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Rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft make life in the city just a little easier. While the convenience of not dealing with traffic is a luxury, it doesn’t make you immune to a car accident. When that happens, who’s responsible?
If you’ve found yourself in a rideshare accident near Albuquerque, Shapiro Law Team has the insight. We’ll teach you everything you need to know about liability across New Mexico as well as what you can do after an accident to protect yourself.
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Figuring out rideshare accident liability can get murky. Depending on the circumstances, liability could fall on the driver, the passenger, the rideshare company, another driver, or other outside parties.
Overall, if the rideshare driver causes an accident while working for the company, the company’s insurance will cover the damages. If the driver was not logged into the app and driving for the company, then their personal insurance will cover the damages.
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You trust your safety with a rideshare company every time you get into one of their cars. When that trust is broken, the right parties must be held responsible. Determining liability for a rideshare accident varies depending on the circumstances surrounding the incident. Liable parties could include the rideshare driver, another driver, other third parties, the rideshare company, and even other passengers.
An accident involving Uber, Lyft, or another rideshare service can lead to serious and even long-term injuries. They can impact your quality of life and result in chronic pain and suffering. Common rideshare accident injuries include the following:
Hitting your head during a rideshare accident can lead to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) such as concussions and brain bleeds.
Sudden and jarring movements of the head and neck during a car accident can lead to whiplash, a condition that causes pain and stiffness.
Severe injuries to the arms or legs can lead to an amputation of the limb, which can drastically change your long-term quality of life.
Damage to the spinal cord from a rideshare accident can result in long-term paralysis and partial loss of movement to various parts of the body.
Severe damage can cause partial or total paralysis of one or multiple parts of the body, leading to long-term medical care and expenses.
Some car accidents result in vehicular fires or explosions, which can cause significant burns across the body. These burns can range from 1st-degree minor injuries to 4th-degree severe injuries that result in permanent disfigurement or even death.
A forceful collision in a rideshare car can cause fractures and broken bones. The most common bones to break in these accidents include the arms, legs, ribs, and facial bones such as the cheeks.
Shattered glass and bent metal from a car accident can seriously cut you, some to the point you’ll need stitches. Lacerations deep enough can damage ligaments and tendons, leading to a limited range of motion or permanent immobility.
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If you’ve found yourself in a car accident while using a rideshare service, take a moment to steady yourself. This is a scary situation to be in, but with the proper steps, you can keep yourself and others safe after the incident.
First and foremost, contact the local authorities. No matter the severity of the accident, the police need to know about the accident and make a report. This also allows you to call for emergency medical services if needed.
Once you know everyone is safe and no one is seriously injured, start collecting evidence of the scene of the accident. This includes photos of the cars involved, nearby street signs/lights, any tire tracks on the road, and any other clues from the surrounding area.
In addition to photos of the accident scene, you also need to take photos of all your injuries. No matter how minor they are, getting photographic evidence of them can help you prove that the accident caused these injuries.
Whichever rideshare service you use, get in touch with their customer support line and report the accident. The company will create its own formal report of the accident, which can be used when building out your rideshare accident lawsuit.
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Determining liability for a rideshare accident in Albuquerque can be tricky. The fault can fall on a variety of parties depending on the circumstances surrounding the accident. The following parties can potentially be found liable for a rideshare accident:
If the driver is found at fault for the accident, then they’re liable for the damages. This can include if they were driving negligently or recklessly, and their insurance plan will cover the damages.
There are limited circumstances in which the rideshare company can be found liable for the accident. This is relatively uncommon, and it can be tricky to prove. If the company didn’t properly screen drivers before contracting them, this could be grounds for liability.
If a third-party driver causes the accident, they could be found liable for the accident. In this case, their insurance would cover the damages.
In instances where a defective vehicle causes an accident, the manufacturer may be held liable for the damages. You would need to prove that the car malfunctioned and caused the crash.
Poor road conditions such as potholes, poorly maintained roads, and improper traffic signs can lead to serious accidents. In these cases, the government entity responsible for maintaining the roads in the area may be held liable under certain circumstances.
Rideshare insurance coverage depends on the status of the driver at the time of the accident. If the Uber or Lyft driver was not clocked into the app at the time of the accident, their personal insurance policy would cover the damages.
If the driver was logged into the app and waiting for a ride request, the rideshare company would cover the damages up to a certain amount based on the damages. For accidents where the driver is on the way to pick up a passenger or transporting a passenger, the rideshare company would provide up to $1 million in liability coverage.
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A rideshare accident lawsuit can be tough to navigate on your own because of the complexity of figuring out liability. You want an Uber accident attorney who knows the legal system inside and out and who will fight for the justice you deserve.
Shapiro Law Team will fight for the maximum compensation with integrity and respect. We’ll take any rideshare accident, personal injury, medical malpractice, or wrongful death case in the Albuquerque area, and you don’t pay us a nickel unless we win. Schedule a free consultation with our team of attorneys to see what options are available for your case.
Client Review: “David was referred to us after our Albuquerque rideshare accident, and the minute I stepped into his office I felt welcomed.” -Jennifer
