The popularity of ridesharing has skyrocketed in the last decade. In big cities, it often makes sense to use this service. Driving to busy shopping areas, concert venues, and sporting events in places like Las Vegas can be a pain when you are in your own personal vehicle.
With over 5,000 rideshare drivers in Las Vegas, an Uber or Lyft ride makes traveling easy and convenient so you can focus on enjoying your evening. In most cases, rideshare drivers get from point A to point B without incident. After all, rideshare companies like Lyft and Uber mandate that their drivers have clean driving histories, hold valid driver’s licenses, and drive vehicles that are properly maintained.
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However, rideshare drivers aren’t professionally trained drivers, and there is always the risk of an accident–whether you are 1) a passenger in a rideshare vehicle or 2) on foot or in another car when a rideshare driver hits you.
If you find yourself in a rideshare accident, here is what you need to know.
What Type of Insurance Applies?
First, understand that rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft have a commercial liability policy to protect those who are injured in traffic accidents involving rideshare vehicles. They also require their drivers to have their own personal insurance. If you are paying for a rideshare service in Las Vegas, you have access to the company’s liability insurance and, potentially, to the driver’s personal coverage.
Consider these three common rideshare accident scenarios and how they affect insurance coverage:
- The rideshare driver is logged out. They are not picking up or dropping off passengers and are driving for personal use. If one of these rideshare drivers hits you (whether you are in your own car, are a pedestrian, or are traveling in a different rideshare vehicle), compensation from the accident will come through the driver’s personal insurance.
- The rideshare driver is logged in, but they have no passengers. They are waiting for a request. If this driver hits you, the driver will still use their own personal insurance as the primary coverage; however, the rideshare company has supplemental insurance that might kick in if necessary. It will cover $50,000 per person for bodily injuries and $100,000 for injuries per accident. It will also cover $25,000 for property damage.
- The rideshare driver is active. This means they have accepted an assignment. They are picking up a passenger or have one in their vehicle at the time of the accident. In this case, assuming the Uber or Lyft driver has purchased additional liability insurance, the coverage may be anywhere from $25,000 to $1 million.
Take These Steps After the Accident
If you are injured in an accident due to the negligence of a rideshare driver, follow these steps. They will not only help keep you safe but also help you get the compensation you deserve.
Call 911
Whether there is an injury or not, call 911 and request the police. The police will file a report, which is important for insurance claims, and their presence will help prevent faulty claims.
Get Medical Attention
If there are serious injuries, tell the person who responds to your 911 call. They can send the paramedics, so you get quick, competent care. If the injuries are not serious enough for the paramedics, you should seek medical care on your own. Even if the injuries are minor, it’s best to see a doctor as you may be dealing with injuries that could worsen over time if not detected early (such as a traumatic brain injury that may not manifest for hours or days after the accident). Comply with everything the doctor recommends, including follow-up visits and therapies. This helps prove the legitimacy of your injuries and shows that you are serious about getting better.
Collect Driver Information
Don’t leave the accident without getting the rideshare driver’s information. You will need their name, insurance policy, license plate, and registration number.
Take Pictures
Always take pictures and/or videos of the accident and injuries. These images will provide valuable proof for your insurance claim and help build an airtight case if you decide to file a lawsuit.
File an Insurance Claim
Contact your own insurance company. You should file a claim with them, as they can help you understand what coverage you are entitled to and how to begin pursuing compensation.
Report the Accident to the Appropriate Rideshare Company
In addition to contacting your own insurance company, you should report the accident to the rideshare company. You should not depend on the rideshare driver to report it.
Do I Need to Contact a Las Vegas Accident Attorney?
In the case of rideshare accidents, there will be multiple parties working to protect their best interests; these include the rideshare driver, the rideshare companies, and the affected insurance companies. It is not uncommon for the injured party to end up getting less money than they need or deserve. This is where a skilled Las Vegas traffic accident lawyer can come into play.
An experienced attorney can make sure you get the best medical care and help you gather the most compelling evidence of the case while it is still fresh. They can also shoulder the stress of working with the insurance company so that you can focus on healing and moving forward. Insurance companies know exactly what buttons to push to get the outcome they want. Negotiating with them can be intimidating and stressful. A good attorney will know how to counter their tactics and advocate for your interests.
If an insurance company offers a settlement, your attorney can help you know if it will be more advantageous to accept it or to negotiate for more. Sometimes, people settle too soon and for too little money so that they can end their financial stresses, but they find themselves saddled with ongoing bills and injuries with no recourse.
If you’re worried about the cost of an attorney, contact our traffic accident attorneys serving Summerlin, Henderson, and Vegas. We provide a free consultation to help you know how strong your case is and work on contingency fees so that you won’t have to pay us until your case is successfully resolved.