How the Uber/Lyft Business Model Affects You

Like in most major cities across the United States,  rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft compete with taxis and other car services. However, unlike some taxi and car services, Uber and Lyft don’t hire drivers to cart their passengers where they need to go.  Instead, drivers for Lyft and Uber are considered independent contractors.

You can’t just flag down an Uber or Lyft driver, you must download their app to your cell phone and arrange for a driver.   One of the most controversial aspects of Lyft’s business model is their ‘surge’ pricing that boosts fare rates when the demand for rides increases.

 

Who Is Liable If You’re Hit by an Uber or Lyft Driver?

With any car accident case in Atlanta and elsewhere, if you bring a claim you must be able to prove two things in order to receive compensation for your damages. You must be able to prove liability-who is at fault, and damages – how badly you or a loved one was injured.

The real trick is trying to figure out whose insurance applies to your claim – the rideshare companies or the drivers.

It can sometimes be a fight to hold Uber or Lyft responsible for an Atlanta car accident caused by one of their drivers, however, recently both companies started to carry liability car insurance coverage for their drivers.

 

Uber/Lyft Car Insurance in Atlanta and Elsewhere

While both Uber and Lyft require their drivers to have personal car insurance that meets or exceeds Georgia’s state minimum for  liability coverage requirements,

both Uber and Lyft provide liability coverage for their drivers, and the companies have extremely similar policies, their coverage varies depending on when the accident occurs.

1. When a Uber/Lyft driver is not logged into the rideshare app, neither  Uber nor Lyft will provide no coverage.
2. If your rideshare driver is logged into the app but hasn’t accepted a ride request. Both Uber/Lyft provides liability coverage for any accident that is your fault up to $50,000 per person who is injured in a car accident, and $100,000 total injury liability per accident along with $25,000 in property damage.
3. When you’ve accepted a ride, Uber/Lyft provides liability coverage in the amount of $1 million dollars.

 

Steps to Take If You’ve Been Involved in an Uber/Lyft Accident

If you or a loved one is injured in an Uber/Lyft accident, there are certain steps you should take.

1. See if anyone is injured and call the police.
2. Document Everything: If possible, take pictures of all the vehicles involved in the accident, talk to witnesses and get their contact information.
3. See Your Doctor: Some injuries don’t show up immediately after an accident, so it’s important that you go to the emergency room or see your doctor as soon as possible after the accident.
4. Contact an Atlanta Uber Accident attorney: Every state has its own statute of limitations, which is the time you have after the accident to file a lawsuit.  You don’t want to lose out on any compensation you may deserve because the statute of limitations has expired.
5. Report the accident to your own insurance company as well: Even if you don’t know if you will need to use your own insurance, you can’t use it if you don’t report it.

While both Uber and Lyft are very well-established, legal issues related to rideshare services are still being addressed by Georgia courts.

If you’ve been injured in an Uber/Lyft accident either as a driver or passenger, one of the most important steps to take after your Atlanta Uber/Lyft accident is to contact a knowledgeable, skilled, and experienced Atlanta Uber/Lyft Accident lawyer such as The Council Firm, LLC. She will investigate your case, call in experts when necessary, and be able to determine the appropriate party who is at fault for you or your loved one’s injury.

If you or a loved one was injured in an Atlanta Uber/Lyft accident, it’s important that you hire a qualified Atlanta Uber Accident attorney who is knowledgeable about these types of accidents