You benefit from certain protections as a rideshare passenger. Any driver taking you from one destination to another owes you a duty of care. If you’re injured in a rideshare accident, you can hold that driver’s parent company liable for your losses. You can even take up legal action against another motorist, depending on who you can hold at fault for your losses.
That said, taking legal action after a rideshare accident can feel unnecessarily complicated. Instead of researching your options on your own, why not contact a rideshare accident lawyer? Morelli Law Firm can give you all the information you need as a rideshare passenger suing after a car accident.
Are Rideshare Passengers Protected by a Rideshare Company’s Insurance?
What Insurance Coverage Do On-Duty Rideshare Drivers Have?
Can Rideshare Passengers Suffer From a Violated Duty of Care?
Can Rideshare Passengers Sue Another Driver?
Can Rideshare Passengers Sue a Rideshare Company?
Are There Benefits to Passengers Filing Rideshare Accident Claims?
Are Rideshare Passengers Protected by a Rideshare Company’s Insurance?
Vehicles with passengers inside are always considered “on duty” so long as the driver in question isn’t using the vehicle for personal reasons. As such, rideshare passengers inside of an active rideshare vehicle are protected by that parent company’s insurance.
This means that you may have the right to file an insurance claim with your and a rideshare company’s insurance provider. If a rideshare provider can help cover your losses, you may not have to worry about any consequences that might come along with using your own coverage.
Similarly, rideshare companies’ insurance policies tend to be more comprehensive than the average personal driver policy. This means that if your losses are particularly severe, a rideshare company should be able to contend with the full breadth of your losses. You can work with a rideshare representative or an attorney to learn more about your filing options.
What Insurance Coverage Do On-Duty Rideshare Drivers Have?
The insurance policies available to on duty rideshare drivers vary between parent companies. It can even vary from moment to moment. For example, drivers aren’t always considered to be on duty. Instead, a driver using a rideshare app without passengers in a car has less insurance coverage than a driver transporting passengers.
Fortunately, the question of insurance grows less complicated when passengers endure rideshare accidents. At the time of an accident with an on duty rideshare driver working for Uber, passengers and the driver alike benefit from:
- $1M third-party liability coverage
- Contingent comprehensive and collision coverage
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury
- First-party injury insurance
- Cash value coverage of a car with a $2,500 deductible
Lyft’s insurance coverage is nearly identical to that offered through Uber. If either company attempts to deny you your right to protection in an accident, you can work with an attorney to examine the details of a company’s coverage.
Can Rideshare Passengers Suffer From a Violated Duty of Care?
If you find yourself involved in an accident while in a rideshare vehicle, you’ve endured a violated duty of care. It’s not always immediately clear as to who violated that duty of care, though. It’s often easiest to assume that another motorist bears the responsibility for your accident. However, rideshare drivers are just as vulnerable to negligence.
There’s also a chance that an automotive manufacturer, mechanic, or government body caused your accident. You can connect with our personal injury attorneys to better assess the details of your accident and draft a complaint accordingly.
Can Rideshare Passengers Sue Another Driver?
Rideshare passengers in a car accident can sue another driver under specific conditions. You’ll need evidence, from photos to expert testimony, to establish another driver as accountable for your accident losses.
You can work with a car accident attorney to elaborate on the value of your losses and what evidence you have of an at-fault driver’s negligence. You can then choose to come to a settlement agreement outside of the courtroom or through a car accident trial.
Note that you cannot benefit from a rideshare company’s legal protection throughout this process. It’s unlikely, too, that you’ll be able to file a complaint in tandem with a rideshare company. However, you can discuss the details of your possible case with the Morelli Law Firm team.
Can Rideshare Passengers Sue a Rideshare Company?
Evidence may alternatively indicate that your rideshare driver bears the brunt of the fault in a roadway accident. If this is the case, you can bring a car accident claim to civil court. Your claim should not target that individual driver, though. Because your rideshare driver was on duty at the time of your accident, your claim can instead target the driver’s parent company.
Taking up a complaint against a rideshare company can be an intimidating process. In most cases, rideshare companies can connect you with their legal team so that you can negotiate a settlement offer. Fortunately, our personal injury lawyers can stand with you throughout these negotiations.
We can also offer our own estimate of your possible compensation. In doing so, we can give you the leverage you may need to emphasize the value of your losses. If negotiations don’t go in your favor, or if the rideshare company proves fickle, we can alternatively take your case to court.
Are There Benefits to Passengers Filing Rideshare Accident Claims?
Rideshare passengers who sue after a car accident can secure the financial support you need to recover from your losses. In some cases, this compensation can stand in for expenses that an insurance provider refuses or isn’t able to address. More specifically, a rideshare accident claim allows you to request compensation for losses like:
- Accident-related medical expenses
- Property damage
- Lost opportunities to work
- Lost and/or reduced wages
- Emotional distress
- Stress
- Pain and suffering
Schedule an Appointment With a Injury Accident Attorney Today
When you get into a rideshare, such as an Uber or Lyft, you want to know that you’ll make it to your preferred destination safely. Rideshare drivers and other motorists need to take steps to keep you safe. Those who don’t can be held accountable for your losses in civil court, as rideshare passengers can sue after a car accident.
Do you have questions about your legal rights in the wake of a rideshare accident? Let Morelli Law Firm know. You can meet with a rideshare accident attorney and discuss the merits of pursuing a civil case. Request a case evaluation online or by calling our office today.