Experienced Detroit Rideshare Accident Lawyers on Your Side

Helping Injured Victims Recover Compensation Following a Taxi, Uber, or Lyft Accident in Detroit, Michigan

Rideshare companies like Lyft and Uber present many opportunities for both passengers and drivers alike. However, like any other motor vehicle on the road, rideshare vehicles can be involved in serious accidents when transporting passengers, potentially resulting in severe injuries. Unlike other car accident cases, though, a case involving a rideshare company and Uber and Lyft drivers can often be more complicated because of the number of potentially liable parties involved and the rideshare company’s insurance policy.

If you have been injured in an accident involving rideshare drivers, you must work with an experienced attorney for legal help to secure a fair settlement. Your personal injury attorney can help determine liability, negotiate with the auto insurance company, and hold Uber or Lyft drivers accountable for driver negligence or reckless driving, all in the hopes of seeking justice and adequate financial compensation.

Our personal injury law firm has years of experience representing clients who have suffered serious injuries in car accidents, including accidents involving an Uber or Lyft driver. As your legal representatives, we will seek to hold the at-fault party (or parties) accountable for their actions by filing a negligence claim. Our legal team prides itself on providing competent, compassionate, and skilled legal analysis to clients with personal injury cases. We would be proud to represent your legal rights both in and out of a court of law throughout the legal process. To learn more about our legal services and how we can assist you following a car accident involving a rideshare company, please contact our Detroit law office to schedule your free initial consultation today.

What Are Rideshare Companies?

Though taxi cabs are still viable options for passengers to get around the city, rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft have surged in popularity over the past decade. Lyft and Uber offer rideshare services to interested passengers across the state, employing Michigan drivers as independent contractors for the companies.

At their core, Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare companies are essentially software companies. A passenger downloads the rideshare app, selects a pick-up and drop-off point, and a rideshare driver arrives to pick them up.

It is important to remember that rideshare drivers are not employees of their companies but rather independent contractors allowed to provide rides to interested passengers in exchange for pay. It’s also important to understand what happens if an accident occurs following a ride request. We recommend working with a qualified lawyer who is experienced in Michigan Uber and Lyft accidents. Please contact our law firm to discuss your Lyft or Uber accidents in more detail in a free, no-obligation case evaluation today.

What to Do if You’ve Been Injured in an Uber or Lyft Vehicle?

When someone is injured in a motor vehicle accident, there are certain steps that drivers and passengers should take to attend to their personal well-being and also safeguard their car accident claims.

First and foremost, it is important that anyone involved in a vehicle accident seek medical attention immediately following the crash. Not only could your injuries worsen over time, but comprehensive medical records are valuable to your personal injury attorneys. Failure to get adequate medical treatment following a car collision could result in your claim being devalued or dismissed by many insurance companies.

It is important that you report the auto accident to the police. A police report will also be valuable evidence for your personal injury case.

Take photographs and videos of the accident scene, gathering as much evidence as you can to support your case. If there were any witnesses to the accident, attempt to obtain their contact information.

If a rideshare driver was driving the vehicle involved in the accident, it is important to report the accident and any resulting injuries to the rideshare company. This can usually be accomplished via the app or through the rideshare company’s website. Additionally, you should report the accident and any injuries to your personal insurance company.

In most cases, an injured motorist or passenger will be able to recover compensation through no-fault benefits. No-fault insurance benefits may compensate for lost wages, past and future medical expenses, and more.

We strongly advise you to retain professional legal counsel from experienced personal injury attorneys. Please contact our Michigan law firm today to discuss your Uber or lift accident in a free case review.

Do Rideshare Companies Offer Insurance Coverage?

Michigan law requires that every Michigan driver carry liability coverage. Uber and Lyft drivers must also carry additional insurance coverage. Specific rules apply to claims against rideshare companies.

For any motor vehicle accident involving a rideshare vehicle, either the rideshare company’s insurance policy or the individual driver’s personal insurance policy will apply. Your personal injury lawyers can help determine which insurance policy most adequately covers your injuries and property damage.

