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You are a resident of Phoenix who loves ridesharing services. Either you supplement your income as a driver for Uber or Lyft, or you use these services to enjoy all the benefits of a taxi—but with enhanced accessibility and convenience of app-enabled geolocation and an army of drivers that can pick you up within minutes of your call.
But then came the car accident. Suddenly, the rideshare alternative to traditional transportation started showing some true but unpleasant colors—the colors of the unknown.
Who pays for damages in a rideshare accident? The driver’s insurance provider? Uber or Lyft’s insurance company?
Rideshare travel is a complicated beast when it comes to determining who pays. Zanes Law knows how to tame that beast. We will do everything from A to Z when it comes to getting your damages covered. Call for a free consultation today with an Uber and Lyft rideshare accident lawyer in Phoenix, AZ: 602-999-9999.
What You Do Not Know About Rideshare Insurance Can Hurt You
The latest trend in transportation, rideshare services like Uber and Lyft, represent a twist on the taxi concept, so you would think they would be regulated the same way. This is not the case.
Rideshare services somewhat sprung themselves on the national scene and the bodies that dictate how the services are governed are still trying to piece together the puzzle.
Consider the following knowns—and the corresponding unknowns—of the rideshare business:
- Uber and Lyft, otherwise known as transportation network companies (TNC’s) do cover their drivers with company insurance, provided you have a passenger in the car at the time of the accident. However, specific rules differ depending on your area and the circumstances of the accident.
- If you experience an accident while you are either driving to pick up a passenger or returning home after dropping a passenger off, the TNC’s insurance should cover damages.
- If another car hits your rideshare vehicle, provided the other driver was at fault and is insured, his or her insurance company will pay for all damages. However, if you cannot determine who was at fault, things get less certain. The same uncertainty kicks in if the other driver is not insured.
- Your insurance provider will most likely not cover your damages if you crash while you have a paying rideshare passenger in your vehicle. Although this is your private vehicle, it is covered by private insurance intended to cover private individuals in their personal cars—not drivers working for an employer.
Clear as mud, right?
Let Zanes Law clear things up for you. We know how to get to the bottom of the rideshare insurance questions you are facing.
Determining Liability if Your Uber or Lyft Driver Gets in a Car Accident
When you put a call out for a rideshare driver from your smartphone app, you are seeking to hire an independent contractor. In other words, Uber or Lyft can deny fault in the accident. Although Uber drivers do carry a $1 million insurance policy, the terms of the policy are tricky.
It is unlikely the driver’s personal insurance provider will cover damages, even if the driver was at fault because he or she was operating the vehicle as a contractor, not as a private individual.
Although Arizona requires that Uber and Lyft provide coverage for both bodily injury and property damage, the companies’ drivers are responsible for keeping their insurance up to date.
Steps to Take if Your Uber or Lyft Driver Gets in a Car Accident
Rideshare accidents are like any other in most aspects. You always want to take a few steps in each case:
- Call 911.
- Accept medical attention from paramedics who arrive at the scene of the accident.
- Do not leave the scene unless you are being transported for medical treatment.
- If you are not treated at the scene of the accident, see a medical professional as soon as possible after the incident.
- Contact a car accident lawyer.
One additional step you need to take in the case of an Uber or Lyft rideshare accident is to submit a feedback report to the TNC. A representative from the rideshare company will get back to you with information regarding your eligibility for an insurance claim.
The steps seem logical, but in the heat of the moment, it is easy to take a misstep. Let Zanes Law step into the process early to make sure you approach the matter in a way that will work best for your needs down the road.
What Zanes Law Will Do to Help You Prove Your Case and Recover Damages
Zanes Law handles everything from A to Z. In the case of a rideshare accident, we might have to add a few extra letters to the alphabet, but an Uber and Lyft rideshare accident lawyer in Phoenix, AZ can handle your claim, top to bottom:
- We collect evidence.
- We obtain copies of police reports.
- We gather copies of medical records.
- We interview medical experts.
- We interview witnesses.
- We work with accident reconstruction specialists.
Recoverable Damages From Your Phoenix Car Accident
Our job is not done until we have built a case that puts forth a comprehensive outline of your damages. Some of the recoverable damages include:
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Medical expenses, including hospitalization and treatment
- Ambulance transportation
- Ongoing care costs
- Repair or replacement of your car and any personal property damaged in the accident
- Prescription medication and pain management
- Physical pain damages
- Emotional suffering
- Mental anguish
Keep in mind that when a rideshare accident results in the death of a family member, you are eligible to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit against the negligent motor vehicle driver.
You Have a Limited Time to Act on Your Rideshare Accident in Phoenix
The state of Arizona requires that you act within a specific timeframe when filing your lawsuit.
Also, in the interest of building a strong case, it makes sense to hire an injury lawyer as soon after your accident as possible. Doing so will give your attorney better access to witnesses and evidence that will strengthen your case.
Call Zanes Law so an Uber and Lyft rideshare accident lawyer in Phoenix, AZ can start on your case today.
Car Accident Case Results
Call Zanes Law to Represent You in Your Uber or Lyft Rideshare Accident
Call Zanes Law today. We can come to your home, your hospital room, or wherever is most convenient for you 602-999-9999.
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