Ridesharing Accidents

Ridesharing accidents are a big problem in Metro Atlanta. It is crucial that you protect your rights after an Uber or Lyft accident. The popularity of ridesharing is completely understandable. Ridesharing services are very convenient and have grown in popularity accordingly. Some of the benefits of ridesharing include:

• Always having a sober driver available
  
• Not having to rely on public transportation
  
• Eliminating the need to pay for parking
  
• Short wait times
  
• Convenient use through smartphone apps
  
• Modern, comfortable cars
  

Taxis and more traditional transportation have a difficult time competing in many cases. Even with all the perks of ridesharing, with new services there are always kinks to be worked out. As ridesharing evolves, they are still developing and implementing standards. Having appropriate safety standards in place are key to protecting rideshare passengers.

If you are unfortunate enough to have an accident while using a service like Lyft or Uber, you may be unclear as to who is responsible for your compensation and damages. Georgia enacted House Bill 225 in 2015. That Georgia law mandates that rideshare services carry the following policy insurance minimums that match the amounts used for limousine or taxi services. (See O.C.G.A. Section 40-1-166). These limits are substantially higher than typical individual driver limits. The average passenger is unaware of the law though and may be left in the dark by the rideshare company.

If you are injured as a passenger in a rideshare vehicle, the service’s insurance is one responsible party. This still may result in obstacles for the injured passenger. The insurance company may not want to pay out on your claim. They may deny that their insured rideshare driver was even at fault.

Uber and Lyft accidents usually have the same types of causes as the typical car collision. Common causes of rideshare accidents include:

• Distracted or careless driving
  
• Fatigue
• Speeding
  
• Road construction
  
• Failure to obey traffic laws
  
• Failure to yield
• Failure to keep a safe distance
  
• Defective tires or vehicle
  

The primary difference with rideshare drivers and the typical driver is the fact that they inherently have many more distractions and may commonly suffer from fatigue. Many Uber & Lyft drivers have full-time employment outside of ridesharing. They may be tired from a long work day or work week. This can significantly impact their ability to drive safely. The driver also has the additional distractions of passenger interactions, monitoring their app and driving unfamiliar routes.

If you’ve been injured in a ridesharing accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. It is important that you have a qualified Atlanta rideshare Attorney on your side. Since these claims are complicated in nature, we strongly recommend that you hire the lawyers at York Gaskill, LLC to help. As with any Personal Injury case, there are no fees unless you win. Call us at 678.697.6789 or send us a messagefor a free consultation.