If you were injured in an accident involving a rideshare driver, you might be entitled to compensation. The Oakland personal injury lawyers of OnderLaw are familiar with these types of cases and can create the right strategy to achieve a favorable outcome. You should not be forced to pay out of pocket for the expenses you incurred if the at-fault driver was entirely responsible for your injuries.

Rideshare companies, such as Uber and Lyft, are inexpensive and convenient. Many people choose these services to commute to work, travel long distances, or safely arrive home after a night of drinking. You might believe that you’re safe and that the driver will take all the necessary precautions to prevent you from coming to any harm. Unfortunately, rideshare drivers can make errors like any other driver and put you in a dangerous situation that causes injuries.

At OnderLaw, our Oakland rideshare accident lawyers are ready to help you hold the negligent driver liable for their misconduct and pursue the maximum compensation possible in your case. You can depend on us to remain in your corner to advocate for your rights and fight for the justice you deserve. Call us for a free consultation today and learn more about how we can help.

Why Do I Need a Lawyer?

Most people don’t understand the complex process necessary to recover compensation after an accident. You’re faced with deadlines, completing paperwork, dealing with insurance adjusters, and various other tasks during an ongoing claim. It can be overwhelming and stressful, especially if you’re attending doctor’s appointments and trying to heal from your injuries.

OnderLaw can take on some of the burdens you face by handling every legal aspect of your case. Your only responsibility should be treating your injuries. We can file your insurance claim, investigate the accident, and obtain evidence to prove who was at fault. We’ll negotiate for the full and fair settlement you deserve. If the insurance company denies your claim or offers a low settlement amount, we can move forward with a lawsuit.

Our Oakland rideshare accident attorneys know what it takes to reach a positive result. We understand the trauma you’ve experienced and how expensive medical bills can be. If you’re out of work, you might not be able to afford your expenses due to your limited income. We will work hard to secure the money you’re owed so you can move forward with your life and put this devastating situation behind you.

Types of Rideshare Accidents

Accidents involving rideshare services come in different forms. You could suffer injuries as a passenger, occupant of another car, pedestrian, motorcyclist, or bicyclist. The compensation you can pursue will depend on the type of accident and the available insurance coverage.

  • As a driver or passenger in another car – If you were in a different vehicle at the time of the accident, you could hold the rideshare driver liable for your injuries. They might have run a red light, cut you off, or become distracted by their cell phone. Whichever reason led to the accident, you deserve to pursue compensation to cover your losses.
  • As a passenger in the rideshare vehicle – Most people trust that their rideshare driver will get them to their destinations safely. Unfortunately, a range of factors could lead to a collision that causes injuries. If your driver was responsible for the crash, you might have options for recovering an insurance settlement for your medical treatment and other expenses.
  • As a pedestrian, motorcyclist, or bicyclist – Rideshare accidents don’t only involve the drivers and passengers of cars. They can also include someone riding their bike or motorcycle or a pedestrian crossing the road. Even if you’re not in a vehicle, you could suffer injuries during a collision and file a claim for compensation.

It doesn’t matter what type of accident occurred. If the rideshare driver was at fault, you have the right to hold them liable for your resulting losses, such as medical treatment, lost income, and other costs. OnderLaw is ready to take on the negligent individual and battle their insurance company for the full and fair settlement necessary to pay for the care you need to get on the road to recovery.

Common Injuries Suffered in Rideshare Accidents

Injuries sustained in accidents can range from minor to life-threatening. Some injured victims only need a few weeks of treatment to make a full recovery, while others suffer lifelong complications, such as disability or disfigurement.

When you’re faced with the reality of a long and painful treatment plan, it can be traumatic and lead to additional stress. Additionally, physical pain isn’t the only problem that could arise. You could also suffer from the mental or emotional effects of the accident and struggle to resume your daily routine.

