Albuquerque Uber & Lyft Crash Lawyers

If you are a passenger in an Uber or Lyft vehicle or another driver on the road, you face ongoing risks due to the actions of rideshare drivers. Navigating the legal system can be challenging if you are injured in a crash. Hiring a lawyer who handles Uber or Lyft accident cases is crucial. You might have a complex claim and a lengthy legal process ahead of you.

What Are the Potential Dangers of Riding in an Uber or Lyft?

Although the rideshare system adds convenience for passengers and allows them to have a ride at their fingertips, some dangers are introduced for you. Some of the hazards of the rideshare system include the following:

• Drivers often work late at night after they have engaged in a full shift at another job and may be fatigued.
• Drivers often rush to pick up passengers, and they could speed up.
• Rideshare drivers engage in “deadheading,” where they linger in a certain area because of higher passenger traffic.
• Rideshare drivers are trying to maximize the amount of money they earn during their time behind the wheel, which means that they may cut corners or speed.
• Uber and Lyft do not train their drivers before they let them get behind the wheel and transport passengers.

Injuries in an Uber or Lyft Crash

You may suffer the following types of injuries in an Uber or Lyft crash:

• Fractures and broken bones
• Cuts and lacerations
• Soft tissue injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Head and neck injuries
• Internal injuries

Any one of these injuries can mean you incur many thousands of dollars in medical expenses and significant time missed from work. You may be entitled to substantial financial compensation if you prove that someone else was to blame for the crash.

Can I Sue Uber or Lyft for a Crash?

Uber and Lyft have established a system that protects them from legal liability to the fullest extent possible. They classify their drivers as independent contractors, meaning they are not ridesharing company employees. You can only sue someone who is an employer for the actions of an employee. You will sue the independent contractors themselves if you want financial compensation for your injuries.

Uber and Lyft are required to provide commercial insurance policies that cover their drivers in the event of a crash. Further, many drivers opt for additional coverage for even more protection. You may also be able to sue the driver of another vehicle if they were to blame for the crash. You can also sue the Uber or Lyft vehicle driver if you were another motorist injured in the crash.

How Much Insurance Coverage Is Available to Pay for My Injuries?

Uber and Lyft offer the following levels of coverage based on the timing of the crash:

• When a driver is not online, auto insurance coverage will come into play to cover damages.
• If a driver has the app on but does not have a passenger in the car or has not accepted a ride request, there is $50,000 per person, $100,000 per crash for injuries, and $25,000 in property damage per crash.
• If a driver has a passenger in the car or has accepted a ride request, there is insurance that covers at least $1,000,000 for property damage and injuries to riders and third parties involved in a crash when the driver is at fault.

Note that the $1 million limitation is on a per-crash basis, meaning that several people may be filing claims against the same pot of insurance coverage. You may also need to file a claim against your car insurance policy if there is insufficient coverage to pay for your damages.

How Much Compensation Can I Get for an Uber or Lyft Crash?

If someone else were responsible for your rideshare crash injuries, you would be entitled to total compensation for your damages up to the amount of the policy limit. The same principle applies whether it was the Uber or Lyft driver who was to blame or another motorist who was in a crash with the rideshare vehicle.

Your Uber and Lyft compensation may include the following:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Embarrassment and humiliation
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Emotional distress

Your lawyer would work to maximize the damages you could receive in an Uber or Lyft crash claim.

Do I Need a Lawyer for an Uber or Lyft Crash Case?

Anytime you deal with a large insurance company, you need an experienced attorney to advocate for and fight for you. Uber and Lyft contract with massive insurance companies to provide them with coverage. These companies make a large amount of money from the rideshare business and run up these profits by underpaying claims to the fullest extent possible.

It may be complicated even to know where to file a claim and who was responsible for the crash. A rideshare crash lawyer will thoroughly investigate the collision and help you determine who you can sue. Then, they will deal with the responsible driver’s insurance company to secure you the highest possible amount of compensation after a vigorous fight.

When you have been injured in a crash, an experienced Uber and Lyft crash lawyer can lead the fight on your behalf. The attorneys at the Buchanan Law Firm, LLC have won million-dollar verdicts and settlements for our clients.

Contact the Albuquerque Uber & Lyft Crash Lawyers at Buchanan Law Firm, LLC

If you have been injured in a rideshare crash, the Albuquerque Uber & Lyft crash lawyers at the Buchanan Law Firm, LLC will be in your corner until the end of the legal process. You can schedule a free initial consultation by contacting us today using our online form or calling 505-900-3559. Our office is in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and we also help clients in Santa Fe and the surrounding areas.