Rideshare Accident Lawyers in Lexington, SC
When you’ve been hurt in a rideshare crash, you need us in your corner
We all enjoy the convenience of rideshare services like Uber and Lyft and food delivery services like DoorDash and GrubHub, but that convenience comes with a risk of car accidents. When drivers for those services are negligent, lives can be changed forever. People injured in accidents involving those services may have an uphill battle for the compensation they need.
You don’t have to face that battle alone. With the right car accident attorney on your side, you can pursue full compensation for your injuries and accountability for the accident. Our attorneys were born and raised in Lexington, and we’re passionate about keeping our community safe. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with Johnson + Johnson Attorneys at Law.
Can you sue for an Uber or Lyft accident?
In South Carolina, if you’re involved in an accident while using a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft, you have the right to seek compensation for your injuries and damages. However, navigating these types of cases can be complex. An experienced rideshare accident attorney can guide you through the legal process.
If you were involved in a rideshare accident, you might wonder about Uber or Lyft passenger accident settlement amounts. Your eligibility for compensation could depend on the insurance coverage available through an Uber or Lyft policy, the driver's insurance, and other sources. Details of the accident like those documented on an Uber or Lyft accident report can also help determine the compensation you are able to recover.
An experienced attorney can help you recover the compensation you deserve through an Uber or Lyft accident settlement or lawsuit. A law firm will have the resources to investigate your crash and build a strong case that holds negligent parties accountable. That’s why it’s important to contact an Uber or Lyft accident lawyer as soon as possible.
We know the laws pertaining to rideshare and food delivery services
The main difference between Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, GrubHub, UberEats on one hand and traditional taxi and delivery services on the other is that drivers for the rideshare services use their own personal vehicles with their own insurance. However, personal car insurance policies typically do not cover the vehicle when the insured person is “driving for profit.” (Most car insurance companies will add an endorsement to a personal auto use policy for an additional cost if the driver asks for it.)
As such, whose insurance applies depends on what the driver was doing when the accident happened. If you’re involved in a crash with a rideshare driver (Uber or Lyft), the following standards apply:
- If the driver was signed out of the app, their personal car insurance applies.
- If the driver was signed in and waiting for a ride request, their personal insurance may apply, but if it does not, the rideshare companies provide supplemental insurance: $50,000 in liability coverage for injuries to a single person, $100,000 in liability coverage for all injuries in a single accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident.
- If the driver had accepted a ride request and was driving to pick up a passenger, or had a passenger in the car, then the rideshare company’s full liability insurance applies: $1,000,000 in liability coverage and $1,000,000 in uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Insurance coverage for the food delivery networks is less comprehensive. DoorDash provides third-party liability insurance in the amount of $1,000,000, but this insurance only applies when the driver is “on an active delivery” – that is, it applies while the driver has the goods to be delivered in their possession, but not while the driver is on the way to pick up the goods. As such, if you’re hit by a DoorDash driver who was on their way to a restaurant to pick up someone’s order, you may be in a situation where neither their personal auto insurance nor DoorDash’s insurance applies to pay for your injuries. GrubHub does not provide liability insurance for its drivers at all, so there is even more potential for a coverage gap.
In short, depending on the situation, there can be significant gaps in coverage that can leave an injured person with little recourse to get compensation for their injuries. Legally, you’re entitled to pursue compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other costs related to the accident, but if the at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance that covers those losses, then as a practical matter, you’re most likely out of luck.
That’s one of the reasons it’s so important to carry uninsured motorist protection (UM) and underinsured motorist protection (UIM) on your own auto insurance policy. These types of coverage “stand in” for the at-fault driver’s insurance if they don’t have coverage or don’t have enough to pay for the full cost of the accident respectively. Under South Carolina law, UM is required and UIM is optional, but we highly recommend carrying both. You don’t want your recovery after an accident to depend on someone else’s decision to carry the appropriate liability insurance.
Get an Uber or Lyft accident attorney who can navigate complex situations
The app-based transportation and food delivery networks are still a relatively new industry, and the laws pertaining to accidents involving those drivers are complex and constantly changing. In that environment, it’s easy for insurance companies to take advantage of injured people. That’s why it’s so important to have strong legal representation.
When you come to us after a rideshare accident, we’ll listen to your story and explain your legal rights and options. If you choose to hire us, we’ll launch a full investigation to determine what happened and who was responsible. We will review the applicable insurance policies and figure out the best way to find the compensation you need to rebuild your life. Our legal team will stand between you and the insurance companies, protecting your rights and interests while you focus on healing.
Don’t go it alone after an accident involving a rideshare or food delivery driver. Get the respect you deserve and pursue your full rights under South Carolina law. Contact us today and schedule your free consultation with a Lexington, SC rideshare accident attorney who will fight hard for you.
