Every adult who has ever ridden in a car is aware there is always the risk of being in an accident. Many things may cause this accident and someone will be at fault. The individual responsible for the accident must pay for damages to the other vehicles involved and will also be liable for expenses related to any injuries sustained in the accident. However, what happens when the person responsible for the accident is an Uber or Lyft driver?
Innocent Victims
An individual who is in a car accident with a Lyft driver is not responsible for this crash in many situations. Officials treat this incident the same as they would any other accident on the road. The victim files a claim with the Lyft driver’s insurance company to receive reimbursement for damage to their vehicle and payment to cover any medical bills incurred as a result of the accident.
An Ongoing Issue
A rideshare driver, such as those individuals working for Lyft or Uber, is charged with transporting passengers from one location to another. They frequently rush to get passengers to their destinations because they make more money when they transport more passengers. They may not be familiar with the route they are driving, which increases the risk of a car accident. Rideshare passengers and other drivers cannot control the actions of the individual of the rideshare vehicle, so the driver remains responsible for any accidents they cause.
While these services help reduce alcohol-related accidents as they offer intoxicated individuals an alternative to getting behind the wheel, any time a person drives a car, they may be involved in an accident. The question then becomes is the driver responsible for covering any bills related to the accident or will they be the responsibility of the rideshare company itself? That’s a tricky question.
At-Fault
Georgia is an at-fault state. It looks at who is at fault for an accident to determine who is eligible to receive compensation. Law enforcement officers arrive at the scene of an accident and make this determination. A person who is deemed at fault for the accident will be responsible for all expenses related to the accident. If they have insurance, the insurer covers these bills. However, this changes when the person at fault is a rideshare driver.
Passengers in a rideshare vehicle involved in an accident caused by their driver will find the rideshare company is responsible for any compensation it is determined the passengers are owed. When a driver of another vehicle or a pedestrian is involved in an accident with a rideshare driver, authorities then look at whether the driver was working on behalf of the rideshare company when the accident occurred.
If the rideshare driver was carrying passengers when the accident occurred, the rideshare company’s insurance policy will typically cover all expenses related to the accident. When the rideshare driver has no passengers at the time of the accident, their personal insurance pays any bills related to the accident. The challenge lies in determining which situation applies when the driver has no passengers but is on their way to pick riders up. An attorney can help victims who should be held accountable in this situation.
Rideshare drivers and the companies they work for should be held accountable for any accidents caused by rideshare drivers. However, it comes down to whether the driver was working for the company when the accident occurred when deciding who was at fault. Speak with an attorney to learn more about how to proceed in this situation, as every victim deserves compensation for any damage resulting from the accident. An attorney will work to ensure they get this compensation for their injuries and any other damages they sustained.