Who Could Be Held Liable in An Uber Accident?

Determining Fault in Uber and Lyft Accidents

If you have recently been involved in an accident where an Uber driver was behind the wheel, it may be imperative to hire a Salt Lake City Uber lawyer as soon as possible to protect yourself. You may not realize that you have certain rights as an injured accident victim, but failing to take action quickly could mean that you are never able to pursue a successful claim.

Uber and Lyft have become more popular as a mode of public transportation, but the presence of these companies for Salt Lake City residents means that there are critical legal questions to be answered if a rider is injured in an accident. Depending on the facts of the accident, one insurance company could be responsible for the claim, or there may be multiple parties responsible for an accident. Since it can be difficult to remember everything about the accident long after it happens, a Salt Lake City Uber lawyer should be one of your first calls after an accident happens. Relaying the details while it’s still fresh in your mind is vital.

Companies like Uber and Lyft do not hire drivers directly as employees; rather, these individual rideshare drivers are independent contractors using their personal vehicles. Factors such as whether or not they were in drive mode or have a paying passenger inside the car determine who is financially responsible and which insurance policy may kick in to pay for benefits. An experienced Salt Lake City Uber lawyer may assist you in determining all of the potential liable parties in your accident. Any of the following people may be determined to be partially responsible after your Salt Lake City Uber lawyer completes an investigation of the accident. These parties include:

• Uber
• The Uber driver
• Drivers of other vehicles
• The Uber driver’s passenger

As your Salt Lake City Uber lawyer investigates the case, the evaluation will help to determine who should be named in your lawsuit. Some of the steps frequently involved in this process include gathering witness testimony, accident reports, evidence from a crash scene, cellphone logs, photographs, video and witness testimony. This can help to determine who should be held responsible.

While Uber drivers are also required to carry an individual insurance policy, these policies frequently have provisions prohibiting driving for hire, making this a complicated legal issue handled by your Uber lawyer in Salt Lake City UT. Uber’s insurance policy only kicks in to pay benefits when certain criteria are present. If the rideshare driver is en route to pick up a rider or has a fare, the commercial insurance policy for Uber is in effect. After the passenger steps out of the vehicle and has paid the fare, Uber’s commercial insurance policy is no longer in effect unless the rider uses an Uber immediately to acquire a new fare. Determining whose insurance will kick in in this situation may require a comprehensive investigation.

For more information, or to speak with a Salt Lake City Uber lawyer about your own accident claim, contact Rasmussen & Miner today.