Seattle Rideshare Accident Lawyer
Have You Been in A RideShare Accident in Seattle?
Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft have grown incredibly popular throughout the United States, offering an affordable and accessible alternative to taxi cabs and public transportation. However, car accidents involving rideshare drivers can become complex legal affairs when liability is not immediately apparent. If you or a relative suffered injuries in a rideshare accident recently in the Seattle area, Washington Injury Law would like to hear from you. Contact us today to schedule a case evaluation and our Seattle rideshare accident attorneys will let you know how our firm can help.
Why Hire Washington Injury Law?
The Seattle injury attorney you hire to represent your rideshare accident claim should inspire confidence and offer you a clear idea of what to expect from your lawsuit.
- Washington Injury Law has extensive experience handling all types of personal injury claims.
- Attorney Janelle Bailey has a scientific background, which gives her a distinct advantage over other attorneys in many injury claims.
- Our firm will explore every available channel of compensation in your claim to maximize your recovery.
- We take all cases with a contingency fee agreement to ensure those who need legal representation the most can secure it regardless of ability to pay.
Your Seattle personal injury attorney will handle all aspects of your lawsuit so you can focus on recovering.
How Will a Seattle Rideshare Accident Lawyer Help?
Rideshare accidents can come with a fair share of complications, due to the number of parties involved, and many questions surrounding liability and insurance. Liability may be clear at first in your case, only for you to discover that Uber or Lyft insurance does not apply to your car accident. Your rideshare accident attorney in Seattle can handle the legal aspects of your case and help you secure the evidence necessary to succeed with your claim. Your Seattle rideshare accident lawyer can also arrange expert witnesses to testify on your behalf, if necessary.
What Evidence is Crucial for a Successful Rideshare Accident Case in Seattle?
The types of evidence required for a successful rideshare accident claim in Seattle are very similar to the types of evidence needed for most vehicle accident claims, but there are a few major differences.
The usual vehicle accident evidence is immensely valuable and includes:
- Photograph taken at the scene of the incident
- Surveillance footage from nearby cameras or dashcams
- Statements from eyewitnesses
- The police report
- Physical evidence, including damaged vehicles
- Injury reports
However, accidents involving rideshare vehicles throw an extra element into the process. Rideshare drivers, though they are independent contractors, are still working based on the direction of rideshare companies. This means that additional types of evidence will be important and should be gathered as quickly as possible. This includes:
- Vehicle black box data
- The rideshare driver’s mobile device data
- Data from the company related to the driver’s history
- Independent contractor application to the rideshare company
- The rideshare driver’s driving record (from the state)
How Can a Seattle Rideshare Accident Lawyer Determine Liability?
Determining liability for a vehicle accident is challenging, particularly when there are multiple parties involved. This is especially true for rideshare accidents because we introduce an entirely different type of scenario – a major company trying to avoid liability.
The reality is that rideshare companies have shielded themselves from liability fairly well by classifying drivers as independent contractors. This does prevent the larger companies from facing direct lawsuits from injury victims in most scenarios.
When an attorney gets involved in a case, they will work to determine liability, just like any other vehicle accident. An attorney will be able to use the full power of their resources to conduct an investigation, ensure all important evidence gets gathered, and even work with trusted accident reconstruction experts.
In some scenarios, there will be a shared fault. If more than one party was responsible for causing the rideshare accident, an attorney will also have to delve into each party’s share of liability in order to figure out where compensation should come from.
Difficulties With Rideshare Accidents
Uber and Lyft are both legally required to provide basic liability coverage for their drivers, in the event that they are involved in an accident. However, the coverage terms with these policies include various disclaimers and exclusivity clauses that may interfere with your recovery. Injuries that can happen during a rideshare accident include spinal injuries, brain injuries and more.
Uber and Lyft both offer up to one million dollars in accident coverage, but this only applies to accidents that occur with a fare in progress. If the rideshare driver has accepted a fare and is on the way to pick up the passenger, a modified version of this coverage will apply, but not to the full extent of the policy. If the rideshare driver is off duty when he or she causes an accident, then his or her personal auto insurance will apply, and the resulting case will follow the same framework as a typical motor vehicle accident.
Damages and Compensation
If a rideshare company’s insurance coverage applies in your accident, both Uber and Lyft offer up to one million in coverage for an accident. Your damages may fall within the scope of this coverage, and your case will basically end once you secure an insurance settlement. However, if Uber or Lyft fights your claim or states that a different amount of coverage applies, it may not be enough to cover all your damages.
An injured driver or rideshare passenger will need to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver to recover the remainder if only limited insurance coverage applies. Plaintiffs who succeed with their claims can potentially secure compensation for lost income, pain and suffering, property damage, and medical expenses. A jury may also award punitive damages to punish gross negligence or criminal activity on the part of the defendant.
How Long Do I Have to File a Rideshare Accident Claim in Seattle?
Individuals who sustain injuries as a result of a rideshare accident should file a claim against other negligent parties as promptly as possible. In Washington, the personal injury statute of limitations is three years from the date the injury occurred. While this may seem like a significant amount of time, you absolutely should not wait very long to file your claim, especially three years from the day the incident happens.
First, failing to file a lawsuit within the specified time frame will result in the case getting dismissed, leaving rideshare injury victims unable to recover any compensation for their losses. Additionally, waiting to file a claim for any length of time significantly jeopardizes the likelihood of success. The sooner you file your claim, the better. Work with your rideshare accident lawyer in Seattle to ensure you meet the deadlines related to your accident.
Contact Our Seattle Rideshare Accident Attorney Today
Contact Washington Injury Law today if you or a loved one recently suffered injuries in a rideshare accident in Seattle. Schedule a case review with one of our Seattle rideshare accident attorneys and learn more about your options for legal recourse and what type of compensation you could receive from a successful claim.