Injured in a Rideshare Accident? Call (703) 931-5500.
Rideshare companies, such as Uber and Lyft, have become household names, and with more and more drivers signing up to service a growing user base, accidents are inevitable. But when a rideshare accident happens, it can be difficult and downright confusing to determine who is liable for your injuries.
At Ashcraft & Gerel, our legal team is here to help you identify the liable party and ensure that they answer for the harm they have caused you. For nearly seven decades, we have assisted Fairfax residents in seeking justice after being injured in traffic collisions; in recent years, we have adapted these skills to do the same for injured rideshare accident victims.
Don’t let big tech companies and their insurers stop you from recovering your full compensation.
CALL 866-709-0505 OR CONTACT US ONLINE FOR A FREE, CONFIDENTIAL CONSULTATION.
Who Is Liable in a Rideshare Accident in Fairfax?
There are several different parties who could be liable in a rideshare accident, as it always comes down to the question of who was acting negligently and, therefore, who caused the car accident.
For instance, any driver may be considered liable after committing negligence in the form of:
- Speeding
- Driving under the influence
- Engaging in road rage
- Driving while distracted
- Driving while fatigued
- Ignoring traffic laws
Rideshare drivers are often found guilty of driving while distracted, as they struggle to pay attention to the road, their navigation app, and the rideshare app itself. The fact that their work tends to take them to areas with which they are unfamiliar only exacerbates the problem. Not to mention, many rideshare drivers work long hours or work for the app as a side hustle, which means they are more likely to be fatigued than the average driver.
It is rare for a rideshare passenger to be considered at fault for a collision. However, they may be considered negligent if they strike, punch, or otherwise injure the driver or distract the driver and an accident results.
Similarly, pedestrians and bicyclists are not at fault for the majority of accidents, but the law might deem them negligent if they failed to follow traffic laws, bicycle laws, or pedestrian laws.
Since anyone can act negligently, and the injured party is not limited to only rideshare passengers, there could be more than one party at fault for the accident. As long as these injured parties did not have any role in causing the crash, they likely qualify to seek compensation through a lawsuit.
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Reporting a Rideshare Accident
Regardless of your status (driver, passenger, or other motorist) at the time of the accident, you should notify the rideshare company of the crash. Uber and Lyft both have help pages on their apps and desktop websites to do so. One thing neither of these rideshare companies have is a timeline of how long they will take to get back to you, let alone resolve your accident report.
To make sure that your accident report does not go ignored, retain the help of an attorney. We can help you move your case forward and take the liable party, even if that party is a multi-billion-dollar rideshare company, to court to fight for your full compensation.
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Rideshare Insurance Laws in Virginia
Drivers are not required by law to have insurance in Fairfax or anywhere else in the state, but the requirements are different for rideshare drivers.
Take, for example, the two largest rideshare companies: Uber and Lyft.
Both these companies require every single driver to have their own insurance policy in addition to the company $1 million insurance policy. It is important to note that these company insurance policies only cover accidents that occurred while the driver had the app turned on and was actively searching for a passenger or in the middle of transporting one.
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Time Limits on Virginia Rideshare Accident Lawsuits
The state only grants a window of two years from the date of the rideshare accident to file a lawsuit. There are some exceptions to this deadline, but there are also cases in which multiple deadlines apply, such as if a government entity is involved.
To protect your eligibility status, reach out to a lawyer as soon as possible. We will be able to determine which deadlines apply to your case and, when contacted in time, can make sure that all deadlines are met.
Work with a Qualified Uber & Lyft Accident Attorney
Backed by more than 65 years of legal experience, our rideshare accident lawyers are fully equipped to take on your case. In a free consultation, we can discuss your legal options and help you make informed decisions regarding how to move forward. We understand how frustrating it is when negligent parties deny any fault and attempt to minimize the harm they have caused. Our legal team truly cares about obtaining you the financial support you need to recover from your injuries and move on.
