St. Louis Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyers
Whether it’s for a ride to the airport, a lift home after a night out, or a trip across town for a business meeting, it’s hard to beat the convenience of rideshare services like Uber and Lyft. But whenever you’re traveling in any passenger vehicle, you’re always at risk of being hurt in a crash. And as a passenger in a rideshare vehicle, you have rights if you’re injured during your ride.
Passengers aren’t the only people at risk of rideshare vehicle accidents. Other motorists can also be hurt in crashes involving Uber and Lyft vehicles, especially when their drivers are negligent, and they also have rights to compensation.
Rideshare accidents can lead to complicated legal claims, especially if you aren’t familiar with the law. At Cofman Townsley, our St. Louis Uber and Lyft accident lawyers know the law inside and out, and we know what it takes to get our clients maximum compensation for the damages they’ve experienced. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Here’s What to Do After a Rideshare Accident
If you’re hurt in a crash involving a rideshare vehicle, the steps you should take to protect your rights and your health are very similar to the steps you’d take if you were traveling in a friend’s or family member’s vehicle or involved in a crash with any other driver.
- Report the accident and get medical attention.
Always call 911 after a crash to report it to the police. Never assume that anyone else has reported it. If you’re seriously injured, you and other victims can receive treatment at the accident scene from emergency responders. And whether you arrive via ambulance or your own transportation, go to the hospital right away to be evaluated for injuries. - Get contact information from the driver and any witnesses to the accident.
If you were a passenger in a rideshare vehicle, don’t assume you have all the info you need about your driver from the app itself. You should still get their full name, phone number, driver’s license number, and insurance information. You should also get the names and phone numbers of anyone who witnessed the crash. - Report the accident to your insurer.
If you were in another vehicle that was involved in a crash with a rideshare vehicle, you need to report it to your insurer as soon as possible, even if the crash wasn’t your fault. Your deadline for doing so may be as short as one or two days post-crash. Reporting the accident ensures you can receive compensation from your own policy if available and needed. - Call a lawyer.
Rideshare accidents play out similarly to other auto accidents, but because the corporations themselves may cover some or all of the liability, it’s especially important to have an experienced Uber and Lyft accident lawyer on your side who can help you maximize your chances of getting full compensation.
How Are Rideshare Accident Claims Paid to Victims?
There are multiple ways that rideshare accident claims are paid to victims. They may be paid through:
- The rideshare driver’s auto insurance policy, if they were driving “off the clock” at the time the crash occurred. This means they weren’t transporting a passenger, waiting to receive a ride request, or driving to pick up a passenger.
- The rideshare company’s insurance coverage if the driver was “on the clock” and transporting you or another passenger at the time the crash occurred, was waiting to receive a ride request, or was driving to pick up a passenger.
- Both the driver’s and rideshare company’s insurance policies.
- Your auto insurance coverage if the driver was “off the clock” and uninsured, or you have additional coverage that kicks in for medical bills such as Med Pay.
How Much Money Can Rideshare Accident Victims Receive?
Both Uber and Lyft cover all their drivers with up to $1 million in liability insurance. However, coverage limits vary depending on the circumstances of each crash.
- When a driver is “on the clock” but hasn’t accepted a ride request, which means they aren’t transporting a passenger, their liability limits are $50,000 bodily injury per person and $100,000 per accident.
- When a driver is “on the clock” and is traveling to pick up a passenger but does not have one currently in their car, their liability limit is $1 million for bodily injury per accident.
- When a driver is “on the clock” and is carrying a passenger, their liability limit is $1 million for bodily injury per accident, plus potential property damage and uninsured motorist coverage.
- When a driver is “off the clock,” their liability limit is whatever their personal auto insurance policy dictates. Victims will have to go through the driver’s personal coverage instead of Uber or Lyft’s.
Our experienced Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can help you determine whose insurance applies, how much you are eligible for, and help you get the full compensation possible.
Don’t Let a Rideshare Crash Slide
At Cofman Townsley, we know that rideshare accidents are more common than many people realize, and the injuries that both passengers in rideshare vehicles and drivers of vehicles struck by rideshare vehicles suffer are often serious, disabling, and expensive. It’s our goal to help them get the money they’re owed up to the full policy limits when their injuries are caused by others’ negligence.
However, many rideshare accident victims are hesitant to pursue compensation claims. Whether they’re passengers or they were traveling in other vehicles, they may think they can’t get compensation after their crashes, or they may not believe they can win. But rideshare accident victims can, should, and do get money for their accident-related expenses all the time in Missouri—especially when they have lawyers on their side.
Contact our St. Louis Uber and Lyft accident lawyers today for a free consultation. We’ll work hard to help you get the money you’re owed for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.