In most cases, the amount of available insurance coverage depends on the rideshare driver’s status at the time of the crash. For example, if the rideshare driver is transporting a passenger or is on the way to pick up a passenger, the rideshare company’s insurance policies will cover damages of up to $1 million for their drivers and any passengers injured in a collision. If the Uber or Lyft driver has the rideshare app on and is waiting for a ride request, the rideshare company offers liability limits of up to $50,000 for injured motorists and passengers. If the rideshare driver is not logged in to their rideshare app, the rideshare company has no liability or vulnerability for the accident.

What Are Common Causes of Uber and Lyft Accidents in Detroit, MI?

Uber and Lyft accidents can occur similarly to any other type of motor vehicle accident, but there may be additional causes for Uber and Lyft accidents because of the reliance on cell phone technology and navigation systems.

Common causes of Uber and Lyft accidents include the following:

Adverse weather conditions
Aggressive driving and reckless driving
Dangerous lane changes
Disobeying the rules of the road, including failing to yield to the right of way or running red lights
Distracted driving, including texting while driving, using a cell phone while driving, or operating a navigation system
Driver fatigue and drowsy driving
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Inexperienced drivers
Motor vehicle defects and disrepair
Poor road conditions, including road debris
Speeding
Tailgating
Unfamiliar routes
Unsafe pick-up or drop-off locations
And more

Whatever the cause of your car crash, if negligence played a part, you should be able to seek compensation for any injuries sustained in the accident. Our rideshare accident attorneys can help you pursue justice and a financial recovery. Please contact us to schedule your free case evaluation today.

How to Determine Liability in Rideshare Accidents?

One of the benefits of working with experienced Lyft or Uber accident attorneys is that they can provide legal help determining fault in the rideshare accident. Determining liability following a car crash can be difficult, especially when multiple parties are potentially involved. Knowing how to pursue financial compensation for your injuries and other losses is important.

If your rideshare driver was at fault for causing the accident, you should not be held responsible as the passenger. Indeed, if you suffer injuries during the rideshare experience, you should be allowed to pursue compensation from the appropriate insurance companies.

Likewise, if you were a motorist involved in a car accident caused by a rideshare vehicle, you can file a personal injury claim by contacting the rideshare company. What insurance company pays for any damages will depend on whether the rideshare driver was on duty during the car crash.

Can You Sue Uber or Lyft After a Rideshare Vehicle Accident?

Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft commonly attempt to deny any liability for car crashes, claiming that their drivers are not employees but rather independent contractors. Because of this, it is often necessary to retain professional legal representation from an experienced car accident attorney. After all, it’s worth remembering that big companies like Uber and Lyft have teams of lawyers on hand to represent their interests. You will likely require a legal team just as qualified and aggressive to look after your legal rights.

In no-fault states, such as Michigan, no-fault insurance benefits should cover a certain amount of any injuries or damages. However, in addition to no-fault insurance benefits, injured rideshare passengers or other motorists involved in rideshare accidents may be able to file a lawsuit against both the rideshare driver and the ridesharing company.

To win such a lawsuit, you and your lawyers must prove that the rideshare driver was negligent in the operation of the motor vehicle, resulting in injuries and other losses.

How Can a Rideshare Accident Lawyer Help You Recover Fair Compensation?

By reviewing the accident report, interviewing witnesses, and gathering all other relevant evidence to prove your rideshare accident case, your legal representatives can help you recover economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages may include the following:

Past medical bills and future medical expenses
Lost wages and lost income earning capacity
Property damage
Physical therapy expenses
Funeral and burial expenses

Non-economic damages may include the following:

Mental anguish and emotional trauma
Loss of companionship or consortium
Physical pain and suffering
Lost enjoyment of life
Disability, dismemberment, or disfigurement
Wrongful death

Schedule a Free Consultation with Compassionate Uber and Lyft Accident Attorneys in Detroit Today

It’s important to understand that rideshare accidents are often more complicated legal matters than the typical car accident case. We strongly encourage injured drivers and passengers to hire professional legal representation from experienced personal injury lawyers.

Our Detroit law firm has extensive experience representing clients in various personal injury cases, including Uber and Lyft accident cases. We would be proud to represent you both in and out of the courtroom as you pursue justice and a fair settlement for your injuries and other losses.

Our legal team operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you won’t pay us unless we win a settlement for your case. Please contact our Detroit legal team at 248-671-6794.