Legal Options For Rideshare Crash Victims

If you’ve recently been injured in a rideshare accident, it’s important to understand that you’re likely entitled to compensation. As you were neither driving at the time of the crash nor likely contributed to the cause(s) of the crash in any meaningful way, there is likely to be little doubt that you’re a true victim of the situation you’ve suffered. Yet, establishing your status as a victim entitled to compensation is only part of the battle.

One of the reasons why you’ll want to speak with an attorney who has significant experience handling rideshare accident cases is that these matters tend to be far more complex – both legally and financially – than many other “standard” accident types are traditionally. There are often multiple insurance policies at issue and there are, therefore, often many insurance companies invested in the outcome of any given claims situation. If there are also multiple parties at fault for the harm caused by the wreck, any personal injury lawsuit you may file could be particularly complex as well.

Seeking legal guidance proactively and promptly will place you in the strongest possible position to receive the maximum amount of compensation you’re owed. Without this assistance, you’ll likely find yourself wound up in red tape and on the hook for many costs that should be shouldered by others.

Personal Injury Damages

As an experienced Uber accident lawyer – including those who practice at The Law Offices of Barry P. Goldberg – can confirm, rideshare passengers are entitled to seek personal injury damage awards in the same ways that passengers involved in non-rideshare accidents are. But, you may have greater challenges securing compensation than usual depending on how a rideshare company’s user agreement is phrased.

While some states have rejected mandatory arbitration language in user agreements, others have not. Therefore, you may have an easier time filing a lawsuit in some locations than you would in others. Either way, you’ll want to speak with an attorney about the potential of pursuing significant personal injury damages in the wake of an injurious crash.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits

If you were engaged in work-related activities at the time of your rideshare crash – perhaps you were running an errand for your boss’s boss or you were traveling to a work-mandated training at an offsite location – you may be entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits due to your accident. Speak with a lawyer immediately if this is the case, as the workers’ compensation benefits process is even more time-sensitive than the personal injury lawsuit process is.

Complex Insurance Challenges

Because there are likely to be numerous insurance companies invested in the outcome of your situation, you’ll want to speak with a lawyer about representing your interests in communications with each of them. If you don’t have legal representation, it will be all too easy for each company to insist that the others are liable for a payout and that they, therefore, don’t owe you anything whatsoever. Having a lawyer set the situation straight increases the likelihood that you’ll receive fair settlements.