It is your right to claim compensation for your injuries following a rideshare accident if someone else was at fault. If you need a Denver rideshare accident lawyer to help you file your claim, look no further than our team from Jordan, Herington & Rowley.
Why Choose Our Denver Rideshare Accident Attorney?
- Our firm values your story above all else. We will take the time to learn about your experience to build the most compelling case possible, and we are available 24/7 to answer your questions.
- Our Denver personal injury lawyers have recovered millions of dollars for victims of car accidents, bike collisions, and more. We will help you recover the funds you need to heal.
- We operate on a contingency fee basis for maximum affordability. You will not pay any legal fees unless we secure a settlement on your behalf.
What Are the Main Causes of Rideshare Accidents?
Like many car crashes, rideshare collisions can occur for a number of reasons.
- Rideshare drivers often have to look at their phones and away from the road to accept rides and follow directions, which is a form of distracted driving. The presence of passengers in a vehicle may also contribute to distracted driving.
- Driver fatigue can lead to crashes in rideshare accidents. A rideshare driver may spend many hours on the road picking up passengers, leading to him or her falling asleep at the wheel.
- Driving at high speeds may also cause a rideshare driver to lose control of his or her vehicle or crash into other cars.
- While rideshare policies and laws may prohibit this, you may enter a rideshare vehicle where the driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. These substances impair judgement and fine motor skills, leading to serious accidents.
Rideshare Insurance Policies
Many rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft have similar insurance policies, with levels of coverage depending upon the stage of the ride you were in at the time of the accident. For example, Uber’s policy requires that you file a claim with the driver’s insurance policy first.
If that claim doesn’t cover your needs, you can file a claim with Uber. The company provides up to $1 million in third-party liability insurance for your injuries following a rideshare accident if you were on an active trip at the time of the accident or the driver was en route to pick you up.
How Do Ridesharing Accidents Happen?
Rideshare accidents can happen for a number of reasons, from a disregard of the basic rules of the road to dangerous, negligent driving behaviors. There are multiple types of rideshare accidents, including the following.
- Failure to yield: All drivers must follow the rules of the road, even rideshare drivers. If your Uber or Lyft driver runs through a red light, goes through a stop sign when it is not his or her turn, or otherwise fails to yield to someone who has the right of way, you can collide into another driver or pedestrian.
- Collisions with a waiting passenger: An Uber or Lyft driver may collide into a passenger while he or she is waiting for the driver to pick him or her up. A driver may fail to check if a driveway is clear before pulling into it, ask the passenger to enter the vehicle in an unsafe location, or accidentally back up over the passenger while he or she is placing items in the trunk of the car.
- Inexperienced drivers: Unlike taxi drivers, Uber and Lyft drivers do not have very much professional experience behind the wheel. Rideshare drivers with limited driving experience, especially young adults, may cause serious accidents.
- Failure to drive appropriately for the weather: Rain, snow, fog, and other types of inclement weather can lead to hazardous road conditions. Experienced drivers know to adjust their speed and take special precautions while driving in these situations, but an inexperienced rideshare driver may not know how to drive safely in dangerous weather.
If a rideshare driver’s negligence leads to your injuries, you deserve compensation regardless of whether the driver’s actions constituted gross negligence or he or she experienced a short lapse in judgement. Identifying the cause of the accident is the first step to building a strong personal injury lawsuit or insurance claim.
Your attorney from Jordan, Herington & Rowley will begin the initial investigation to determine the cause of your accident. Once we identify the cause and name the liable party, we will build a compelling claim for your damages and begin the filing process.
Who Is Liable in a Ridesharing Accident?
Since Colorado is a fault-based insurance state, the driver responsible for your accident must pay for your damages. While rideshare accidents are more complex than traditional car collisions, these liability rules remain in place.
If the Uber or Lyft driver caused the accident, you would hold him or her liable. If another driver collided with Uber or Lyft while you were riding inside of it, you would pursue compensation through the other driver’s insurance company.
You may wonder if you are eligible to file a lawsuit against a rideshare company directly. Uber and Lyft consider their drivers independent contractors, not employees. This designation removes the company from liability in instances where their drivers are responsible for an accident.
Although Uber and Lyft do provide insurance coverage to injured passengers and drivers, you cannot file a lawsuit against the company directly. In instances where an insurance claim is not sufficient enough to pay for your damages, you may file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver for any remaining costs.
What to Do After a Rideshare Accident in Denver, CO
While the moments after a rideshare accident can feel disorienting, this time is crucial for your future claim. If you are able to do so, take the following steps after your accident to preserve evidence.
- Call 911 to bring police and medical attention to the scene, and collect the officer’s badge number to retrieve the police report later.
- Take screenshots of your ride information on the rideshare app.
- Seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if you do not feel hurt, and save all records from your visit.
- Collect contact and insurance information from the rideshare driver. If there are witnesses in the area, ask for their contact information as well.
- Take pictures of the accident scene, including all vehicles, license plates, and the area around the crash site.
Why You Need a Denver Rideshare Accident Lawyer
The aftermath of a rideshare accident can be overwhelming and painful. You may not be able to focus on filing a lawsuit or insurance claim, and you may feel tempted to collect an insurance settlement lower than what you need to recover.
Hiring a Denver rideshare accident attorney from Jordan, Herington & Rowley to assist with your claim can provide you with a number of benefits, allowing you to focus on recovery instead of paperwork. Your lawyer will conduct an in-depth investigation into your claim, help you understand what damages you are eligible for, and evaluate all settlement offers on your behalf. We will tap into our wide network of resources and expert witnesses to build a compelling case in your favor.
Free Consultation When You Call Us
Contact Jordan, Herington & Rowley today to schedule your free consultation and begin strategizing your next steps with our Denver rideshare accident lawyer.