Rideshare Accidents Attorneys in Raleigh, North Carolina

The growth of rideshare services like Uber and Lyft in North Carolina and across the country has exploded over the past decade. Rideshare services are fast, convenient, and relatively inexpensive. With a rideshare app on your smartphone, you can get a ride to just about anywhere you want.

Like any other vehicle, an Uber or Lyft can get into an accident on the road. When this happens, you need to understand your options for compensation, whether you are a driver, passenger, or pedestrian involved in the crash.

At Life Law, our personal injury attorneys provide legal counsel and assist victims of rideshare accidents in Raleigh, North Carolina, and throughout the state, including but not limited to Charlotte, Wilmington, Asheville, and Nags Head.

Who Is Liable in a Rideshare Accident?

The process of determining liability and recovering damages after a rideshare accident may seem more complicated than in regular car accidents. In North Carolina, victims of car accidents must prove the following elements to hold someone liable for their losses and damages:

• The other party owed you a duty of care.

• The duty was breached.

• You suffered damages because of the breach.

North Carolina follows the traditional at-fault system. Under the fault-based system, the party who is considered at fault for the accident is responsible for paying for the damages and losses incurred by other parties.

Can I Sue Uber or Lyft Directly?

As a rule of thumb, victims of rideshare accidents cannot sue Uber or Lyft directly because the rideshare companies classify their drivers as independent contractors. Thus, a rideshare company cannot generally be vicariously liable for its driver’s negligent driving behavior.

However, that does not mean that you cannot receive compensation after a rideshare accident. Typically, motorists must provide proof of insurance when signing up to become rideshare drivers. When an accident occurs, the personal auto insurance of the Uber or Lyft driver will kick in to cover the victim’s losses.

If the driver’s personal auto insurance is not sufficient to cover the victim’s losses, Uber and Lyft provide up to $1 million in liability coverage if the rideshare accident occurred when the driver’s app was on, the driver was on their way to pick up a passenger, or the passenger was already in the vehicle.

What Should I Do After an Accident?

If you are in a rideshare accident and do not know what to do next, below is a list of actions you can take following the collision to protect your rights:

1. Contact the police. A police report will be a valuable piece of documentation for your legal claim.

2. Seek medical attention. Do not hesitate to seek prompt medical attention after a rideshare accident. Remember, not all injuries may be apparent immediately after the crash.

3. Take pictures. Taking photos at the scene of a rideshare accident is important because it can provide valuable proof and details about the crash.

4. Gather information. Gather as much information as possible from the other driver involved in the crash, passengers, and witnesses. Write down the names and contact and insurance information.

5. Report the accident to the rideshare company. When you are involved in a rideshare accident, you need to contact the rideshare company and make a report. The company should know that you were involved in the crash.

6. Contact an attorney. Seeking legal counsel after a rideshare accident can be crucial to the success of your legal claim. A skilled personal injury attorney will guide you through the personal injury claims process to ensure that you are fairly compensated for your losses and damages.