With the unbeatable convenience of a private ride showing up at the swipe of an app, fewer people use city buses and other forms of public transportation, relying instead on rideshares like Uber and Lyft. Fortunately, most rideshare journeys end safely, but the overall increase in traffic caused by more people using separate rideshare vehicles rather than public transportation may have contributed to a rise in traffic accidents.
If you or a close family member suffered injuries in an Uber or Lyft accident in Atlanta, reach out to the rideshare accident lawyers at Marc Brown Law Firm for experienced representation in your compensation claim.
Why Choose Marc Brown Law Firm for Your Uber or Lyft Accident Claim?
The attorneys at Marc Brown Law Firm have dedicated their legal careers to advocating for injury victims against the powerful insurance companies who protect their profits at the injury victim’s expense. With assertive legal representation by our firm, you’ll see the following advantages:
- An open-communication policy that keeps you informed and involved throughout the legal process
- The knowledge, skills, and resources of an entire team behind advancing your case to the best possible resolution
- An Atlanta car accident injury attorney dedicated to creating the strongest legal strategy to present compelling evidence of the at-fault party’s liability and your damages
We extend a free initial consultation to injury victims and contingency-based payment, so you pay nothing until after you have your compensation.
How Safe Are Uber and Lyft?
An in-depth study of Uber and Lyft services in New York City taxi zones and Uber’s 2021-2022 Safety report noted the following safety-related statistics:
- At the time of the study, Uber and Lyft vehicles had completed over 11 billion trips
- There was a 4.6% increase in the odds of a crash with injuries with every 100 rideshare trips
- 0.1% of trips received a support request for a safety concern, including accidents and assaults
- There were 153 Uber accident fatalities between 2021 and 2022
- “Risky driving behaviors” by both third-party drivers and Uber drivers were cited as a common cause of rideshare accident fatalities
- 18% of 97 crashes examined in Uber’s study were caused by the rideshare driver
- 97% of rideshare driver fatalities occurred in urban areas
- 29% of fatalities were Uber passengers, while 45% were drivers
Georgia’s Laws Governing For-Hire Drivers
Georgia has laws in place regulating for-hire drivers in an attempt to minimize safety risks to passengers. These laws include a required background check by the rideshare service or taxi company or a “For-hire” endorsement on their license, which includes a background check. Rideshare drivers must be American citizens or have proof of legal status in the U.S. They also must be at least 18 years old.
Insurance Requirements for Uber and Lyft
Rideshare companies are rarely directly liable for an injury victim’s damages because they use independent contractors as drivers rather than hired employees. Instead, Uber and Lyft maintain that they merely supply apps to connect independent contractors with passengers. Both Uber and Lyft companies require drivers to carry rideshare insurance. This specialized insurance provides different payment levels depending on what the rideshare driver was doing when the accident occurred. The following insurance structure applies to both Uber and Lyft accident insurance:
- When an Uber or Lyft driver uses their car for private purposes rather than for ridesharing, their private auto insurance coverage is in effect
- When the driver is on the job and turns on their rideshare app to seek a passenger. the lower tier of rideshare insurance is in effect with $25,000 in property damage coverage, $50,000 per person for injury liability coverage, and $100,000 total coverage per accident
- Once the driver books a passenger, during their drive to the pickup location and throughout the rideshare journey with the passenger inside the rideshare vehicle, the top coverage is in effect with up to $1 million in liability coverage per accident
Rideshare insurance coverage is multi-leveled and complex, sometimes incentivizing insurance companies to dispute claims by pointing their fingers at other policies. Your attorney from Marc Brown Law will investigate the accident, document evidence of liability, and present their findings to the appropriate insurance company, along with a list of your damages. Then, they will negotiate with the insurance company and argue assertively for the maximum compensation, taking the case to court only if necessary to recover your damages.
Injuries In Atlanta Uber and Lyft Accidents
Injuries in Uber and Lyft accidents range from mild injuries, from which an injury victim fully recovers with damages consisting of a single emergency room bill and a few days of lost pay, to catastrophic injuries with lifelong disability. Common injuries in Uber and Lyft accident claims in Atlanta include the following:
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries ranging from mild concussions to diffuse axonal injuries
- External head and facial injuries
- Broken bones
- Soft-tissue injuries like sprains, strains, torn ligaments, and tendon injuries
- Lacerations, contusions, and abrasions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal organ injuries
- Burns
- Traumatic limb loss
- Wrongful death
Injuries from accidents involving Uber and Lyft include injuries to passengers, injuries to pedestrians, and injuries to motorists in other vehicles in collisions with rideshare vehicles.
Common Damages In Uber and Lyft Accidents In Atlanta
Even a mild injury can quickly become expensive, but severe or catastrophic injuries can have long-term adverse consequences for injury victims in Uber and Lyft accidents. A successful claim against Uber or Lyft rideshare insurance or against a third-party driver can recover common damages, including the following:
- Reimbursement for medical expenses
- Future medical expenses for further necessary treatment
- Out-of-pocket costs
- Lost earnings
- Future income loss or diminished future earning capacity
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Compensation for other damages that apply in some circumstances, such as limb loss, the loss of one of the senses, disfigurement, scarring, PTSD, or loss of enjoyment of life
If a loved one died due to accidents involving an Uber or Lyft rideshare vehicle, close family members could recover wrongful death benefits.
Call the Uber and Lyft Accident Attorneys In Atlanta at Marc Brown Law
Rideshare accident claims in Atlanta or elsewhere in Georgia are uniquely complex compared to typical traffic accident claims. Under the state’s fault-based insurance laws, an injury victim has the burden of providing evidence of liability as well as evidence of their economic and non-economic damages. Reach out to Marc Brown Law Firm so our Georgia car accident lawyers can navigate the challenging legal process for recovering your financial losses while you focus on healing.