The most common injuries from rideshare accidents are:

  • Neck and back injuries
  • Broken bones
  • Paralysis
  • Internal bleeding
  • Torn ligaments and tendons
  • Pulled or strained muscles
  • Spinal cord damage
  • Emotional distress or psychological trauma
  • Concussion
  • Bruises and lacerations
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Burns
  • Crush injuries

If your injury impairs your mental or physical abilities, you can’t take care of yourself or perform routine tasks, such as showering. You might need household assistance to complete chores you were able to do before the accident. All of this leads to added expenses while you’re recovering and can result in massive debt.

A permanent disability means you probably can’t maintain employment and earn the wages you need to afford these costs. You deserve the maximum available compensation if the rideshare driver was entirely at fault. If your actions didn’t contribute to your injuries, you should not be responsible for any of the losses you suffered.

What Compensation Is Available?

California is a fault car accident state. That means the at-fault driver becomes financially responsible for the injured party’s losses. These losses could include:

  • Emotional distress
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning capacity
  • Property damage
  • Medical bills
  • Physical impairment or disfigurement
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Pain and suffering

The losses you recover will depend on your percentage of fault for your injuries. Pure comparative negligence is a rule in California that reduces a plaintiff’s compensation if they share any blame for an accident. For example, if you have a total of $100,000 in losses, but a jury determines you were 20% at fault, you could only pursue up to $80,00 in compensation. If the rideshare driver is 100% at fault, you could seek the total available $100,000.

The available insurance coverage will depend on the policy that the rideshare driver carries. All motorists are supposed to buy and maintain liability insurance with these minimum limits:

  • $15,000 for bodily injury to one person
  • $30,000 for bodily injury to more than one person
  • $5,000 for property damage

This might not seem like much coverage, and it’s not. Many accident victims can’t get sufficient compensation to cover their total losses with the minimum required liability limits of personal injury car insurance. That’s where the rideshare company’s insurance comes in.

Rideshare services, such as Lyft, also provide liability insurance for their drivers if an accident leads to property damage or injuries. The available limits are:

  • Waiting for a ride request – $50,000 for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage
  • During a ride or while picking up a passenger – $1 million third-party liability

If the rideshare company’s available insurance still isn’t enough to compensate for your past and future losses, you could file a lawsuit. However, there’s a strict timeframe you must follow if you want to sue the negligent driver. California has a two-year statute of limitations. That means you have to file your lawsuit within two years of the accident if you want to pursue compensation through the court system.

What to Do After a Rideshare Accident

If you sustained injuries as a passenger, occupant of another vehicle, or another type of party in a rideshare accident, you need to take immediate action. You have a right to seek compensation and hold the at-fault party liable, but you have to follow a specific process. First, you should seek medical treatment after leaving the accident scene. The doctor should evaluate your injury and might recommend specific types of treatment.

It’s a good idea to hire an Oakland rideshare accident attorney immediately after the crash as well. While you’re attending your doctor’s appointments, OnderLaw can begin investigating and file a claim. We can obtain the evidence we need to prove the rideshare driver was responsible and submit it to the insurance company.

Even though we have the resources to gather all the necessary evidence during your case, you should also maintain records. Maintain all documents associated with the accident, such as surgical reports, doctor bills, imaging test results, insurance company letters, and car repair estimates. Forward them to us so we can determine if we can use them to build your case.

Why Choose OnderLaw ?

At OnderLaw, our Oakland rideshare accident attorneys understand the economic burden of a personal injury case. When you’re already paying for your medical care, you might not have the financial means to afford legal representation. We believe that every accident victim deserves dependable and affordable services. That’s why we take cases on a contingency fee basis. That means there are no upfront fees or costs when you hire us. We don’t collect our fees unless we recover compensation for you. If we don’t get money for you, you won’t have to pay us anything.

Our team is available 24/7 to take your call and answer your questions. We believe in providing quality customer service to our clients no matter what. You will receive personalized attention throughout the entire process and feel like a priority. You can depend on us to fight for you and be your advocate during your time of need.

Contact Us

OnderLaw knows the devastation car accidents cause. We’re here to help you get through this challenging time in your life so you can heal your injuries and recover the money you need to pay for your expenses. We will remain by your side until the end and provide the services and support you deserve.

If you suffered injuries in a rideshare accident, call for a free consultation with one of our Oakland rideshare accident attorneys.