How Our Missouri Car Accident Attorneys Provide Support After Your Rideshare Crash
If you were hurt by someone who was driving for a ride-booking service such as Uber or Lyft, you’re not legally required to hire an attorney, and may think it’s better to handle the case on your own. Unfortunately, rideshare injury cases are different from other accident claims in several ways. It’s best to have experienced car accident lawyers on your side like the professionals at Beck & Beck Attorneys who understand the complexity of rideshare crashes and related injuries.
Rideshare Crashes: Not Quite Personal, Not Quite Commercial
Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare services blur the line between personal and commercial. Drivers use their personal vehicles and must have their own insurance. They may also choose to take out additional coverage for expenses that exceed their regular policy. Additionally, although travelers hire these drivers through a particular company, they’re not actually employees of the company, which makes filing an injury claim all the more challenging.
Even so, the corporation that contracted them is also required to carry insurance and may be held responsible for injuries in cases where:
- The damages are more than the driver’s personal policy.
- A passenger was sexually assaulted by a rideshare driver.
- The company was careless in hiring, training, or keeping a contracted driver on its payroll.
If you were in a car accident caused by a negligent rideshare driver, it may be possible to obtain a settlement from the company if its driver:
- Was en route to pick up a passenger.
- Already a passenger in the car.
- Just had the app on and was waiting to be assigned a passenger.
Complications That Arise in Missouri Rideshare Accident Cases
Your legal counsel should be knowledgeable about the numerous details involved in these claims. Here are just a few issues we see in our clients’ cases.
Missouri Laws Regarding Accident Fault
Further muddying the waters is the fact that Missouri law allows for more than one driver to be found at fault in an accident—and they may or may not also be responsible for victim injuries. Known as comparative negligence, this means it’s possible that the rideshare driver could be partially at fault but another motorist could also be assigned a percentage of blame.
Multiple Potential Defendants
Depending on the details of your case, there may be more than one defendant who could be held responsible for the rideshare crash. Your legal team’s task is to identify all liable parties to make sure you have a chance at an adequate settlement—but the case becomes more challenging if there are multiple defendants, especially if more attorneys are involved.
More Insurance Companies
If you have reason to file claims against multiple parties, then there could also be more than one insurance company to deal with. Insurers can be tricky and focus more on the bottom line, not paying proper compensation for your injuries and property damage. You need to count on skilled legal negotiators to advocate for your rights.
Forced Arbitration
As an Uber or a Lyft passenger, part of the terms of service you agreed to when you downloaded these apps was to settle disagreements through arbitration. This applies to several different types of claims that could be made against a rideshare company.
How the Car Accident Lawyers at Beck & Beck Can Help
If you were injured, you’re probably in pain, trying to heal, dealing with a large number of medical visits, and in desperate need of rest—all while still trying to manage what life required of you before the accident. You don’t need the stress of managing legal matters on top of everything else. Let us help you the way we have helped many other people involved in Missouri auto collisions.
A skilled personal injury lawyer who is well-versed in the applicable laws regarding Uber and Lyft accident cases can manage all of the complicated details of your case such as:
- Answer questions you might have about insurance coverage and liability.
- Correctly identify which laws apply to rideshares and recognize key violations.
- Explain what documentation you need to retain.
- Determine all parties that should be involved in the claim.
- Help you avoid common mistakes accident victims make that damage their cases.
- Negotiate with insurance companies.
- Gather evidence and police reports.
- Find expert witnesses to support your case.
- Help you prepare for arbitration or court.
- Represent you in negotiations or court.
- Ensure you don’t accept a settlement offer that fails to consider all of the issues that were caused by your injuries.
- Subpoena electronic records to confirm if a driver was using a rideshare app at the time of the crash.
- File your claims within the statute of limitations.
Types of Damages in Rideshare Settlements
Compensation for an accident that involved an Uber or Lyft driver can often include:
- Medical expenses
- Ground or air transportation to the hospital
- Physical rehabilitation
- Long-term care expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Medical equipment
- Home and vehicle modifications
Each of these different categories can cost you a lot of money and once you accept a settlement offer, you don’t get a second chance for more. So while you focus on getting better, trust Beck & Beck Attorneys to fight for your best interests.