Atlanta Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer

Major rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft have transformed the transportation industry. Fortunately, most Uber and Lyft rides proceed without incident and passengers arrive at their chosen destination as planned; however, accidents do occur, and some studies suggest that Uber and Lyft drivers may be at higher risk of accidents due to fatigue and distraction.

All car accidents are frightening, especially when they involve injuries, but the distress of an Uber or Lyft accident continues long after the accident date when victims encounter the complex insurance system covering rideshare vehicles. Call the Uber & Lyft accident attorneys in Atlanta with years of experience navigating challenging rideshare claims today so we can take swift action on your behalf.

Why Choose Piasta Walker Hagenbush, LLC For Your Accident Lawsuit

When you need an Atlanta car accident attorney dedicated to obtaining the best outcomes for injury victims, the team of client advocates at Piasta Walker Hagenbush, LLC is ready to offer you the following advantages:

• A results-oriented approach that prepares every case as though for trial so we negotiate toward a settlement from a position of strength
• Renowned lead attorneys, Edward Piasta and Michael Walker have histories of prestigious training and successful careers at preeminent law firms
• A full team of legal advocates dedicated to the sole purpose of achieving the largest amount of compensation available in your case
• Years of experience navigating the unique components of rideshare accident claims

We formed Piasta Walker Hagenbush, LLC with the goals of using open, honest communication, dedicated hard work, and individualized strategies to maximize the outcome for every client’s unique case.

What to Do After an Uber or Lyft Accident In Atlanta?

After a serious car accident, you could be incapacitated by your injuries and unable to take purposeful action; however, if you or an uninjured companion can use a cell phone, you can take crucial steps to protect yourself physically and financially by doing the following:

• First, call 911 to report the accident and request emergency services
• Use the emergency feature on your Uber or Lyft app to report the accident to the rideshare company
• Take photos of the accident scene, including the damaged vehicles and anything relevant to the crash
• Add the driver’s contact information and photograph their rideshare credentials displayed in the vehicle
• Add the contact information of any eyewitnesses to the accident
• Record what you remember about the accident while it’s fresh in your mind

Always go directly to the hospital from the accident scene for critical care. This also provides evidence that your injuries occurred in the accident. Then, undergo a complete medical evaluation and obtain a copy of your medical report. Contact an Atlanta Uber & Lyft accident lawyer and refer all interactions with the rideshare driver’s insurance company to your lawyer. Be sure to carefully follow your doctor’s orders.

What Damages Can Be Recovered in an Uber or Lyft Accident in Atlanta, GA?

Whether you were injured as a passenger in a rideshare vehicle, in a collision with an Uber or Lyft car, or suffered pedestrian injuries due to a negligent rideshare driver, injuries quickly become costly as well as painful. Common damages in rideshare accident claims include:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Future income loss/Diminished future earning capacity
• Compensation for pain and suffering
• Other non-economic damages that apply in unique situations such as compensation for disfigurement, loss of limb, loss of one of the senses, or diminished quality of life

Rideshare accident victims deserve compensation for their damages, but navigating Uber and Lyft accident claims requires a specialized understanding of complex rideshare insurance.

How Do Insurance Claims Work In Rideshare Accident Cases?

Settling an accident claim after an Uber or Lyft accident isn’t as straightforward as it might seem. Rideshare companies protect themselves from liability by maintaining the status of app-sales-only companies providing apps for connecting independent contractors with passengers. However, they do require drivers to carry special rideshare insurance coverage. This coverage works on a tiered structure in which compensation depends on the stage of the rideshare experience when the accident occurred.
When an Uber or Lyft driver uses their car for private purposes, their standard auto insurance coverage is in effect. Otherwise, the following policies cover accident victims:

• When the rideshare driver turns on the app and awaits a passenger booking, the bottom-tiered coverage comes into effect with $25,000 in property damage available, $50,000 per person for injury coverage, or up to $100,000 in coverage per accident
• Once a passenger has requested a ride, during the drive to the pick-up point, and throughout the ride with the passenger, the top-tier coverage is in effect, providing up to $1 million in coverage per accident

Not only does this insurance coverage require evidence of liability and the stage of the rideshare during the accident, but insurance companies commonly dispute which policy was in place when the accident occurred, requiring a personal injury attorney in Atlanta to defend an injury victim’s rights.

What are the Common Causes of Uber & Lyft Accidents In Atlanta?

Atlanta residents and visitors to the city lead active, productive lives. Uber and Lyft vehicles are comfortable, convenient, and private. Unfortunately, a major university study reports an overall increase in car accident fatalities by 3% since the rise of the rideshare industry.

The most commonly reported causes of Uber & Lyft accidents include the following:

• Speeding to accomplish the maximum number of trips per shift
• Aggressive driving
• Failing to yield the right of way at an intersection
• Distracted driving due to using the rideshare app to navigate and line up the next passenger booking
• Unsafe lane changes
• Illegal passing
• Improper merging
• Tailgating
• Inexperienced driving
• Impaired driving under the influence
• Fatigued driving due to using a rideshare job for secondary income after a full-time job or between college classes

Whether you suffered injuries as a passenger in an Atlanta Uber or Lyft accident or in another vehicle in a collision caused by a rideshare driver, you have the right to seek the full value of your economic damages plus compensation for your pain and suffering. Pedestrians injured by Uber or Lyft vehicles may also file claims against the complex rideshare insurance to recover compensation for their injury-related damages.

What Types of Injuries Happen In Atlanta, GA Uber & Lyft Accidents?

The crash force of an accident can cause serious trauma to the body’s structural support system of muscles, tendons, vertebrae, and bones. At the same time, the vehicle’s structure may cause blunt force trauma as it collapses inward at collision points. Common injuries reported by Uber and Lyft accident victims include the following:

• Whiplash and other neck injuries
• Back injuries
• Soft-tissue injuries, such as sprains, torn ligaments, strains, and tendon injuries
• Contusions, abrasions, puncture wounds, and lacerations
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Internal organ injuries and internal bleeding
• Spinal cord injuries
• Facial and dental trauma
• Burns
• Traumatic amputations
• Thoracic and chest injuries

Injuries cause damages to quickly pile up after a rideshare accident. These damages range from an emergency room bill for minor injuries to lifelong disability from a catastrophic injury. In the worst cases, a family may suffer wrongful death damages after the loss of a loved one. Pedestrians in Uber and Lyft accidents may suffer crush injuries and multiple fractures. A successful claim recovers compensation for these losses and a sense of justice for the injury victim and their loved ones.

Call the Uber & Lyft Accident Attorneys at Piasta Walker Hagenbush, LLC 

You shouldn’t have to take on a complicated legal matter while also trying to recover from the shock and pain of an accident. Let the experienced Atlanta rideshare accident lawyers at Piasta Walker Hagenbush, LLC focus on your financial recovery while you work on maximizing your physical recovery. Call (404) 996-1296 today to get started with your claim.