In scarcely a decade, ridesharing (also known as “ride-hailing”) has become the preferred form of vehicle-for-hire services in the United States. Uber and Lyft have come to dominate the industry, and each now offers several levels of service. The simplicity of using a smartphone app combined with reasonable pricing has made ridesharing an attractive alternative for getting around towns and cities across the country, including Fremont.

While the debate continues about whether rideshares reduce or increase the number of cars on the road, there’s no question that Lyft and Uber drivers make up a significant percentage of the drivers out there today. And while it’s nice to settle back and let someone else do the driving, there’s no guarantee that your ride will be a safe one. Rideshare accidents are rare, but they sometimes happen, and they can be just as devastating as any car crash.

If you’ve suffered injuries as a result of a rideshare accident that was someone else’s fault, contact OnderLaw ’s Fremont personal injury lawyers today for a free consultation. You’ll talk with one of our skilled, compassionate attorneys, who will discuss the particulars of your situation and advise you on the best way to proceed with your claim. Again, your initial consultation is free of charge, and if we represent you, we will bill you for our services only if we win compensation for you.

Why Do I Need a Lawyer? Why Choose OnderLaw ?

Rideshare injury claims can be complicated since there are so many possible opposing parties to deal with–the rideshare driver, the rideshare company, and their respective insurance carriers–not to mention their lawyers. The time and work that a successful claim requires can be overwhelming even for healthy individuals. If you’re recovering from your injuries, you’ll need to put all your energies into healing yourself and reclaiming a normal life. To help you navigate the often unpredictable course of a personal injury claim, you’ll want a quality lawyer on your side, one experienced in rideshare cases and who will put you and your needs first. That’s where we at OnderLaw come in.

Since 2002, we’ve obtained more than $3 billion in compensation for our clients and received many prestigious professional awards and recognitions. We have founded our success upon one basic practice–building a caring, personal relationship with each client. We are prepared to build that same successful relationship with you.

Types of Rideshare Accidents

In a Lyft or Uber accident, it’s not only the rideshare passengers who may be victims. Anyone hurt in a rideshare accident may be eligible for compensation for their injuries. Rideshare accident victims can include the following:

  • Rideshare vehicle passengers
  • Drivers and passengers in other vehicles (moving or stationary)
  • Motorcyclists
  • Pedestrians
  • Bicyclists
  • Moped riders
  • Scooter operators
  • Skateboarders

 

In short, anyone who has been hurt in a rideshare accident that wasn’t their fault may have a legitimate claim to payment for their injuries and damages. If you’ve been injured in one, you should contact an experienced Fremont rideshare attorney–like ours at OnderLaw –to see if you qualify for compensation for your injuries and expenses.

The types of accidents rideshare vehicles may be involved in are just like those of any other automobile. They include:

  • Rear-end collisions
  • Head-on collisions
  • Left-turn accidents
  • Right-turn accidents
  • Failure to yield accidents
  • T-bone accidents
  • Crashes with commercial trucks
  • Crashes with emergency vehicles
  • Single-vehicle crashes
  • Multiple-vehicle crashes

 

Common Injuries Suffered in Rideshare Accidents

Just as there is a wide range of types of rideshare accidents, there are also many kinds of resulting injuries, including the following:

  • Whiplash
  • Other neck and back injuries (muscle or ligament damage, ruptured discs)
  • Facial and dental injuries
  • Spinal injuries (fractured vertebrae, spinal cord damage)
  • Fractures, broken bones
  • Joint damage
  • Crushed extremities
  • Amputation
  • Burns
  • Internal injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) such as concussions, hemorrhaging, swelling, brain damage)
  • Paralysis

 

Some car accident injuries aren’t immediately apparent. Symptoms may not appear until well after the accident–sometimes hours, occasionally weeks, or longer. While external injuries are obvious, symptoms of whiplash and traumatic brain injuries aren’t so clear-cut. Be on the lookout for any of these symptoms, whether immediate or late-developing:

  • Headaches
  • Neck stiffness or soreness
  • Weakness or numbness in the limbs
  • Dizziness
  • Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
  • Constant exhaustion
  • Vision problems
  • Sleep disruption
  • Problems concentrating
  • Sound or light sensitivity
  • Dilated pupils
  • Speech difficulties

 

If you experience any of these symptoms, even well after the accident, see a doctor right away. They may or may not be related to the crash, but symptoms like these could indicate a medical issue that requires treatment.

