Uber/Lyft/Rideshare Accidents in Athens

Rapid Growth in Lyft and Uber

Statistics clearly show that companies like Uber and Lyft are becoming increasingly popular with the general public. A key driver of this rapid growth is the affordability that ridesharing companies offer as compared to traditional taxi cabs. Not only do taxis cost more, but the process of getting a taxi also is not always as simple as that of an Uber. Also, there are no payment hassles and no long waiting times when you ride with Uber or Lyft. It should be noted is that the recent surge in Uber and Lyft drivers has added to the congestion on the roads in Georgia. This has increased the risk of accidents. Talk to an Athens lawyer if you were in an Uber or Lyft car and were in an accident.

Uber & Lyft Ridesharing Services

There is no doubt that convenience and ease of access are major advantages with Uber. However, there are certain operational characteristics of ridesharing companies that make them a risky venture as far as road accidents are concerned. Some of these issues include:

1. The first issue with ridesharing companies is that they are not as closely monitored or regulated as taxi companies. No doubt this service model is still relatively new, and the regulations governing this segment are still evolving. However, since the model involves dealing with the general public where safety and protection are important. Taxi companies and their employees are much more closely regulated then Uber/Lyft drivers. If you have had a poor experience with an Uber driver or were involved in an Uber accident, you should speak to an Uber accident lawyer as soon as possible.
2. The second issue with companies like Uber and Lyft is that their drivers function as independent contractors. What this means for the victims is that if an accident occurs, the company can always turn around and say it’s not their problem because the driver is self-employed and whatever he does on the road is his business. This has happened in some Uber-related accidents where victims had to go through significant challenges to get compensation for the damages they incurred after an Uber-related accident. The problem is the insurance gap that exists between Uber and their self-employed drivers. Talk to an Uber accident lawyer if you are seeking compensation for damages that you’ve incurred due to a road accident involving an Uber or Lyft
3. The third issue with ridesharing companies is a mismatch of the type of services they think they are providing and the type of services the general public perceives they are providing. For all practical purposes, Uber and Lyft offer transportation services very much like that of traditional taxi companies. There are differences in rates of course as well as differences in how riders get a rider. But in essence, Uber and Lyft offer transportation services and should be regulated with that in mind. However, in reality, ridesharing companies do not consider themselves in the same category as taxi companies. That is why they are placed under a new category of companies called “Transportation Network Companies” (TNCs). The regulations governing TNCs is different from that of taxi companies. There has been significant criticism regarding this, especially from taxi companies, because they believe that TNCs are getting away with lower regulations and need to be more closely monitored. Lack of regulations can result in poor monitoring and can also increase the risk of accidents. Talk to a Lyft accident lawyer in this regard.
4. The fourth issue with companies like Uber and Lyft is driver selection. As already established, Uber and Lyft are growing quite rapidly. This has resulted in a surge in drivers who are signing up to become Uber drivers. Some work full-time; some work part-time; some only work weekends. The fact is that working with these companies is fairly flexible and offers an easy way of making some extra money. While all this sounds good as far as the drivers are concerned, the fact is that the riders are at risk because companies like Uber and Lyft do not really have a thorough selection process as far as these drivers are concerned. As long as you have a registered vehicle and a driver’s license, you can become an Uber driver. There is a background check, but there is no guarantee that the driver’s past record and history have been considered before the driver is given the go-ahead to start taking on passengers. There have been situations where ridesharing passengers have been robbed, manhandled and abused. Rideshare accident lawyers in Athens can tell you about these incidents. Lack of a proper driver selection process can result in accidents. If you were in an Uber/Lyft accident, call an Uber accident lawyer to find out how you can get compensation for any damages.

The Problem With Insurance Companies and Uber Accidents

Uber has an insurance policy of $1.5 million. This policy covers any damages in case of an accident. Keep in mind that the policy only applies if an accident occurs while the driver is on-duty. This means that if the driver is on their way to pick up a rider or are in the process of driving a passenger to their intended destination and an accident occurs, the Uber insurance policy will kick in. Every Uber/Lyft driver is also required to carry their own insurance in case an accident happens. Talk to a Lyft accident lawyer for more details about Uber’s insurance policy.

