your driver should also contact Uber or Lyft as part of their accident protocol.

Also, stay off social media. Do not seek advice from friends and others on social media. Anything on social media is generally public information, even if you believe it is only accessible by certain people. Whether you are in litigation against Uber or Lyft, another driver’s insurance company, or anyone else, keep details about the case off social media. Do not mention the accident or anything connected to it at all. This information can be used by Uber, Lyft, or their insurance company against you. They may even use your photos or social media check-ins to try to discredit you. Let your friends and family know not to post anything, either. The courts can compel you to submit posts that you have made private and can even subpoena deleted posts and profiles if there is reason to believe they impact your case. The best thing to do is stop posting on social media while your case is pending.

Finally, just like other insurance companies, those that cover Uber and Lyft will not want to pay out any sum of money if they can avoid it. You may have to hire a personal injury lawyer to to receive the compensation you deserve. Do not accept any settlement offers even if they seem generous without consulting with a lawyer.

To ensure you receive fair and adequate compensation, contact an Uber or Lyft accident lawyer. At Justice Through Compensation, we offer a 100% FREE initial consultation. If you hire us, you won’t be charged unless we win or settle your case. Call us today at 425.333.8888!

If you have been injured in an Uber or Lyft accident in Washington or California, you may be entitled to recover economic and non-economic damages, including:

• Hospital bills
• Loss of income
• Pain and suffering
• Medical costs of treatment
• Chiropractic costs

To learn more about what your claim is worth, contact Justice Through Compensation today at 425.333.8888. Our initial consultations are 100% FREE.

Uber and Lyft are Transportation Network Companies, or TNCs. Both have gained substantial success and users since they launched.

Despite their popularity, however, Uber and Lyft accidents happen in an instant. Though both companies insist that their drivers pass stringent background checks, they are just average people who pickup and drop off passengers in their own vehicles. Uber and Lyft do not own or maintain their drivers’ vehicles, and they do not directly employ their drivers. In most cases, their drivers have no commercial qualifications and no special training.

Ridesharing companies pay out billions of dollars to personal injury and wrongful death accident victims each year. Our Washington and California Uber and Lyft accident lawyer can help you prove liability for your Uber or Lyft accident and recover compensation for your personal injuries. Both Lyft and Uber carry $1,000,000 of liability insurance.

Our personal injury lawyer in Mountlake Terrace can look for all possible acts of negligence and contributory negligence involved in the liability for your injuries. Our ride sharing accident lawyer may find improperly maintained or faulty equipment by examining the inspection and maintenance receipts for the Uber or Lyft vehicle involved in your accident. If the vehicle was not inspected on time or defective equipment contributed to your accident, our injury lawyer can investigate your case, find additional evidence, interview additional witnesses, prepare your case, negotiate with Lyft or Uber, and negotiate with insurance companies.

Liability for ridesharing accidents can get complicated. Lyft or Uber’s insurance policies cover accidents caused by their driver when their status is active on the ridesharing app. For example, if the driver picks you up but forgets to accept your ride request in the online system, Uber or Lyft’s insurance will not apply. If another driver caused the accident, the at-fault party is liable for the accident, which means that the third-party insurance company must pay for property damage to the Lyft or Uber vehicle and the personal injury claims of both you and your driver.

Lyft and Uber drivers are required to purchase car insurance which meets or exceeds the state’s minimum requirements for liability coverage, but car insurance policies may not cover drivers who are working for an employer, making deliveries, or transporting others.

Contact our Uber and Lyft accident lawyer if you were injured or your loved one died in a Lyft or Uber traffic accident in Washington or California. You can schedule a 100% FREE initial consultation by calling 425.333.8888 today!

A Transportation Network Company, or TNC, which is sometimes referred to as a “ride-sharing company”, is a company that offers prearranged rides or car rentals for a specified fee. A TNC operates by using an online application/App on a mobile device to connect passengers/renters with drivers/car owners.

Rideshare programs have become extremely popular around the world. Commuters who do not have access to mass transit and those who would rather not deal with the hassle of waiting for the bus or getting on a subway can have a private car that will take them to their destination with just a few taps on their mobile device.

There are dozens of other TNCs all over the world. TNCs have many benefits. In many areas, such as metropolitan suburbs, a TNC is far easier and more convenient than trying to find a taxicab, and far less expensive than renting a car or hiring a private driver.

