Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft provide transportation to millions of passengers across Arizona each year, but that unfortunately does not mean the thousands of people driving for these services always act responsibly behind the wheel. In fact, it is not all that uncommon for rideshare drivers to end up causing traffic accidents through their own misconduct which leads to their passengers — and often other people around them as well — suffering catastrophic harm.
Fortunately, you may have multiple options for seeking financial restitution after being hurt in an Uber/Lyft/rideshare accident in Tempe. With a car accident lawyer from Phillips Law Group on your side, you will have a much better chance of recovering comprehensively for your damages than you would ever likely have pursuing your claim on your own. Call to speak with one of our trusted auto accident attorneys today.
Is It Necessary to Prove Fault for a Rideshare Crash?
While it is generally not possible to sue a rideshare company over a Tempe car crash since virtually all rideshare drivers are “independent contractors” rather than “employees,” companies like Uber and Lyft do maintain liability insurance policies in the event that one of their drivers gets into a wreck that injures the driver and/or anyone else. Importantly, this coverage is available on a “no-fault” basis, which means there is no need to prove that a specific person was to blame for causing a covered accident to recover compensation through the insurance policy.
If a wreck happens while an Uber or Lyft driver is carrying a paying passenger or driving towards an accepted ride request, both companies provide up to $1,000,000 in liability coverage for personal injuries and property damage sustained by the driver, their passenger, and other people caught up in the crash.
If a rideshare driver gets in a crash while logged into their respective app but before accepting a ride request, Uber and Lyft’s liability insurance policies both provide up to $50,000 for bodily injury per person, $100,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. It may also be possible in both scenarios to recover through personal insurance and/or insurance held by the individual driver(s) involved.
Recovering for Damages Beyond What Insurance Covers
If available insurance does not cover all of the losses stemming from an Uber or Lyft accident in Tempe, it may be possible to seek additional restitution through a civil lawsuit or settlement demand filed against the driver at fault for the wreck. Unlike the liability insurance mentioned above, though, this would require proving that the driver directly caused the accident in question through their own reckless or careless behavior — for example, by violating traffic laws, driving while distracted, or driving while drunk or high.
A civil claim along these lines can incorporate various damages that insurance typically will not cover, most notably “non-economic” forms of harm like physical pain and psychological distress. Guidance from experienced legal counsel can be crucial to getting the most money possible from a lawsuit, insurance claims, or a combination of both.
Get Help From a Tempe Attorney Following an Uber/Lyft/Rideshare Accident
Being in an auto accident under any circumstances can be frightening, but getting hurt in a wreck while you were a passenger with no control over what was happening can be particularly traumatic. On top of that, understanding and making effective use of your right to financial recovery after a wreck involving a rideshare driver can be trickier than you might think, especially if you try to handle your case entirely by yourself.
Achieving the best claim result possible after an Uber/Lyft/rideshare accident in Tempe will be much easier with support from a seasoned lawyer. You need a Phillips to get a job like this done right, so call the Phillips Law Group today to get started on your case. You are under no obligation to work with us after your initial meeting and your first consultation is always free. Please get in touch with a member of our team today to learn more!
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