The Impact of Ridesharing on West Palm Beach Travel
Whether it’s a commute to work or a ride to Saturday-night dinner, Uber and Lyft have revolutionized the way Floridians travel throughout West Palm Beach, and Palm Beach County as a whole. Ridesharing apps’ popularity has also changed the way accident victims can recover compensation for their injuries sustained in a ridesharing car accident. In this blog post, the injury attorneys at Clayton Trial Lawyers (“CTL”) have put together a list of some important similarities and differences between a typical accident and a ridesharing accident. If you or your loved ones have sustained injuries in a West Palm Beach Uber or Lyft car accident, consider calling CTL today for a free consultation.
Important Points Regarding Ridesharing Accidents
1) Similarity: Conduct Post-Accident Should Remain the Same
Safety should always be the number one concern following an auto accident—whether it’s a ridesharing accident, or otherwise. Always call 911 and seek immediate medical attention for serious injuries. Even if there are minor injuries, seeking medical attention following an accident is of paramount importance because certain soft-tissue and muscular injuries may not develop until days following the accident, according to our blog post on injuries not showing up immediately.
2) Difference: Uber or Lyft Drivers Are Covered by Their Companies’ Insurance
Given the large, national presence of Uber and Lyft, the companies keep robust insurance policies to protect their passengers, drivers, and accident victims. If your Uber or Lyft driver is the at-fault party in your accident while you are riding as a passenger, the ridesharing company would be responsible for compensation for your injuries.
3) Difference: Uber and Lyft Also Have Uninsured Motorist Insurance
In addition to carrying substantial insurance coverage for their own drivers, Uber and Lyft usually have uninsured/underinsured motorist policies, too. That means, if you sustained injuries as a result ridesharing accident as a passenger, where the driver of another vehicle has no (or little) insurance coverage of their own, you may be able to look to Uber and/or Lyft to compensate you for your injuries.
4) Difference: Reliance on Others in Causation Determinations
On the surface level, the causation determination in a ridesharing accident lawsuit is the same as a typical auto accident—the at-fault (or “negligent”) party will often be held liable for your injuries. However, as a passenger in a ridesharing accident, your vision and perspective in the back seat may be obstructed. Thus, whether you receive compensation for your injuries may depend on the statements, perspectives, and observations of third parties like your driver, the driver/passenger(s) of the other vehicle, or eyewitnesses to the accident.
Consult with an Experienced West Palm Beach Injury Attorney
Ridesharing accidents have added a new layer of liability considerations and causation determinations to automobile personal injury law. Due to this, you should consider calling the elite accident attorneys at CTL for a free consultation following your accident. With attorneys centrally located throughout West Palm Beach, and South Florida as a whole, we are equipped with the skills to fight for your rights after an accident.
At Clayton Trial Lawyers, we provide first-class services to our clients so that they can focus on their recovery from the trauma of a car accident, instead of the headache of dealing with insurance companies or ridesharing company representatives. If you or someone you know has been involved in a ridesharing car accident, don’t wait, call CTL today to explore your legal rights to seek compensation for your injuries.