While traditional taxi services still operate in and around Glendale, modern rideshare options like Uber and Lyft have become an increasingly popular alternative to cabs in Arizona and all over the United States. Unfortunately, just like anyone else operating any other kind of motor vehicle, rideshare drivers can sometimes be irresponsible behind the wheel, leading to themselves, their passenger(s), and potentially other people around them sustaining serious injuries in preventable traffic collisions.
If you have been hurt in Uber/Lyft/rideshare accidents in Glendale, you may have more than one possible course of action when it comes to pursuing financial restitution for your crash-related losses. However, these types of cases can be complicated even when it seems obvious who is at fault for the wreck in question, so it is vital to have support from the seasoned auto accident lawyers at Phillips Law Group while filing your unique claim.
Are Rideshare Companies Liable for Their Drivers’ Negligence?
One very important thing to understand about Uber and Lyft crash lawsuits in Glendale is that the drivers who work for rideshare companies are considered “independent contractors” rather than “employees.” If they were categorized as employees, the rideshare company they work for could potentially hold “vicarious liability” for any wreck they caused through negligence. Since rideshare drivers are not employees, though, it is generally not possible to sue Uber or Lyft directly over a car crash.
Instead, it is often possible to file a claim against the liability insurance policies that rideshare companies maintain for the benefit of their drivers, passengers, and other people involved in wrecks. Both Uber and Lyft provide up to $1,000,000 to cover all losses in a crash involving a driver who was actively carrying a customer or traveling to pick one up after accepting a ride request. Different policies with smaller coverage maximums kick in if an Uber or Lyft driver gets in an accident while logged into their respective app.
Establishing Fault for an Uber or Lyft Crash
Of course, proving that another driver involved in a Glendale traffic accident was driving for a rideshare app at the time is not enough by itself to make them legally liable for the consequences of the wreck. It will also be necessary to show through a majority of available evidence that the accident likely would not have happened at all without a specific reckless, careless, or illegal act committed by the “defendant” rideshare driver.
Sometimes, this is as straightforward as referencing a police accident report that includes a traffic citation issued against the defendant driver in relation to the wreck. Often, though, it is necessary to incorporate multiple forms of evidence into a comprehensive claim that proves a rideshare driver directly caused the accident in question and that the injured “plaintiff” suing over it did not contribute to causing their own injuries through their own negligence.
Get Help From an Attorney After Uber/Lyft/Rideshare Accidents in Glendale
None of this should be taken to mean that successfully filing suit over an Uber/Lyft/rideshare accident in Glendale is impossible. It does mean, though, that your odds of achieving the best possible case result will likely be very slim if you try to pursue your claim without guidance from experienced legal counsel.
Our team at Phillips Law Group has been locally owned and operated for more than three decades and is willing to take your case all the way to court if necessary to get you paid what you deserve. Call today to speak with a member of our team about scheduling a free, no-obligation consultation.
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