When you’re the victim of a rideshare accident, you’re likely to feel a range of emotions. Fear, confusion, and anger are all very normal reactions to this type of accident. Additionally, you may wonder what your next steps should be following the accident. One of the most important decisions you can make directly after you’re involved in an accident is whether or not you want to have legal representation should you choose to file a personal injury claim. Have you been injured in a rideshare accident? You may be entitled to compensation.

The Fresno personal injury attorneys of OnderLaw are skilled and experienced in rideshare accidents and other types of personal injury cases. With our expertise on your side, you’re sure to feel relief as we work hard at a solution for you following your accident. Our team is results-driven, and over the two decades our firm has been active, we’ve secured impressive amounts of compensation for our clients.

Call our firm today to schedule a free consultation. You won’t owe us anything until your case is won.

Why Do I Need A Lawyer?

Following an accident, it is crucial that you contact an attorney immediately. If you delay in seeking legal counsel, you may lose out on compensation payable to you. A lawyer can help you keep track of court deadlines, such as the statute of limitations, speak with your medical providers, retrieve medical documents and other evidence necessary to your particular case to file a successful personal injury claim.

Additionally, it’s important for you to have the expertise of a skilled and experienced lawyer on your side for the best possible results in your case. That’s why we recommend that you choose a trusted law firm that has proven experience in handling personal injury cases of all types, including rideshare accidents.

Having a lawyer on your side can be a huge factor in whether or not you’re able to recover sufficient compensation for the injuries you sustained as a result of the accident. Reach out to a trusted legal team today. Call OnderLaw.

Why Choose OnderLaw ?

The partners at OnderLaw are recognized by some of the most prestigious law organizations in the nation. We are proud to say that our firm and many of our partners have been recognized by organizations such as Super Lawyers, Litigator Awards, and National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers. The attorneys at OnderLaw rank among the top 100 lawyers in the nation, so it’s easy to understand why many people choose OnderLaw to handle their personal injury cases.

Since our founding in 2002 by James G. Onder, we’ve recovered over 3.5 billion in compensation on behalf of our clients, and we’re not stopping there. Every day, our partners work tirelessly for our clients to obtain the full amount of money owed to them as a result of the injuries they’ve sustained in accidents of all types. We’re passionate about getting justice for those who have been injured or disabled in personal injury cases in the state of California and beyond.

Types of Rideshare Accidents

Rideshare accidents don’t necessarily happen only to the occupants of the rideshare vehicle. These accidents may affect the rideshare driver, their passengers, or the driver or passengers of another vehicle. Rideshare accidents can cause severe injury, disability, and even death. The most common types of rideshare accidents we see include:

  • T-bone accidents
  • Rear-end collisions
  • Side-swipe collisions
  • Head-on collisions
  • Rollover accidents
  • Speeding accidents
  • Distracted driving accidents
  • Fatigued/drowsy driving accidents
  • Reckless driving accidents
  • Aggressive driving or road rage accidents
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI)
  • Drugged driving accidents

Common Injuries Suffered in Rideshare Accident

There are many injuries possible when you’re involved in a rideshare accident. The most common types of injuries sustained in these accidents include:

  • Whiplash
  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
  • Fractured or broken bones
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Concussion
  • Back injury
  • Internal bleeding
  • Head injury
  • Soft tissue injury
  • Cuts, scrapes, and lacerations
  • Abrasions and bruises
  • Neck injury
  • Knee injury
  • Sprains and strains

What Compensation is Available?

As the victim of a rideshare accident, you may be wondering what—if any—compensation is available to you. The compensation you’ll be eligible to recover will depend upon the severity of your injuries, the duration of the recovery period, and possibly the liability limits of the insurance policies of the at-fault parties involved. You may be eligible for money to cover medical expenses, personal property damage you incurred from the accident, and maybe even pain and suffering.

If you’re the passenger of a rideshare vehicle and the driver of the rideshare vehicle is at fault for your accident, their personal insurance policy—with a special provision to provide coverage while active as a rideshare driver—will cover the payment of your damages. However, it’s important to know that most rideshare drivers’ personal insurance policies don’t contain the special provision needed to compensate you for the personal injuries and property damages you’ve sustained as a result of the accident. When the rideshare driver doesn’t have the right personal insurance policy or their personal insurance policy is exhausted, Lyft and Uber carry third-party insurance policies that will pay up to $1 million in personal injuries and property damage sustained in an accident that is the fault of the driver of the rideshare vehicle.

If you’re the passenger of a rideshare vehicle and the other driver is at fault for your accident, you would seek to recover damages from the other driver’s personal insurance policy. If the at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance, Lyft and Uber have uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) insurance coverage that will cover up to $1 million in personal injuries or property damage in the event that the other, at-fault driver is unknown, doesn’t have insurance, or doesn’t have the adequate amount of insurance to cover your damages.

If you’re the driver of another vehicle and you’re hit by a rideshare vehicle, their personal insurance policy—with the special provision— will kick in to pay for your damages. In the event that the driver of the rideshare vehicle doesn’t possess the adequate insurance to cover your damages, Lyft and Uber offer liability insurance to their drivers, which will come into play when the driver’s insurance carrier denies your personal injury claim. However, the amount payable to you is subject to a few considerations:

  • If the driver of the rideshare vehicle is not logged into their respective rideshare app (Uber/Lyft), coverage will not be provided.
  • If the driver of the rideshare vehicle is logged into their respective rideshare app (Uber/Lyft) but they have not yet accepted a ride request, Uber/Lyft will provide coverage for any accident that is the fault of the rideshare driver up to $50,000 per person injured, $100,000 total injury, and $25,000 in property damage.
  • If the driver of the rideshare vehicle has accepted a ride request and is on their way to pick up the requestee, liability coverage increases to $1 million.
  • When the rider is in the car, and their destination has not yet been reached, or they’re not out of the car yet, Uber/Lyft will provide liability coverage up to $1 million, plus limited coverage for property damage and uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) coverage.

What to Do After a Rideshare Accident

There are some steps you can take following your accident that will help you should you choose to file a personal injury claim later on. Some things you can do immediately after a rideshare accident include:

  • Report the accident to authorities and Uber/Lyft. A police report can be helpful when the time comes for you to pursue compensation for the damages or injuries you sustained as a result of the rideshare accident. It is important to contact the rideshare company and make them aware of the accident should the driver of the vehicle choose to deny culpability for the damages or injuries you incur or accept fault for the accident.
  • Document the accident and relevant information. Take photos and videos and document details about the accident for your personal records. Evidence of the event will be helpful to you when you choose to file a personal injury claim or seek compensation.
  • Go to the hospital, even if you believe you aren’t injured. It is important to receive a full checkup and the advice of a medical provider following an accident. You may not recognize certain conditions, such as concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and they can lead to serious consequences down the road. It is important for you to know the damage done to you as a result of a rideshare accident, no matter how big or small.
  • Don’t accept offers or negotiate with the rideshare driver, another driver, or Uber/Lyft before you speak with an attorney. Following an accident, it is important for you to seek the advice of a skilled and experienced attorney immediately. Doing so will increase your chances of securing the full amount of damages payable to you as a result of the damages and injuries you sustained in the accident.

Contact a Fresno Rideshare Accident Lawyer

If you’ve been hurt in a rideshare accident, contact an experienced Fresno rideshare accident lawyer at OnderLaw today. Call us to schedule a free consultation.