Sacramento Uber & Lyft Accident Attorneys

Navigating Rideshare Accident Claims with 100+ Years of Combined Experience

Whether you were injured while riding in or colliding with a rideshare vehicle, you’ve come to the right place. Not only can an Uber/Lyft accident be just as severe as any other car accident, but it can also put you in a tough spot with insurance companies.

At Kershaw Talley Barlow, we can help you simplify the insurance process and pursue maximum compensation from all responsible parties. Let us negotiate with insurance companies and corporate representatives, so you can focus on healing.

Call (916) 520-6639 to speak to our experienced attorneys about your case. We charge no fees unless we win!

Obtaining Compensation in a Rideshare accident

If you were injured while riding in an Uber or Lyft vehicle in Sacramento, the at-fault driver’s insurance should cover your losses. Rideshare accidents can be caused by your driver, or by anyone else on the road.

When Another Driver Is At Fault

When another driver causes your accident, you must file an injury claim against their policy. Fortunately, when this is the case, you should not have to involve Uber or Lyft.

The exception to this rule comes from hit-and-run accidents or any other instance of uninsured or underinsured motorists. When the liable driver does not have insurance or cannot cover your injuries, you will have to turn to another insurance policy. In some cases, this means dealing with up to 3 different insurance companies. Each insurer is responsible for your claim, but they are also tasked with protecting their profits. The more policies you are juggling, the more likely you are to be taken advantage of by an insurance company.

With our firm, you will have a dedicated team of attorneys to handle each insurer with knowledge, experience, and individual attention. You will also have a collection of legal representatives with your best interest at heart.

When Your Uber/Lyft Driver Is At Fault

If your rideshare driver causes your accident, you will need to make a claim with their insurance company directly. Uber/Lyft drivers are considered independent contractors, which means they are generally responsible for their own behavior and their own car insurance.

Unfortunately, many personal policies do not cover commercial activity or are too low to properly compensate passengers in the event of a serious accident. When this is the case, you will have to pursue compensation with Uber or Lyft instead.

Once your claim with your rideshare driver is denied or deemed insufficient, Uber and Lyft each have $1 million policies to dedicate to your case. Nevertheless, like other insurers, these companies will not want to pay you every cent you may be owed.

Our attorneys will help you get as close to Uber/Lyft’s policy maximums as possible. While we cannot promise a dollar amount, we promise to fight for your rights in settlement negotiations and take your case to trial if necessary.

Colliding with an Uber or Lyft

Like any other vehicle, cars with an Uber or Lyft sticker can get into accidents. When a rideshare driver causes your crash, you should handle the situation like you would any other car accident.

Depending on how active the driver was on the Uber or Lyft app, though, the insurance may work differently.

If the Uber/Lyft driver was not logged into their app when they caused your collision, their employer will consider them in “Period 0” and take no responsibility. You will have to handle this claim using the driver’s insurance policy. If it is not enough, you may have to file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver or rely on your own uninsured/underinsured (UI/UIM) motorist policy to compensate you for your losses.

When the driver is logged into the Uber or Lyft app but has not yet accepted a ride request, and they cause an accident; the companies consider them in “Period 1” and offer some additional liability insurance. Once again, you will have to start with the driver’s insurance, then seek out Uber/Lyft’s $100,000 total injury liability if necessary.

Accepting a request moves rideshare drivers into “Period 2,” which means Uber or Lyft provides an additional $1 million in liability coverage.

While drivers move into “Period 3” when they have a passenger in the car, their company-covered liability insurance does not increase. During this time, however, Uber and Lyft cover property damage and provide UI/UIM coverage.

Part of creating your case will include determining which “period” your accident occurred within. Our attorneys will investigate your accident and put our 100+ years of collective experience to work for you.

Request a Free Consultation for Case-Specific Questions and Concerns

As you can see, rideshare accidents are quite complicated. Our attorneys at Kershaw Talley Barlow are more than equipped to handle your case, but we must evaluate every aspect of it first. We offer 100% free consultations where we can discuss your case, get to know your goals, and create a personalized strategy to help you win.

Over the years, we have recovered over $1 billion on behalf of our clients and garnered countless positive reviews. We are also highly recognized within the legal community with ratings from Super Lawyers®, Martindale-Hubbell®, Avvo™, and more.

To begin working with our award-winning legal team, call (916) 520-6639 and schedule your free case evaluation today.