LaGrange Uber and Lyft Rideshare Accident Lawyer

Plenty of rideshare options exist in Georgia and more people use them by the day. These services make it easier to get from place to place without having to rely on public transport or needing a car of your own.

However, while they have numerous net positive benefits to offer, these services aren’t entirely risk-free. A LaGrange Uber and Lyft accident lawyer at Moffitt Law, LLC, can help if you ever end up in a situation where you get injured in a rideshare accident.

What Causes Most Uber and Lyft Accidents?

Many people use rideshare services frequently and never run into problems, but that doesn’t mean there are no risks in ridesharing at all. Rideshare accidents can and do happen for several reasons:

Distracted driving

This is one of the biggest causes of car crashes in general and a top cause of rideshare crashes in particular.

Rideshare drivers face even more distraction than an average driver. Their attention is often divided between the road, their phone and conversations with their customers.

Drowsy or fatigued driving

Rideshare drivers are willing to pick up passengers at all hours of the day or night, but that means they’re more likely to hit the road at a time when they could be suffering from sleep deprivation. On top of that, many drivers work long shifts that can lead to exhaustion or road fatigue.

Navigating unfamiliar terrain

Many rideshare drivers aren’t always familiar with the roads they’re navigating unless they’re local to the area. Even then, a customer can request a ride to a destination the driver knows nothing about. In these cases, they’ll often remain preoccupied with the navigation app on their phone and may not watch the road closely.

Excessive speed

Rideshare drivers feel like their customers expect speediness and convenience from their rides. This can lead to a driver speeding or parking in unsafe places when picking a passenger up.

Whatever the reason for the crash, a rideshare accident lawyer in LaGrange from Moffitt Law, LLC, can help you decide how to proceed with your case.

How Much Insurance Coverage Is Available for a Crash Involving a Rideshare Vehicle?

Of course, the first thing many people wonder after getting into a rideshare crash is: Will the rideshare company’s insurance cover this?

Unfortunately, the two biggest names in the industry — Uber and Lyft — both make a practice of refusing responsibility for their drivers, claiming that they are independent contractors and not employees. The companies do provide additional coverage for drivers who get into crashes while on the clock, but this often isn’t enough to cover the serious damage of a severe car crash.

This is why having a LaGrange Uber and Lyft accident lawyer on your side is so crucial. They can fight for the maximum coverage from the company in question. While the driver of the rideshare vehicle is likely trying to make ends meet, the company they work for has many more resources at hand.

What Should You Do After Being Injured in an Uber or Lyft?

Generally speaking, you should follow the same steps that you would normally follow when involved in a car crash in your vehicle. This includes:

• Getting to a safe place and seeking immediate medical attention
• Calling 911
• Collecting the information of all involved drivers, including the rideshare driver
• Take photos and get witness information
• File an insurance claim with your own company
• Report the incident to the rideshare company
• File a personal injury lawsuit

Having an Uber and Lyft accident attorney in LaGrange, GA, can help you with many steps in this process. At Moffitt Law, LLC, we aim to help you move forward after your crash by removing the legal burdens of handling a lawsuit on your own. Our attorneys can deal with the legal matters so you can focus on the important things, like healing and recovering.

Do Uber and Lyft Have Arbitration Clauses?

First: what’s an arbitration clause? This is a part of a contract that requires parties to solve their disputes through arbitration, rather than through the court system. With rideshare systems, customers sign this contract when they digitally register to use the service and click the box stating they have read and agree to the terms listed.

Uber does have an arbitration clause that was recently upheld by a New Jersey court, stating that the clause is enforceable. Lyft has a similar clause. Both Lyft and Uber waive their rights to resolution of a dispute in a court by a judge or jury and clients agree to waive theirs by using the service. Note that this doesn’t mean rideshare services can force passengers into an arbitration agreement; it merely means that they must use arbitration as a means to resolve the despites.

A LaGrange Uber and Lyft accident lawyer from Moffitt Law is also a vital tool in these instances, helping you navigate any potential arbitration arrangement you may need to face.

Who Can You Sue for a Rideshare Accident?

You can sue many parties involved in causing you injury if you get into an accident while using a rideshare service, but the target will differ depending on who is at fault.

If another party is at fault for the crash, you can file a claim against the at-fault party’s insurance. However, if that party doesn’t have insurance, has insufficient coverage or leaves the scene, then the rideshare driver company’s uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage takes over.

If the rideshare driver is at fault for the crash, you may choose to pursue the driver of the vehicle or the rideshare company. In either case, if the company won’t pay you or provide enough coverage, you may be able to sue for compensation.

Getting Help After Your Rideshare Crash

A LaGrange Uber and Lyft accident lawyer can help. At Moffitt Law, LLC, we will help you through the difficult process of handling a big business’s insurance company. We know the laws and have experience fighting these battles. Instead of worrying about fighting a company designed to pinch pennies, you can rely on us for the legal side of things and focus more on returning to a state of normalcy after your crash.

To begin your case today, contact us through our website.