Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft have changed the way we travel, including as residents and visitors in Tacoma. The unbeatable convenience of a private car arriving at your destination through a few simple taps on a cell phone app has caused a growing boom in the rideshare industry, as fewer people rely on city transit systems. Unfortunately, according to a University of Chicago study, this also adds to overall traffic congestion and a rise in traffic accident deaths by as much as three percent.
If you or a close family member suffered injuries in an Uber or Lyft Accident, the Tacoma car accident attorneys at Sears Injury Law are here to guide you through the legal process and help you recover compensation. Call our Tacoma rideshare accident attorneys today at (253) 544-5553 to learn about your legal rights in this complex accident claim.
Why Choose Sears Injury Law as Your Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyers In Tacoma?
Accident claims in fault-based insurance states require evidence of the responsible party’s liability. This quickly becomes complicated in rideshare accident claims. The Tacoma Uber & Lyft accident attorneys at Sears Injury Law offer the following advantages:
- Over 100 years of combined experience putting our compassion, dedication, and powerful voice on your side
- A free case consultation and contingency-based payment, so you only pay for our services after we recover your compensation
- An entire legal team and staff dedicated to advancing your case to the most favorable results
- Access to medical experts and accident reconstruction specialists to make a more compelling claim
With a history of exceptional results in recovering over $300 million for injury victims, including a recent $2,500,000.00 settlement in a car accident case, your Tacoma Uber or Lyft accident claim is in the hands of a law firm with a well-respected legal standing in Washington.
What are the Common Causes of Uber & Lyft Accidents In Tacoma?
Fortunately, most rideshare journeys end in a passenger’s safe drop-off at their destination, but sometimes an Uber or Lyft ride unexpectedly ends in a serious accident. Common causes of rideshare accidents in Tacoma and elsewhere include the following:
- Speeding to accomplish as many trips as possible per shift
- Distracted driving due to using the app to navigate and book additional trips
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Improper merging
- Unsafe lane changes
- Improper passing
- Aggressive driving
- Drowsy driving
- Inexperienced driving
- Driver intoxication or impairment
Uber and Lyft accident claims in Tacoma arise from passengers injured in a rideshare crash or motorists in another vehicle involved in a collision caused by an Uber or Lyft driver. Pedestrian accidents also occur, especially at drop-off and pickup locations.
Who Is Liable for Damages In an Uber or Lyft Accident Case?
Uber and Lyft companies insulate themselves from direct liability in accidents involving their drivers. They accomplish this by using independent contractors driving private vehicles rather than hiring employees. In most cases, Uber and Lyft cannot be held directly liable for an injury victim’s damages. Instead, both companies require drivers to carry special rideshare insurance. Depending on the cause of the accident, the driver could be liable for damages, or another driver may be responsible. Less commonly, the investigation shows other negligent parties that caused or contributed to an Uber or Lyft accident, such as a road maintenance agency that failed to repair a pothole or other road hazard, a city road planning agency that designed a confusing intersection, or the manufacturer of a defective car part.
As a passenger in a Lyft or Uber accident, you are never liable for damages in an accident. Contact our Tacoma Uber & Lyft accident lawyers to ensure your rights are protected.
How Does Uber and Lyft Accident Insurance Work?
Uber and Lyft require their drivers to carry specific rideshare insurance with a tiered coverage structure. The amount of compensation available to an injury victim who was harmed either as a rideshare passenger or in another vehicle depends on at what stage of the rideshare experience the accident occurred. The coverage available follows the following structure:
- When an Uber or Lyft driver uses their car for private reasons, their personal auto insurance policy is in place
- Once an independent contractor for Uber or Lyft turns on the rideshare app and waits for a client, the lower level of rideshare coverage takes effect with up to $25,000 in property damage available, $50,000 per person in injury coverage, or up to $100,000 total coverage per accident for multiple injury victims
- Once the rideshare driver books a passenger, while they drive to pick up the passenger, and during the rideshare journey until drop-off, the top level of insurance coverage is in place with up to $1 million in coverage per accident
An Uber or Lyft accident lawyer in Tacoma must identify not only the cause of the accident, the negligent party, and the correct insurance policy, but also prove at which stage of the rideshare the accident occurred. Often, insurance adjusters point the finger at other policies and companies to protect their company’s profits.
What Damages Can I Recover After a Tacoma Rideshare Accident?
Injuries are expensive as well as painful. Even when injuries are relatively mild with a prognosis for full recovery, they can cause medical bills to pile up at the same time that the injury victim misses work days. A more serious or catastrophic injury can cause life-altering economic and non-economic damages. Common damages recovered in successful Uber and Lyft accident claims include:
- Property damage to repair or replace a vehicle in a collision with an Uber or Lyft car
- Medical expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Out-of-pocket costs
- Lost wages
- Future income loss/diminished future earning capacity
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Compensation for catastrophic injury damages in specific cases, such as for loss of limb, vision loss, hearing loss, disfigurement, scarring, loss of enjoyment of life, or diminished quality of life
If a loved one lost their life in an Uber or Lyft accident in Tacoma, a close family member may be able to recover wrongful death benefits in a claim against an Uber or Lyft driver’s insurance. Our Tacoma wrongful death lawyers can assist you with this type of claim.
Contact the Tacoma Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyers at Sears Injury Law
Rather than leaving your Uber or Lyft accident claim in the hands of an insurance adjuster whose job is to protect company profits, you deserve experienced, proactive legal representation through a compassionate legal advocate. Contact Sears Injury Law to speak to a Tacoma rideshare accident lawyer who is ready to make your best interests their priority.