What Compensation Is Available?

In rideshare injury cases in California, these are some of the types of compensation commonly claimed:

  • Medical expenses, present and future
  • Lost income due to missed work
  • Loss of future income
  • Property damage
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of enjoyment

 

The amount of compensation you might qualify for will depend on your particular situation. Your lawyer will be able to advise you about assessing the specific value of your injuries and losses. Determining economic damages is fairly straightforward. These are damages with a clear cash value attached to them, such as medical bills, lost income, receipts for prescriptions, medical equipment, car repairs, and other expenditures. Non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering and emotional trauma, are not so easily specified. OnderLaw ’s rideshare accident attorneys are experienced in calculating these dollar amounts so that the total compensation you request includes all the losses you’ve incurred.

Just as important is having a lawyer who knows how to identify the financially responsible parties in rideshare injury claims. Uber and Lyft require their drivers to carry individual liability insurance, and if the accident is the driver’s fault, the driver’s insurance carrier could be responsible for damages. However, if the driver’s coverage is insufficient to pay fully for the damages, then the difference would be made up by the rideshare company’s own liability insurance, up to the dollar limit of their coverage.

This coverage limit, depending on the rideshare company and their insurer, varies according to the stage of the driver’s work activity when the accident occurred. There are three of these stages, or “periods,” and the level of the rideshare company’s liability changes with each:

  • Period 1: The driver is not logged onto the app. During this stage, the rideshare company has zero liability and will not pay any portion of the damages.
  • Period 2: The driver has now logged on but is only monitoring the app for a ride request. The coverage ceilings vary–Lyft’s $125,000 limit is generally at the top end.
  • Period 3: The driver is logged on and on their way to pick up or deliver passengers. The company’s payout may be as high as $1 million for liability and possibly another $1 million if uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage applies.

 

These are only insurance policy coverage limits, and no payout is guaranteed. Your lawyer will take the lead in determining and seeking a fair compensation amount. With the guidance of the knowledgeable rideshare attorneys at OnderLaw , you’ll have your best chance of a successful claim.

What to Do After a Rideshare Accident

Here’s what you should do in the aftermath of a rideshare accident in which you were injured:

  • Document whatever you can. Photographs of car damage and the scene can be invaluable to your case. Be sure to keep and organize all medical bills, receipts, car repair bills, and any other documentation related to the accident. Write down a detailed description of the accident. The sooner after the accident you do this, the better, so it will be fresh in your mind. Documentation is essential in building a strong case for your claim.
  • Seek medical attention and follow all doctor recommendations and instructions.
  • Call the police. A police report will provide many details you may need later, and summoning the police to the scene will show that you are acting responsibly.
  • File a report with the California Division of Motor Vehicles. When you’ve been in an accident in which someone has been injured or killed, or if there was more than $1000 in property damage, California law requires you to file a report using Form SR-1. Your attorney may file this form for you.
  • Contact an experienced rideshare accident attorney. You’ll need professional legal help to advise you on how to proceed with your claim, and they’ll also begin taking care of the legwork and details. Don’t talk with another party’s lawyers or insurance company. Your attorney should handle that for you.

Contact a Fremont Rideshare Accident Attorney Today

Don’t take on the demands of a rideshare accident injury claim by yourself. As an accident victim, your job is to get well. As your legal representatives, our job is to take on the responsibilities of your claim for you. OnderLaw isn’t just a law firm. We’re people first, and we understand what it’s like–physically, emotionally, and financially–to recover from a rideshare accident injury. We’ll not only help you with legal advice, but we’ll take care of the claim-related heavy lifting and do everything possible to let you focus on your recovery.

If you’ve been injured in a rideshare accident in Fremont and someone else was at fault, call OnderLaw today for your free initial consultation. We’re ready and waiting to assist you in determining the best way forward with your compensation claim.