Ponca City is by no means a large city, with roughly 25,000 residents. However, despite its small size, rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft have established a presence here. Now, Ponca City residents can find affordable and convenient public transportation just as easily as they could if they lived in a bigger city such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, or New York.
While rideshare services certainly make life easier for residents, they do create several new issues, many of which arise when an accident occurs. A Ponca City car accident lawyer is familiar with these challenges and can help you navigate them should you or a loved one sustain injuries in a ridesharing accident.
Uber and Lyft Are Thought to Be the Cause of the Sharp Incline in Traffic Deaths
According to one study conducted by researchers at the University of Chicago and Rice University, the rise of ridesharing services has increased the number of U.S. traffic deaths by as much as 2 to 3% since 2011. Though the percentage may seem small to you, two to three percent accounts for 1,100 mortalities each year. Though the methodology behind the study is complex, the study notes that traffic deaths fell to their lowest number just before Uber launched in San Francisco in 2010.
In 2010, there were just 32,885 traffic fatalities, the lowest number in over 60 years. However, after 2010, the decline halted and then reversed. San Francisco’s traffic fatality rates were the first to shoot up, a phenomenon that was replicated in other cities after the introduction of Uber.
Researchers attribute the increased number of traffic fatalities to increased congestion. Before Uber and other ridesharing services, individuals who did not own vehicles of their own or who preferred public transportation relied on buses, railways, and other forms of multi-person transportation. However, since the introduction of rideshare services, many of which come with fees far lower than standard taxi fees, the number of people using traditional modes of public transportation has decreased by 3% nationwide.
To put that in perspective, the number of bus trips decreased by almost one billion since the introduction of rideshare services. Talk to a personal injury attorney today.
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SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY TODAYLiability in Uber/Lyft Accidents
The problem with rideshare services is that the drivers are not technically employees of the companies for which they work. They are essentially contractors. Because of this fact, Uber and Lyft both fought NOT to have to cover drivers under their insurance policies.
However, because of the increasing number of accidents involving rideshare drivers, major companies were forced to compromise. Now, they must cover drivers with their corporate policies from the moment a driver picks up a passenger until the moment they drop that passenger off. If an accident occurs during a paid ride, the company should be liable for damages.
However, when an Uber driver is off the clock, so to speak, their own insurance policy should kick in. Per rideshare companies’ policies, drivers are required to carry minimum coverage amounts, which may or may not differ from state minimums. Talk to an Uber/Lyft ridesharing accident lawyer in Ponca City, OK, today.
Common Causes of Uber and Lyft Rideshare Accidents
It can help to better explore why accidents happen while in an Uber or Lyft to get an idea of when you may need to file a claim for compensation after an accident. Our Uber/Lyft ridesharing accident attorney in Ponca City, OK, has represented clients in the following cases:
You Were Not in the Car Yet
If you were hit by an Uber driver while getting into the car, and your ride was not yet logged into the Uber or Lyft app, then the driver’s insurance may cover your losses. Here are some examples of when this may occur:
- The driver pulls up to the curb and strikes you
- The driver’s foot comes off the brake as you are getting in, and you fall
You Were in the Car When the Accident Happened
Let’s say you are in the vehicle when an accident occurs that the driver is responsible for. When this happens, the rideshare company’s liability insurance will become available to you for compensation, meaning you can claim against that policy. Here are some examples of when this may happen:
- As you are logged into your trip, the driver speeds up and causes an accident with another car.
- The rideshare driver goes the wrong way on the street, leading to a head-on collision.
- You are in the car on your trip, but the driver never logged the accident into the app.
To be covered under the rideshare company’s liability policy, your ride has to be logged into the company’s app. If, for any reason, it is not, and the driver is responsible for injuries you sustain, the driver’s insurance covers your losses. This may happen if:
- You did not book your ride through the app, and the driver does not want to clock it.
- The driver simply forgot to turn the app on.
- You are on a rideshare trip, and another car strikes yours, causing the accident.
It’s not always the rideshare driver that is responsible. In this situation, you will need to seek compensation from the responsible party, which could be the other driver. Some examples may include:
- The other driver fails to yield the right of way.
- The other driver is distracted and collides with the vehicle you are in.
Why Does It Matter Which Insurance Is Applicable?
Most of the time, the insurance policy of the responsible party is required to pay for your losses. If you are only able to claim against the driver’s policy and not that of the rideshare company, you can likely expect there to be limitations on how much you could receive (the driver’s policy is likely much lower than that of the rideshare company’s policy).
Let your attorney navigate this process for you. The good news is that if you hire a rideshare accident attorney in Ponca City, we will handle the investigation to determine fault and find available coverage for your needs. That way, you can focus on your recovery, and we will work with you to get you back on track with financial costs and compensation relief.
Why You Should Hire a Ponca City Uber/Lyft Rideshare Accident Lawyer
Because there are so many different insurance policies involved in a ridesharing accident, you may have a hard time determining with which company you should file your claim. Moreover, you may file a claim with the right party but be convinced that said party is not actually responsible. Unfortunately, this sort of game is all too common with insurance companies.
You can avoid being toyed with by hiring a knowledgeable Ponca City Uber/Lyft ridesharing accident attorney from the start. With a lawyer on your side, insurance companies are less likely to toy with you and more likely to handle your case with the care and attention it deserves. To ensure the best possible outcome to your claim, contact BDIW Law now for a free consultation.
