Car accidents happen to all kinds of drivers. Uber and Lyft drivers are no exception. When rideshare drivers are involved in accidents, it is often due to negligence on the part of the driver. Sometimes another driver causes an accident that involves the rideshare vehicle. In some cases, more than one driver is to blame. It is also not uncommon for there to be a third party at fault.
Whenever there is a car accident, it may not be easy to identify who caused it. The behavior or circumstances that caused the accident may not be immediately clear. Often an investigation is necessary to determine exactly what happened.
However, there are a number of driving practices that are often cited as the cause, or at least a factor. Some rideshare drivers are prone to certain dangerous driving habits. Some of these are listed below:
- Speeding. More than a quarter of all car accidents are the result of speeding. Rideshare drivers are subject to the same speed limits as every other driver. It should be clear to every driver that driving too fast is dangerous. Making good time to transport a rideshare customer is no excuse.
- Tailgating. Whenever one driver gets too close to the driver ahead of them, the risk of a car accident increases. Uber and Lyft drivers, like all drivers, should leave enough room between their vehicle and others to allow plenty of time to avoid an accident if the car in front suddenly has to decrease speed or stop.
- Drowsy driving. Drowsy driving inhibits reaction time and overall driving performance. Individuals who supplement their income by working as a rideshare driver may be tempted to fit in taking passengers around another job, work shifts that are too long, or put in too many hours behind the wheel at the end of a long day. These practices can put people at risk, if the driver becomes too tired to drive safely.
- Distraction. Distracted driving is a problem for all types of drivers, but rideshare drivers are often unfamiliar with their destinations. Therefore, they may become distracted by their GPS or their rideshare apps, making accidents more likely.
What Laws Protect Passengers Involved in Rideshare Accidents?
The laws that exist specifically to protect rideshare passengers have to do with the measures rideshare companies must take when evaluating drivers’ safe-driving histories and requiring safety inspections on their vehicles. Additionally, many state laws spells out minimum insurance requirements that rideshare companies must carry.
In New Jersey, for example, the amount of insurance coverage necessary depends on the circumstances of the accident. Different requirements apply in accordance with the rideshare driver’s on-duty status.
If the driver is not logged in to receive ride requests, their own personal insurance should be used to cover any accident they may cause.
If the driver is signed in and waiting to accept a ride request, the rideshare company’s insurance kicks in up to a limit of $50,000 per person. If the driver has accepted a ride and causes an accident en route to picking up their passenger or if the passenger is being transported, the company must cover injuries caused up to $1,500,000 in personal injury.
Of course, this applies only to claims for accidents caused by the rideshare driver.
If another driver was at fault, the claim should go through that driver’s insurance. However, the rideshare company is required to carry insurance to cover injuries caused by uninsured or underinsured motorists. In New Jersey, that amounts to $1,500,000 in coverage.
Our Lawyers at D’Amato Law Represent People Injured in Rideshare Accidents
If you were hurt in a rideshare car accident, it can be confusing to figure out who should be held accountable for your injuries. The rideshare driver may have caused the accident, another driver may be at fault, or there may be some other element of the situation that implicates the rideshare company. Let the Atlantic City car accident lawyers at the D’Amato Law Firm help you figure out who is liable in your accident. We can help you build a case and secure the compensation you deserve. Call us today at 609-926-3300 or contact us online for a free consultation. With an office in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, we assist accident victims in Atlantic City, Linwood, Galloway Township, Cape May, Vineland, Millville, Bridgeton, Ocean City, Woodbury, and across South Jersey.