Ridesharing apps such as Uber and Lyft offer a great deal of convenience. These services provide fast, affordable transportation to ensure that people can get around in a city, and they also allow many people to enjoy a night out without using a designated driver or worrying about how they will be able to get home safely while avoiding drunk driving. However, with the increasing number of rideshare vehicles on the road, car accidents involving these drivers are inevitable. Passengers in rideshare vehicles, other drivers or passengers who are involved in a collision, or pedestrians or bicyclists who are struck by a rideshare driver will need to determine their options for receiving compensation for their injuries and damages.
Because injury cases involving rideshare drivers can be very complex, it is crucial for victims to secure compensation from an attorney who understands the legal issues involved in these situations. The lawyers of The Edwards Law Firm have represented clients who have been injured in multiple types of motor vehicle collisions, and we provide our clients over 100 years of combined experience in personal injury matters. With our knowledge and experience in accident cases involving rideshare vehicles, we can ensure that victims understand the steps they will need to take to recover compensation from those who were responsible for their injuries.
In most car accident cases, injury victims will be covered by the insurance policy of the at-fault driver, and they may also receive coverage by their own insurance company. However, it can sometimes be difficult to determine what insurance policies apply in cases involving rideshare drivers. Insurance policies held by rideshare companies may provide coverage, and a rideshare driver may also have their own separate policy. Insurance policies held by other drivers who were involved in a collision may also need to be addressed.
Some complications may arise when determining whether rideshare company insurance policies provide coverage for injury victims. These policies typically cover passengers being transported in rideshare vehicles, as well as others who are injured in collisions that occur while a driver is transporting passengers. However, if a rideshare driver is involved in a collision while they are traveling to pick up a passenger or while they are waiting for a ride request, a rideshare company's insurance policy may not apply. In these cases, a driver's private insurance policy may provide coverage, or victims may need to determine whether they can pursue compensation from other sources.
Victims may also be able to take legal action to address injuries that occurred because of a rideshare company's negligence. For example, if a company did not properly screen drivers and allowed a driver to work for them even though they had a record of unsafe driving, victims may be able to hold the company liable for injuries that occurred as a result. However, rideshare companies often attempt to avoid liability by classifying their drivers as independent contractors instead of employees. By doing so, they may claim that they are not responsible for a driver's actions. To ensure that a company may be held liable for its negligence, victims will need to work with an attorney who has a strong understanding of the legal issues involved in these cases.
Our firm has extensive experience representing clients in complex car accident cases, and we have a track record of success in which we have held large companies responsible for injuries caused by negligence. We can help you pursue compensation for injuries you have suffered in an accident involving a rideshare driver, and we will fight to make sure you will have the financial resources you need. Contact our office today at 361-320-6752 and arrange your complimentary consultation. We represent clients injured in motor vehicle accidents in Kingsville, Corpus Christi, Aransas Pass, Robstown, Port Aransas, Nueces County, Rockport, Alice, and Portland.