Michigan Rideshare Accident Lawyer
Top-Rated Michigan Rideshare Accident Lawyers
Unfortunately, car crashes happen every day and when they do, there’s a standard procedure for receiving damages from the at-fault driver’s insurance provider. This whole process is complicated when rideshare cars are involved in accidents. Sometimes, passengers of Uber and Lyft struggle to receive compensation if their driver got into an accident. Similarly, ordinary drivers may also struggle to receive compensation if Uber and Lyft drivers hit them. Whatever the situation may be, car crashes that involve a rideshare company get messy. That’s why you need an experienced rideshare accident lawyer from Lipton Law on your side. We’ll fight for your rights and ensure that you receive appropriate damages. Call us today at 248-557-1688 for a free consultation.
What is a Ridesharing Company?
Many people wonder, “Is Uber safe?” Ridesharing is basically new and improved taxi services. The most common ridesharing companies out there are Uber and Lyft. These new and improved taxi services work through apps on smartphones. Customers can request a Lyft driver or an Uber driver through the app, and within a few minutes the driver shows up to their location to take them where they need to go.
Ridesharing Fast Facts
Ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft have become incredibly successful over the last decade. According to data from Statista, Uber’s global net revenue between 2013 and 2020 sits around $11 billion while Lyft’s global net revenue between 2016 and 2020 sits around $2.3 billion. Additionally, the industry allows rideshare drivers to have successful side hustles, especially in big cities. In fact, the average hourly rate for ridesharing drivers (depending on their number of trips) is about $20. Unfortunately, the industry has suffered a huge hit from the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2020, approximately 65% of regular passengers stopped using rideshare services due to the pandemic.
Ridesharing vs. Taxi Service
Ridesharing is different from the traditional taxi service because the rideshare vehicle isn’t owned by a company like Uber or Lyft. The rideshare driver often uses their own vehicle while the classic taxi is always owned by cab companies. Additionally, Uber or Lyft customers can’t just hail a rideshare vehicle from the street like customers of taxi cabs can.
Annual Rideshare Accidents
Because more people are opting for rideshare services than public transportation nowadays, especially in large U.S. cities, more cars are on the roads. More traffic ultimately leads to more car accidents. In fact, a study conducted by the Becker Friedman Institute claims that Uber and Lyft drivers are responsible for an approximate 3% increase in annual deaths from car accidents since 2011. This breaks down to about 987 car accident victims every year. This statistic includes pedestrian accidents as well.
What Happens if My Lyft Driver or Uber Driver Gets Into an Accident?
Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft have insurance coverage for drivers and passengers who get into accidents, but financial compensation will depend on the facts of your case and the state you’re in. Passengers can generally expect the following damages from Uber or Lyft accidents:
- Medical bills from personal injuries sustained from the car accident
- Property damage as a result of the car accident
- Lost wages
- Wrongful death
Uber and Lyft Commercial Insurance Policy
Uber/Lyft liability insurance coverage generally depends on when the ridesharing driver got into an accident. In other words, the amount of comprehensive coverage you may or may not recover depends on these scenarios:
- Scenario 1: If the crash happens when the Uber and Lyft drivers aren’t logged into their respective ridesharing apps, then the ridesharing services won’t provide any coverage.
- Scenario 2: If the accident happens when a rideshare driver is logged into the Uber/Lyft app and they are the at-fault driver, then the insurance company will provide $50,000 per accident victim, $25,000 for property damage, and $100,000 for total injury liability.
- Scenario 3: If the crash happens when rideshare drivers are on the way to pick up a passenger, insurance coverage goes up to $1 million.
- Scenario 4: If the crash happens any time between passenger pick up and drop off, insurance coverage is $1 million. Additionally, insurance will provide uninsured driver coverage and damages for the ridesharing vehicle.
Will a Ridesharing Driver’s Personal Insurance Policy Cover a Ridesharing Accident?
No, a ridesharing driver’s personal auto insurance policy won’t cover a car accident unless they bought commercial insurance or a ridesharing endorsement which is available in a few states. This is because personal auto insurance expects all drivers to use their cars for personal use, and personal use doesn’t include ridesharing. Therefore, if the accident happened with an Uber or Lyft passenger in the car, the Uber or Lyft driver can’t recover financial compensation, even if they aren’t at fault.
Who is Liable in a Ridesharing Accident?
If you get into a Lyft accident or an Uber accident, you can hold all parties accountable for the accident, including:
- The Uber/Lyft driver
- Another driver who may have caused or been involved in the accident
- Bicyclists
- Pedestrians
- Another transportation service or vehicle that may have caused or been involved in the accident
- Government agencies
- The manufacturer of the ridesharing vehicle equipment
Sometimes it’s certainly tough to determine who was actually at fault in an accident. That’s why you need legal assistance from a Michigan car accident lawyer at Lipton Law. We will help you figure out which parties are at fault and therefore who is liable.
Michigan’s Modified Comparative Negligence Rule
A factor that determines fault and liability after a Lyft accident or an Uber accident is Michigan’s modified comparative negligence rule. Basically, if a party was more than 50% at fault for an accident, that party won’t receive fair compensation.
What Should I Do if an Uber or Lyft Hits Me?
If an Uber or Lyft driver hits you and therefore causes you personal injuries or vehicle damage, you need to act as if this is a regular car accident. Here’s what to do:
- Document your car damage and your bodily injuries through pictures and videos
- Exchange names, contact information, and insurance information
- Take several pictures of the accident scene
- Contact the police if anyone is injured or if you think the cars involved sustained over $1,000 worth of damage
Once police show up at the scene, they will investigate the accident and create a thorough report. It’s important that you call and ask for a copy of this report in order to share it with your Michigan personal injury attorney at Lipton Law.
How Can I Report a Lyft or Uber Accident to the Rideshare Company?
Uber and Lyft generally have forms within their apps where you can submit an accident report. Next, a ridesharing company team member will likely report your Uber or Lyft accident claim to their Michigan insurance carrier. If you were a passenger at the time of the crash, you don’t have to file a personal injury claim with your own insurance company.
If the ridesharing service doesn’t take your accident claim seriously or something else goes wrong in the reporting process, tell rideshare accident lawyers at Lipton Law. Our law firm takes all personal injury cases very seriously.
How Long Does it Take to Receive a Settlement Check After an Uber or Lyft Accident?
Large rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft will probably take their time in getting you the compensation you deserve. You can expect an insurance agent to contact you about your personal injury case within a few weeks to a month. If you’ve been waiting a few weeks to a month for someone to contact you, it may be because:
- They have a large caseload in general, so it takes more time for them to get back to all their clients
- They’re purposely stalling so that you become impatient and frustrated enough to accept a low damages offer
- They keep dismissing or denying your claim which will inevitably drag out your case
When Should I Call a Rideshare Accident Lawyer?
It’s crucial to contact a Lyft accident attorney as soon as possible so that we can protect all your rights and ensure that you receive appropriate damages. Even if your accident with Uber and Lyft was minor, give us a call anyway. A rideshare accident attorney can certainly help if you:
- Sustained a serious personal injury from your ridesharing accident
- Are facing countless medical expenses that you can’t afford and that insurance doesn’t cover as a result of your accident
- Are hospitalized long-term following the accident
- Have to miss work and pay following the accident
- Are struggling to receive recognition from ridesharing services about the severity of your accident