Rideshare services offer convenience, but they also present new risks and legal complexities for passengers and drivers, especially when accidents occur. If you or a loved one recently suffered injuries after hiring a transportation service, a Sacramento rideshare accident lawyer from Omega Law Group can represent you and seek compensation for your damages. These include your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering
You don’t have to take on popular rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft on your own. Our Sacramento car accident lawyers will do it for you while you focus on your recovery. Call us today for a free consultation to explore your legal options and next steps.
Our Rideshare Crash Lawyers in Sacramento Will Demand Full Compensation for Your Losses
Auto accidents are often stressful, but when they involve rideshare vehicles, other issues come into play that make them even more challenging to deal with. When we review your situation, we also must consider:
- The driver’s status when the accident occurred.
- If the rideshare company will cover your losses.
- Which insurance policy will cover your damages.
- If third parties owe you compensation, such as another driver, pedestrian, or other road user.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Sacramento personal injury lawyer.
How Rideshare Accident Liability Affects Your Injury Case
Determining who is responsible for compensating injured passengers’ losses is one of the unique challenges of rideshare accidents. This is not always clear to drivers or passengers, so some people turn to our Sacramento personal injury lawyers to sort out this matter.
Generally, rideshare services like Uber and Lyft require drivers to carry personal auto insurance. This is because drivers are not full-time employees of these companies; they are independent contractors.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) regulates rideshare companies, which are called transportation network companies (TNCs). Per California Public Utilities Code (PUC) § 5432, TNCs must tell their drivers when they will cover an accident and when their drivers’ auto insurance policies must cover an accident.
When the Driver Is Not Signed in to the Application (App)
When the rideshare app is inactive, drivers are covered under their personal auto insurance. Per the law, they must have minimum liability coverage. In California, that means 15/30/5 or:
- $15,000 for individual bodily injury
- $30,000 per accident for bodily injuries
- $5,000 for property damage per accident
If the driver is not signed in or active on the app, their insurance coverage is the only coverage in effect.
When the Driver Is Signed in to the App But Waiting for a Ride Request
If the app is active but the driver has not yet accepted a ride request (referred to as Period 1), both Uber and Lyft provide supplemental liability insurance. This coverage includes up to $50,000 for bodily injury per person, $100,000 per accident for bodily injuries, and $25,000 for property damage.
When the Driver Accepts a Ride Request and Picks Up a Passenger
Once a ride request is accepted and throughout the trip duration (Periods 2 and 3), the insurance coverage increases. During these periods, rideshare companies, such as Uber and Lyft, offer up to $1 million in liability coverage to cover injuries or damages that occur in an accident.
Leave It to Us to Determine Who Owes You Compensation
Some rideshare companies require drivers to be on their way to pick up passengers or transport riders to a destination before this coverage applies. Because coverage gaps occur between the periods throughout a driver’s shift, it can be difficult to determine who owes who damages when a collision happens.
If a third party is responsible for the accident or has a role in the crash, Omega Law Group’s rideshare collision lawyers in Sacramento can seek compensation from that person or entity, such as a municipality. We will use our decades of combined legal experience to recover your rightful financial awards from all liable parties.
We Can Represent You and Work on Your Case at No Upfront Cost
As our case results show, we have recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements. We also can work on your car accident case at no upfront cost to you. You don’t pay us unless we win your case.
You can contact our team directly 24/7. We will answer your questions and keep you up to date on your case. We are ready to work for you. Call or contact us online today for a free initial consultation.
Recoverable Damages in Sacramento Rideshare Accident Cases
Car accidents are expensive and can take months or even years to recover from. Our Sacramento rideshare accident attorneys will review your losses and determine which ones you can demand from the liable party. These can include:
- Medical bills (past, present, and ongoing): This includes all costs for medical treatment you’ve received because of the injury and estimated future medical expenses.
- Lost income: You can claim compensation for the money you didn’t earn while you were unable to work due to your injuries.
- Pain and suffering: This covers the physical and emotional distress you feel while treating your injury. It also can include mental anguish, loss of companionship, loss of consortium, disability, scarring, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Property damage: This refers to the cost of repairing or replacing your belongings that were damaged as a result of the incident.
Fatal Rideshare Car Accidents in Sacramento, CA
If your loved one suffered fatal injuries in a rideshare collision, we offer our condolences. While you take care of your family member’s arrangements, our Sacramento wrongful death lawyer can lead your case against the liable party and hold them responsible for recoverable damages.
Parties in wrongful death cases can seek to recover the following:
- Medical expenses: Costs incurred for the medical care of the deceased before death.
- Funeral and burial costs: Expenses related to the funeral and burial of the deceased.
- Loss of income: Compensation for the earnings the deceased would have provided if they had lived.
- Loss of support and services: Compensation for the support and services the deceased would have provided, such as childcare, home maintenance, and more.
- Loss of consortium: Compensation awarded to family members for the loss of their loved one’s companionship and emotional support.
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for any pain and suffering the deceased may have experienced before death.
Only certain family members can recover these damages. We can explain how wrongful death cases work under California law during a free consultation.
We Will Lead Your Rideshare Case and Go to Trial If Necessary
We know how insurance companies can work against injured claimants who deserve to recover compensation for an accident they did not cause. Omega Law Group is not afraid to take on rideshare giants like Uber and Lyft, and we will take your case to trial if we need to.
If we represent you, you will have a legal team that understands the unique nature of these accidents. We will investigate the collision, collect evidence to prove negligence and liability and lead negotiation talks for a favorable settlement.
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Act Now: You Have a Short Time to Pursue an Injury Case
California limits how long injured rideshare parties have to sue for compensation. As outlined in CCP § 335.1, you generally have two years to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. The sooner our attorneys hear from you, the sooner we can review your situation and advise you on your case’s timeline.
We will file your case on time. If you miss the deadline, the court will permanently bar you from seeking damages.
Call for a Free Consultation After a Sacramento Rideshare Crash
The legal team at the Omega Law Group cares about our clients and fights hard for them to hold the liable party accountable for their losses. We want to do the same for you.
If you’ve been in a rideshare accident, don’t navigate the complex legal landscape alone. Call or contact us online today to learn how our Sacramento rideshare accident lawyer can help during a free consultation.
