Who is Liable in an Uber or Lyft Accident?

Get the Compensation You Deserve After a Rideshare Accident

Rideshare accidents are not as unlikely as they used to be

With billions of Uber and Lyft trips happening every year, rideshare accidents are not as unlikely as they used to be. But because rideshare incidents involve the individual driver(s), the passenger(s), and the massive rideshare company, the aftermath of these accidents can be much more complicated than your run-of-the-mill collision.

If you’ve been in an accident involving an Uber or Lyft in the Dunwoody area, here’s a guide to the liability issues involved, the next steps you should take, and the ways a great rideshare attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve.

What to Do After a Lyft or Uber Crash in Dunwoody

Prioritize the health and safety of you and anyone with you

When you’ve been in any car accident, you should always prioritize the health and safety of you and anyone who’s with you. But, if it’s safe to do so, these are the steps you can take at the scene of the accident to make sure you have all the information you need for your insurance claim.

  1. Call the police (it’s the law in Georgia!)
  2. Report the accident to Uber or Lyft
  3. Take notes and photos at the scene
  4. Collect the other drivers’ insurance information and phone numbers 

If you were in the vehicle that collided with an Uber or Lyft, you should also find out what stage of the rideshare process the driver was in at the time of the accident (en route to pick up a passenger, transporting a passenger, or waiting to accept a ride). This will determine what level of insurance coverage was in effect, and whether the driver’s personal insurance or the rideshare company will need to pay.

 Even if you don’t think you’re injured from the accident, you should visit your primary care physician or an urgent care center as soon as possible. Some accident-related injuries, like whiplash, don’t present symptoms for days or even weeks, so it’s important to get a professional opinion right away.

And make sure to keep all your medical records and bills organized: you may need to produce them later on in the claims process.

If you plan to hire a Dunwoody accident attorney, this is also a great time to begin working with them. The sooner an attorney gets involved in your case, the more familiar with it they’ll be and the better they’ll be able to help you navigate the entire process of filing a claim and fighting for your compensation.

How to Report an Accident to Uber or Lyft

Report the incident to the rideshare company

After the police have been contacted at the scene of the accident, you should also report the incident to the rideshare company.

If you were in an accident involving Uber, here’s how you submit a report:

  • Uber Drivers: Visit the “Help” section in the Uber app, then select “Trip Issues and Adjustments,” then “I was in an accident.”
  • Uber Passengers: Visit the “Account” section in the Uber app and select “Help,” then “Help with a trip.” Choose the correct trip and then select “Report Safety Issue,” then “I was involved in an accident.”
  • Other Parties Involved in the Accident: Report the accident online by filling out the form for third parties.

If you were in an accident involving a Lyft, here’s how you submit a report:

  • Lyft Drivers and Passengers: Select “Help” in the Lyft app and then “Report a safety issue.” Click “Report a safety issue or accident” and then “Accident.”
  • If you were in another vehicle that collided with a Lyft, you can report the accident to Lyft online by submitting your phone number on this accident report form. Someone from the company will then call you for more details.

Liability in an Uber or Lyft Accident in Georgia

Liability in an Uber or Lyft accident depends on a variety of factors.

First, of course, it depends on who was at fault in the accident itself. If you’re a Lyft driver, for example, and a car collided with you while it was running a red light, you and Lyft are likely not liable for damages, because it wasn’t your fault.

It also depends on the stage of the rideshare process that the driver was in when the accident occurred.

With Uber, for example, there are three levels of liability and insurance coverage that may or may not apply in an accident. If an Uber driver is driving the vehicle and doesn’t have the app turned on, only the driver themself is liable (not Uber). As soon as that driver opens the Uber app, however, Uber’s insurance policy goes into effect. Then, once the driver accepts a specific trip (and up until the trip ends), Uber has a third-party liability coverage that goes into effect.

Liability can be shared in a ridesharing accident

Depending on these factors, liability can be shared among the at-fault drivers, the rideshare company, and potentially even the passenger if they were engaging in behaviors that led to the accident.

Damages Available After Uber and Lyft Accidents in Georgia

Depending on your role in a rideshare accident and the damages you incurred, you may be able to receive money for:

  • Car repair costs
  • Lost wages due to injury or lack of transportation
  • Past and future medical bills
  • Pain and suffering
  • Vehicle rental while your car is damaged

How To Get Compensation after a Lyft or Uber Accident in Atlanta

To get this compensation after a Lyft or Uber accident, you’ll first need to file a claim with any involved insurance companies. This could include both drivers’ personal insurance carriers and the insurance carrier of the rideshare company. In Georgia, Uber is covered by Farmers Insurance, and Lyft is covered by Progressive.

How to Get Compensation After a Lyft or Uber Accident

For a more in-depth look at filing an insurance claim with these companies, check out the following blogs:

How to File an Insurance Claim with Lyft

How to File an Uber Accident Insurance Claim

Once you’ve filed a claim, an insurance adjuster will reach out to find out more information about the claim. Use caution when talking to this adjuster, and make sure to consult your attorney to help you figure out what information you should share, and what you should leave out.

Call Our Dunwoody Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer for Assistance

Even if you’re able to settle your insurance claim without litigation, having a lawyer on your side can both increase the amount of compensation you receive and decrease your stress while navigating the complicated process of rideshare accident claims.

Nick Martin is an experienced rideshare accident attorney who is ready and willing to advocate for you and get you the compensation you deserve. Contact The Law Office of Nicholas P. Martin today at (770) 450-6155, or fill out this form to receive a free consultation.

Nick Martin

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