Atlanta Uber and Lyft Accident Attorney
Since its official launch in San Francisco in 2011, the rideshare company Uber has taken off around the country. Hundreds of people in Atlanta’s bustling city use Uber every day as an alternative to traditional taxis, enjoying the easy use of the app and often cheaper prices. Unfortunately, Uber is no stranger to lawsuits. Uber drivers and the company have been defendants in dozens of different personal injury cases, involving both car accidents and criminal offenders behind the wheel. If you have an injury from an Uber accident, you need a dedicated Atlanta Uber accident attorney on your side. Trust The Dixon Firm, P.C., for help with complex rideshare accident cases.
Rideshare Duties of Care
Uber and its drivers owe a standard of care to all passengers to drive safely and responsibly. When a driver breaches this duty, negligently causing an accident due to impairment, distraction, or carelessness, the victims have the right to pursue compensation. Like other car accidents, Uber accident cases center on negligence – a driver’s error, a vehicle part manufacturing mistake, or negligence on Uber’s part.
Uber classifies its drivers as independent contractors, similar to the structure of a traditional taxicab company. This means that when an Uber driver causes an accident, the victims can seemingly only hold the individual driver responsible, not the company. However, with a team of competent Atlanta accident lawyers by your side, you may be able to name more than one defendant in your case.
Uber’s hiring practices are notoriously lax, especially when compared to traditional taxi companies. Uber only conducts background checks into the last seven years of a driver’s life and does not meet its drivers in person before hiring them. Due to rather loose hiring procedures, there have been many cases where an Uber driver is not a responsible citizen. If you were in an Uber accident because the driver was drunk, for example, you may be able to argue that Uber’s negligent hiring procedures caused your accident if the driver had DUI accidents on his or her record.
Uber Accidents and Insurance Companies
The law requires Uber to carry a commercial insurance policy with a high limit for just such accidents. This policy covers Uber drivers and their vehicles. Therefore, victims may be able to receive compensation from the insurance company. No matter what the circumstances are regarding your case, the Atlanta Uber accident lawyers at The Dixon Firm, P.C., can help you understand your rights.
In an Uber accident, there may be multiple insurance companies involved – Uber’s, yours, the individual drivers, and the person who collided with your Uber. This can complicate your personal injury claim, especially if you’re unsure what to say to insurance companies that contact you. Hiring an attorney can take the pressure off your shoulders and ensure you handle insurance companies correctly. Instead of agreeing to a quick insurance settlement, consider filing a personal injury claim.
What Can I Recover from an Uber Accident Lawsuit in Georgia?
As in any personal injury accident case, injured victims of Uber accidents may be able to recover for medical costs, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages. If you bring a successful claim against Uber or its driver for a car accident, the Atlanta courts may award you reasonable costs of your losses. If the driver was drunk or otherwise criminally at fault for your injuries, you may also be able to recover punitive damages or damages awarded by a court for a defendant’s gross negligence. Punitive damages punish the driver for disobeying the law.
Understand Your Rights After a Rideshare Accident in Georgia
After a Lyft accident, victims typically have many questions. If you’re wondering what legal options you have, who is responsible for covering damages, and whether Lyft or the driver is at fault, speak to an Atlanta Lyft injury attorney. The answers to these questions vary depending on the circumstances of the crash. Understanding your rights and potential legal remedies after a rideshare accident requires analyzing the details of your crash. Here are a few case scenarios you may encounter after a Lyft accident:
The Lyft driver won’t admit fault.
You believe your driver was at fault for your accident, but he or she won’t admit to anything. You may have witnessed your driver texting and driving, speeding, or running a red light at the time of the accident. As a witness and an injured victim, speak to a law office and tell them what you saw. An attorney can help you present a case against the driver to an insurance company.
Lyft’s insurance won’t cover the accident.
Rideshare companies like Lyft and Uber carry commercial insurance policies, typically with high limits. However, Lyft’s insurance will not always be responsible for covering damages. According to Lyft’s policy, if the driver is off the clock, the driver’s insurance policy will cover damages. If an off-duty Lyft driver hits your car, for example, you’ll deal with the individual driver’s policy, not Lyft’s.
You believe you have grounds to sue Lyft.
Lyft’s drivers are third-party contractors, meaning Lyft isn’t responsible for their actions on the clock. However, there are cases where you can sue both Lyft and the driver. For example, if Lyft hired a driver with a prior record of reckless driving and the driver caused your crash, you may be able to sue the company for negligent hiring and background check procedures.
There may be several different legal remedies available to you after a Lyft accident. Discuss your case with a competent Atlanta Lyft accident lawyer to find out options in your specific case. Lyft cases can be complex, dealing with multiple insurance companies, questions of liability, and a large company that wants to minimize its liability. Trust a high-quality attorney to help you try to achieve a settlement from a driver, Lyft, or both.
For help proving negligence in an Uber accident case, hire an experienced Uber accident attorney in Atlanta, GA. The legal team at The Dixon Firm, P.C., has what it takes to help you pursue justice for your injuries in a rideshare accident. Call us at 404-733-1166 for a free consultation.
