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I was hit by a rideshare driver, what now? | Nourmand Legal | Accident Attorneys

I was hit by a rideshare driver, what now?

Car accidents cannot be planned, and they are always stressful events.

But what happens when the driver of a ride-sharing service is the one that collides with my car? What can I do and who do I contact to fix this situation?

As with any car accident, the person filing the complaint must be able to prove two things to obtain compensation: liability (who was at fault for the accident) and damages (how badly the complainant was injured). If you were recently hit by a rideshare driver (or were injured as a passenger), you must be able to demonstrate that someone acted negligently to file a claim.

If the negligent party were an Uber or Lyft driver, the most direct course of action would be against that person, who would forward the claim to the driver’s personal insurance company, like most other auto accident claims. But unfortunately, because the driver was driving for money, the situation is very complicated.

Unless the driver has a business policy or has purchased a ride-sharing “endorsement” (available in some states), a personal policy will not be enough to cover the accident. This is because the driver’s insurance contract specifies that the driver will use the vehicle for personal use only and that the ride is not for personal use. The carrier will deny the claim.

Fortunately for the injured person, Uber and Lyft responded to this troublesome scenario by offering liability insurance to their drivers, which will kick in when the driver’s carrier denies the complaint (drivers must first file the claim with their own insurance). Therefore, apart from legal liability, it is entirely possible to hold a rideshare company financially responsible when you have not acted negligently in an accident caused by a contracted driver.

The first thing to do after a car accident is to get the names, contact information, and insurance details of everyone involved, and also ask witnesses for their contact information. Take as many photos of the accident scene as possible, this will serve as evidence of it. Call Attorney Joseph Nourmand in Los Angeles for legal advice in regard to an Uber or Lyft accident!

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