TNCs have created thousands of jobs for eligible drivers. They have also reduced rates of driving under the influence. It is easy and inexpensive to secure a ride, so it’s a viable option for anyone not wanting to risk driving home after having a few drinks.

Despite its benefits, the TNC model also has many drawbacks. This is especially true when it comes to Uber and Lyft accidents and injuries. Even though their purpose is to provide transportation, TNCs do not operate under the same rules as a taxicab operation. According to them, they are not transportation companies. They are technology companies that simply offer a better way to connect passengers to drivers.

In addition, they are not responsible for maintaining vehicles. Their drivers are not their employees, but “independent contractors.” As a result, they do not need to offer them benefits, paid time off, or any of the standard protections an employee would receive.

They can also be less responsible for the actions of an independent contractor than for those of an employee. This is why they have frequently been able to get away with denying liability for their drivers’ actions.

The most common examples of TNC/Rideshare companies are Uber and Lyft.

Uber

Nowadays, Uber has become a multibillion-dollar company with services available all over the world.

Uber, which launched its mobile application in 2011 in San Francisco, operates worldwide in 785 metropolitan areas, with assets around $24 billion, and hundreds of thousands of drivers in dozens of countries.

While Uber has been widely accepted as a new and convenient alternative to taxis, the company has received criticism for a practice known as surge pricing. Since Uber sets their own rates, it has been known to significantly increase prices in situations when the demand for rides is high, such as bad weather, holidays, and events at large arenas and stadiums. Riders can request additional options such as luxury cars, vehicles with accessibility for wheelchairs or car seats, and to be able to share the trip with other passengers to cut down on cost.

Lyft

In the United States, Lyft is probably the second most popular TNC. Lyft has grown to be a major competitor of Uber. The platform offers approximately the same functionality as Uber, in that it offers an app-based alternative to traditional methods of travel, such as taxis, buses, trains, subways, and others.

In today’s ride-sharing world, Uber and Lyft are some of the most widely used. This has led to a higher number of accidents, especially as there are more rideshare rides per mile than regular car drivers.

Below are some of the most common causes of rideshare car accidents:

DISTRACTED DRIVING

Distracted driving is considered to be a primary cause of rideshare accidents. Uber and Lyft drivers simply have more distractions than the average driver. These drivers have the rideshare application running, which tells them the passenger information, pick-up point, and drop off point. Rideshare drivers are also focused on the map displayed on their navigation system. Finally, a rideshare driver usually engages in conversation with his or her customers. Any distraction draws a driver’s attention from safe driving. Multiple distractions may increase the possibility of a motor vehicle accident.

NAVIGATING UNFAMILIAR ROADS

Rideshare drivers may not be familiar with the route they are traveling when transporting a customer. As a result, the driver’s unfamiliarity increases the chances of unsettled driving, causing slow driving, unexpected stops, and sudden turns. These unexpected maneuvers can easily cause an accident.

SPEEDING

Whether intentional or unintentional, there is an increased risk for Lyft or Uber drivers to speed. A rideshare driver might not notice their travel speed, may be unaware of the speed limit, or may be rushing the trip to collect as many rides as possible. The more trips they make, the more money they make. Speeding not only increases the risk of a rideshare accident, but it likely increases the accident’s damage.

RIDESHARE DRIVER FATIGUE

Between the extensive hours some Lyft or Uber drivers work and the time of day some trips occur, driver fatigue is a risk when using a rideshare. Long rideshare shifts or driving as a side job means many Lyft or Uber drivers work excessive shifts. Again, the more they work, the more money they make. These long work hours can lead to driver fatigue. Also, many rideshare trips occur either early in the morning or late at night, which means Uber or Lyft drivers are tired while behind the wheel.

UNSAFE PARKING & PICK UP LOCATIONS

When an Uber or Lyft picks up their passengers, they expect a quick pick-up, so the driver usually doesn’t find an actual parking spot. Rideshare drivers may choose an unsafe pick-up area, such as partially blocking off a main road or obstructing an intersection. Improvised parking can be dangerous to other vehicles or pedestrians and is another cause of an auto accident

POOR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE

While Lyft and Uber have initial car maintenance requirements to start as a driver, there is no guarantee that the driver will continue maintaining the vehicle. Car malfunctions and vehicle maintenance problems are causes of rideshare accidents. Common vehicle maintenance issues include brake malfunctions, tire issues, and engine problems.

