Companies offering ridesharing services, such as Uber and Lyft, have become very popular in recent years, especially in large cities. Providing transportation that is faster and less expensive than a taxi offers a convenience that many passengers cannot resist. Generally, rideshare drivers must pass a security, driving and background check. This makes passengers feel secure – until an accident occurs.
After an accident in a rideshare vehicle,injured passengers might be wondering who could be held legally responsible. There are many parties involved in the typical ridesharing service: the passenger(s), the driver, the company itself, and potentially even other drivers. If one or more of these parties is deemed liable for the accident, more questions may arise: How is the money collected? Is an insurance company responsible for paying a claim? What is needed to prove liability in the first place?
Safety and liability issues are critical when a person is injured. In cases that involve severe, disabling, and even life-threatening injuries, insurers may be more prone to dispute liability. In an accident involving a rideshare vehicle, where there may be several parties involved, it can be even easier for insurance companies to engage in lengthy disputes.
While these disputes are occurring, the injured passenger may be struggling to recover from their injuries without the financial assistance of a settlement. The average accident victim could be dealing with mounting expenses, such as:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Physical therapy
While some people consider rideshare services to be similar to taxis, companies like Uber and Lyft are fundamentally different from taxi services. Ridesharing companies are currently not subject to the same government or municipality regulations as taxi services. Instead, the company itself is allowed to set its own policies for drivers and passengers. This flexibility may offer a great deal of convenience in many cases, but when an accident occurs, the lack of concrete and universal regulations could make it difficult for an injured passenger.
If you’ve been injured in an accident while you were a passenger in a ridesharing vehicle, it may be wise to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer Bloomington IL trusts. You may be entitled to financial compensation, and if so, you deserve to receive this compensation in a timely manner. Determining liability is a critical step when it comes to filing a personal injury claim, and a trusted lawyer may be able to help you with this. For more information about filing injury claims after these types of auto accidents, contact our firm today.
Thanks to our friends and contributors from Pioletti and Pioletti for their added insight into ridesharing accidents.