Theoretically, the insurance policies seem fine. But as rideshare accident lawyers will tell you, there have been situations when Uber refused to take responsibility for an accident and the subsequent damages. Uber has many reasons to back out of a claim. Uber has already said many times that the drivers are independent contractors and what drivers do in their own time is not the company’s responsibility. This especially applies in cases where the driver is not driving a passenger but gets in an accident. In such a situation, the driver is driving an Uber vehicle but was not on active duty. Any damages that incur during this time are the driver’s responsibility. For the victims, this means the driver’s insurance company is the one who will be held liable for any damages. Talk to a Lyft accident lawyer if you need more clarification about insurance policies related to ridesharing services.

If the Uber driver has a comprehensive policy, things are easier to deal with. But sometimes, drivers are underinsured or not insured at all. If this happens, the person filing the claim can have significant trouble recovering their losses. Also, driving an Uber or Lyft car is a commercial venture, and it can sometimes happen that insurance companies refuse to pay up because the driver has a personal insurance policy and not a commercial one. The point is that there can be many complications and insurance companies can make it challenging for road accident victims to get compensation. That is why it is important to talk to an Uber accident lawyer in Athens, as they can help you deal with difficult insurance companies.

Contact an Uber and Lyft Ridesharing Car Accident Attorney in Athens Today

Road accidents are difficult to deal with. The situation can be much worse if you have sustained serious injuries that are likely to have a long-term impact on your personal and professional life. Accident victims often end up with injuries that can affect their ability to function in their daily life. These injuries can also have an impact on the victim’s ability to perform the work they do. Sometimes, they are unable to go to work altogether while in some other cases, they are unable to do the tasks they used to perform. Inability to work or the inability to do the same work can affect the earning potential of an individual which in turn make it difficult for them to make ends meet and to fulfill their financial obligations. Add medical bills, rehabilitation costs, prescription costs and hospitalization costs to this mix and the financial challenges multiply. An Uber accident lawyer can help you get help in resolving your financial problems.

Financial stress and tension can add to the emotional trauma of the accident. There are also situations where personal relationships suffer. This may be due to physical injuries that render the victims incapable of maintaining the same type of social and personal relationships they had before. Injuries and the recovery phase can also have a toll on other family members. All these factors can lead to negative consequences and can change a person’s life completely. Rideshare accident lawyers can help you manage some of these challenges.

That is why it is important to be able to recover some of the losses that you incur if you are in an accident. While money cannot help you recover from your physical injuries, it can certainly help you pay your outstanding bills. It can also keep your family safe and protected in case you have to miss work. Rent, groceries, school expenses and other household expenditures still have to be met even though you are ill. When you file a compensation claim, your Uber accident lawyer will help you recover your losses, albeit in monetary form.

When you file a claim after an Uber accident, your Uber accident lawyer will have to prove the damage the accident caused. This will include proof of your medical bills, the healthcare provider’s medical evaluation, the police report, witness testimonies, the treatment protocol recommended by your healthcare provider, the hospitalization costs (if any), the time that you missed at work and the pain and suffering you had to bear during this difficult time. It is important for your Lyft accident lawyer to gather all this information because, without this, insurance companies can make it difficult for you to recover anything. Talk to your Uber accident lawyer in this regard.

As most rideshare accident lawyers will tell you, insurance companies are not your friend. They are always going to put their interests first. Their goal will always be to minimize the amount they pay to you. Their first goal, obviously, would be to not pay up at all. But if they can’t get away with that, they will try to pay as little as possible. They might even make you a low-ball offer as they will know that you are in a vulnerable position and you need financial assistance. Don’t be fooled by these tactics. Never accept any offers from the insurance company without talking to your Uber accident lawyer first. In fact, it is best that you let your Uber accident lawyer do all the talking on your behalf with the insurance companies.

Your priority should be your health and your recovery. You don’t need to get involved in the negotiation process with insurance companies as it can be long and tedious.

So, if you were involved in an Uber/Lyft/rideshare accident in Athens, contact a lawyer for a FREE CONSULTATION today. An experienced lawyer will know the best strategy to adopt and the steps needed to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.