If you were involved in an Uber or Lyft accident and want to speak with an attorney you can trust, contact the Justice Through Compensation Team today at 425.333.8888. Consultations are 100% FREE and carry no obligation or pressure.

If you are injured in an accident while driving for Uber or Lyft, your eligibility for compensation depends on who is found to be at fault.

For example, if the other driver is at fault, his or her insurance would pay for your injuries and property damage.

If the other driver is uninsured, or the accident was a hit and run, Uber or Lyft would cover your bodily injuries. As for property damage, if you have comprehensive and collision coverage on your vehicle, Uber or Lyft cover the cash value of the property damage, after the required deductible, regardless of who is at fault.

If you are at fault in an accident while driving for Uber or Lyft, and you receive bodily injuries, neither their insurance nor your own auto insurance will provide any coverage. You will need to rely on your own healthcare insurance to cover all costs. This is one of the reasons why supplemental Rideshare Insurance is advisable for all TNC drivers.

Victims of Uber or Lyft accidents have a right to obtain compensation. Depending on the circumstances, the injured passenger may either obtain compensation through Uber or Lyft’s commercial insurance policy or via a personal injury lawsuit.

If you suffered an injury in an Uber or Lyft accident, the amount of compensation you are eligible to receive depends on who was at fault:

• If your driver is at fault, the company’s policy should cover your injuries up to $1 million.
• If the at fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, or if the accident was a hit and run, Uber or Lyft should cover your injuries.
• If the other driver is at fault, you will need to file a claim with their insurance company.

Situations where fault is shared may become complex. There could be multiple insurance companies involved in obtaining compensation. Just because you should be covered by Uber or Lyft’s policies does not mean that obtaining your compensation will be easy. Rideshare companies have significant assets and legal teams that work diligently to avoid taking responsibility for injuries whenever possible.

At Justice Through Compensation, we can help you determine who is liable for your accident and help develop a strategy to recover the maximum compensation possible. Every Uber and Lyft accident case is unique, and the circumstances in each case will determine who is at fault. We will conduct a thorough investigation into your case, interview witnesses, gather any video footage available, and, if necessary, work with an accident reconstruction specialist who can prove that the at-fault driver’s negligence caused the accident.

Uber and Lyft are rideshare companies that have connected billions of riders with drivers since the companies launched over 10 ten years ago. Both riders and drivers benefit from the convenience of on-demand rides, but at least one study found that the arrival of ridesharing was associated with a 2% to 3% increase in the number of car occupants and pedestrians killed in accidents between 2011 and 2016.

If you are struck by an Uber or Lyft vehicle, as a driver, passenger, or pedestrian, please note that:

• You can start taking actions right after the accident to help you get compensation for your injuries and losses.
• Rideshare drivers are required to have personal auto insurance policies that meet minimum state coverage requirements.
• Uber and Lyft provide additional insurance coverage while drivers are logged into their apps.
• You might be able to sue Uber and Lyft for accident-related injuries.
• A lawyer can explain your legal options after a rideshare accident and help you get the best possible outcome in your case.

But, who is liable for your injuries depends on the driver’s status at the time of your accident. If you can, try to find out the driver’s status on the app at the time of the accident. Did the rideshare driver have the app on or off? Was the driver waiting for a ride request or actively picking up or carrying riders at the time of the accident? Uber and Lyft’s insurance coverage kicks in when drivers are active on the apps. Coverage limits vary during different phases of rides.

If you are struck by an Uber or Lyft vehicle when the driver is not on the app, you will need to file a claim with the driver’s personal insurance company.

If you are struck by an Uber or Lyft vehicle while the driver is waiting for a request, you may collect from a combination of the Uber or Lyft liability policy or any supplemental rideshare insurance policy held by the driver.

If you are struck by an Uber or Lyft vehicle en route to pick up a passenger, or while a passenger is in their car, you are fully covered by Uber or Lyft’s $1 million third-party liability coverage.

Just because you should be covered by Uber or Lyft’s policies doesn’t mean that obtaining your compensation will be easy. Rideshare companies have significant assets and legal teams that work diligently to avoid taking responsibility for injuries whenever possible. If you have been injured in an accident in which an Uber or Lyft driver is at fault, contact Justice Through Compensation today at 425.333.8888!